Groby Old Hall
Encyclopedia
Groby Old Hall is partly a 15th century brick
built manor house
and grade II* listed building located very near the site of Groby Castle
in the village of Groby
in Leicestershire
.
The grand hall which preceded the current building was probably built by the Ferrers family, Barons of Groby
, the 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby having been ennobled for services to Edward 1 and Edward II . The Hall and Barony passed to the Greys by marriage after Sir Edward Grey married Elizabeth Ferrers, grand-daughter and heir to the 5th Baron Ferrers around 1432. The Grey family's most celebrated members were the two Queens of England Elizabeth Woodville
and Lady Jane Grey
.
Elizabeth Woodville married Sir Edward Grey's son John
, joining him at Groby, where they had two sons. After John's death in battle at the Second Battle of St Albans
in 1461, she petitioned King Edward IV for return of her confiscated lands, and won not just her case but his heart and hand in marriage. As Queen she set about promoting the causes of her Woodville relatives, her sons by John Grey, and her children by Edward IV, with mixed results. Of the royal children, the two boys became the ill-fated Princes in the Tower
, whereas her daughter, also Elizabeth
, married the victor of Bosworth Field, Henry VII
, uniting the houses of Lancaster and York to end the Wars of the Roses
. Elizabeth Woodville lived to see the birth of two royal grand-children, Prince Arthur
and the future Henry VIII.
She also saw her son Thomas Grey
promoted through court, first as Earl of Huntingdon, and then in 1475, Marquess of Dorset. Following Edward IV's death, and the rise of Richard III
he found himself in exile in France, where he joined Henry Tudor, as a valued but untrustworthy supporter of the Lancastrian cause. When Henry Tudor defeated Richard III in 1485, Thomas Grey maintained a precarious position within the new court, but found the means to upgrade his ancestral manor at Groby. It appears he started work on a new brick gatehouse on the same site as the manor, which later became part of what is now the 'Old Hall'. However, he rapidly expanded his plans by beginning an entirely new, red brick, great house in his hunting park at Bradgate
, several miles away, which was completed by his son some time after his death in 1501. Bradgate House became the Greys home for the next 240 years, with some disruptions around 1554, and it was at Bradgate that Thomas Grey's great-grand-daughter, Lady Jane Grey
was born and brought up.
Groby Old Hall, which may incorporate much earlier remains, remained a key part of the Groby estate, and shared in the changing fortunes of the Grey family. The point at which the former grand hall was demolished is unknown, and was the subject of an inconclusive Time Team
dig broadcast in 2011. The red-brick gatehouse became what is now known as the 'Old Hall', and is one of England's earliest brick buildings.
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
built manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
and grade II* listed building located very near the site of Groby Castle
Groby Castle
Groby Castle was situated in the large village of Groby to the north-west of the city of Leicester.-History:After the Norman Conquest, the area came into the possession of Hugh de Grantmesnil. Groby was one of 67 manors Grantmesnil held in Leicestershire according to the Domesday Book...
in the village of Groby
Groby
Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
.
The grand hall which preceded the current building was probably built by the Ferrers family, Barons of Groby
Baron Ferrers of Groby
The peerage title Baron Ferrers of Groby was created in the Peerage of England in 1300 when William Ferrers, 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby was summoned to parliament. He was a grandson of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. In 1475 the eighth baron was created the Marquess of Dorset, with which...
, the 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby having been ennobled for services to Edward 1 and Edward II . The Hall and Barony passed to the Greys by marriage after Sir Edward Grey married Elizabeth Ferrers, grand-daughter and heir to the 5th Baron Ferrers around 1432. The Grey family's most celebrated members were the two Queens of England Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
and Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
.
Elizabeth Woodville married Sir Edward Grey's son John
John Grey of Groby
Sir John Grey, of Groby, Leicestershire was a Lancastrian knight, the great-great-grandfather of Lady Jane Grey.-Titles:...
