Lyveden New Bield and Kirby Hall

Well I'm away again. The first part of the holiday exists only for tomorrow. LOL 

I am on the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border. There are quite a few historic houses some of which I've never visited but they have totally unfriendly opening days. They are private houses but come on¬

There was little open today so I did some revisits.

Lyveden is a lodge and garden started by Sir Thomas Tresham and incomplete at his execution in 1605. Tresham was a Catholic. He planned a manor house at the foot of the hill leading to the lodge. 

The manor we see today was built after his death in 1605 by his second son. The family were heavily fined for their recalcitrancy and Tresham's second son increased the family debt. The first son became embroiled in the gunpowder plot along with his cousins Catesby and Wintour and was executed in 1605. 

Although the National Trust has owned the lodge for a while it acquired the manor (empty) in 2013 and opening it in 2018. 

This is my second visit since. You used to park in a field by the lodge now you park by the manor and walk up. The old cafe  by the lodge is a holiday let. 

After a few weeks of blazing heat and blue skies it was cooler good and a bit cloudy from time to time

The manor

I had a coffee and the sun was out! 

You walk through the orchard and wildflowers to reach the lodge

There was meant to be a third floor and a cupola. Without the cars it feels like you have stepped back 400 years. Anyone staying in the adjacent cottage must literally feel the ghosts. It is so atmospheric.

Then onto Kirby Hall. It was once one of the finest Tudor houses in the country and at one point owned by the Elizabeth I favourite Sir Christopher Hatton. The vagaries of inheritance means it became a second home and fell into disrepair.

There is a small number of peacocks and peahens.

A nice day. Fingers crossed for tomorrow :)