1620s House & Garden

About

The 1620s House & Garden is a rare example of a family home built in the 13th century and modernised in 1618. It is set in beautiful 17th century style gardens with labelled plants and flowers, an orchard, herb gardens and a maze. There is also a tearoom open from 11am-4pm, where home-made soup and cakes are a speciality.

Visitors from far and wide come to the 1620s House & Garden to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere in the period gardens, to handle the many interesting objects around the house and to talk to our volunteer guides about life in Jacobean England, but there is a far longer history to the house than back to the early 17th century period.

The ancient stone house, which is the focus of the 1620s House & Garden, is one of the oldest private houses in Leicestershire and was built in around 1290. During its long history, it has been home to many families – most notably the Digbys, who lived there for more than 200 years. The most famous Digby family member was Sir Everard Digby, who was hung, drawn and quartered for his part in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The house was owned by Sir Everard’s uncle, John Digby, who modernised the house in around 1618.

One of the most intriguing parts of the House’s history are the ‘witch marks’. The reign of James 1st was well known for witch hunts and the residents of the 1620s House were not immune to the superstitions of the day. They carved several protective marks into stone and oak to keep themselves safe and their produce fresh - the marks can still be seen today.

The House opened to the public in 1974 and has become a popular and well-loved tourist destination, attracting visitors from far and wide. It has undergone a stunning refurbishment in order to tell the story of its former owners and residents. The restoration focuses on the period towards the end of the Digby ownership, showing how people lived in late Elizabethan and early Jacobean times.

Visitors can see the beautifully-restored period rooms and talk to the volunteers about the history of the house, the families that lived here and about life in the 1620s.

The House and Gardens are open Thursday to Sunday from the end of March until the end of September. The site also hosts an exciting and varied events programme all the way up until the end of December. Events include talks, workshops, living history, open air theatre, plant fairs and much more.

For an added twist to a visit, or for a different experience online, there is also the opportunity to play the exciting Sorcery & Superstitions escape quest game. This is included in the price of the visit and can be played both in person at the House or online in a virtual version.

The 1620s House & Garden holds the Visit England Welcome Award, which celebrates excellence in the visitor attraction sector and is awarded to attractions that go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.