, joining him at Groby, where they had two sons. After John's death in battle at the Second Battle of St Albans
Second Battle of St Albans
The Second Battle of St Albans was a battle of the English Wars of the Roses fought on 17 February, 1461, at St Albans. The army of the Yorkist faction under the Earl of Warwick attempted to bar the road to London north of the town. The rival Lancastrian army used a wide outflanking manoeuvre to...
in 1461, she petitioned King Edward IV for return of her confiscated lands, and won not just her case but his heart and hand in marriage. As Queen she set about promoting the causes of her Woodville relatives, her sons by John Grey, and her children by Edward IV, with mixed results. Of the royal children, the two boys became the ill-fated Princes in the Tower
Princes in the Tower
The Princes in the Tower is a term which refers to Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville alive at the time of their father's death...
, whereas her daughter, also Elizabeth
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
, married the victor of Bosworth Field, Henry VII
Henry VII
Henry VII may refer to:* Henry VII, Duke of Bavaria * Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor * Henry VII of England * Henry II of Sicily sometimes described as Henry of Germany...
, uniting the houses of Lancaster and York to end the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
. Elizabeth Woodville lived to see the birth of two royal grand-children, Prince Arthur
Prince Arthur
Prince Arthur may refer to:*Arthur I, Duke of Brittany the intended heir of Richard I of England*Arthur, Prince of Wales , eldest son Henry VII of England...
and the future Henry VIII.
She also saw her son Thomas Grey
Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset
Thomas Grey, 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and 1st Marquess of Dorset, KG , was an English nobleman, courtier and a man of mediocre abilities pushed into prominence by his mother Elizabeth Woodville's second marriage to the king, Edward IV.-Family:Thomas was born about 1455,...
promoted through court, first as Earl of Huntingdon, and then in 1475, Marquess of Dorset. Following Edward IV's death, and the rise of Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
he found himself in exile in France, where he joined Henry Tudor, as a valued but untrustworthy supporter of the Lancastrian cause. When Henry Tudor defeated Richard III in 1485, Thomas Grey maintained a precarious position within the new court, but found the means to upgrade his ancestral manor at Groby. It appears he started work on a new brick gatehouse on the same site as the manor, which later became part of what is now the 'Old Hall'. However, he rapidly expanded his plans by beginning an entirely new, red brick, great house in his hunting park at Bradgate
Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, just northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres . The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston...
, several miles away, which was completed by his son some time after his death in 1501. Bradgate House became the Greys home for the next 240 years, with some disruptions around 1554, and it was at Bradgate that Thomas Grey's great-grand-daughter, Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
was born and brought up.
Groby Old Hall, which may incorporate much earlier remains, remained a key part of the Groby estate, and shared in the changing fortunes of the Grey family. The point at which the former grand hall was demolished is unknown, and was the subject of an inconclusive Time Team
Time Team (series 18)
-Series 18:Episode # refers to the air date order. The Time Team Specials are aired in between regular episodes, but are omitted from this list-See also:* Time Team Live* Time Team History Hunters* Time Team Digs* Time Team Extra* Time Team America...
dig broadcast in 2011. The red-brick gatehouse became what is now known as the 'Old Hall', and is one of England's earliest brick buildings.
See also
- Baron Ferrers of GrobyBaron Ferrers of GrobyThe peerage title Baron Ferrers of Groby was created in the Peerage of England in 1300 when William Ferrers, 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby was summoned to parliament. He was a grandson of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. In 1475 the eighth baron was created the Marquess of Dorset, with which...
- Elizabeth WoodvilleElizabeth WoodvilleElizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
- John Grey of GrobyJohn Grey of GrobySir John Grey, of Groby, Leicestershire was a Lancastrian knight, the great-great-grandfather of Lady Jane Grey.-Titles:...
- Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of DorsetThomas Grey, 1st Marquess of DorsetThomas Grey, 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and 1st Marquess of Dorset, KG , was an English nobleman, courtier and a man of mediocre abilities pushed into prominence by his mother Elizabeth Woodville's second marriage to the king, Edward IV.-Family:Thomas was born about 1455,...
- Bradgate ParkBradgate ParkBradgate Park is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, just northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres . The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston...