1620s House & Garden

Type:Historic House / Palace

Manor Road, Donington Le Heath, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 2FW

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Tel01455 290429

1620s House & Garden

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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...Read More

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.

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Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£5.95 per person
Child (3-15 inclusive)£3.50 per person
Concession (senior, student, disabled)£5.00 per person
Family 1 adult 2 children£12.00 per person
Family 2 adults 2 children£18.00 per person
Under 3s, accompanied carersFree

Admission tickets give free, unlimited re-admission to the House, gardens and tea room for 12 months from the day of purchase on non-special event days.
Admission on special event days during normal open hours is subject to an extra £2 charge per person.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled Accessibility - to ground floor and barn café only
  • Wheelchairs available - 1

Catering

  • On-Site cafe/restaurant/catering
  • Picnic area - Picnic Benches across site
  • Refreshments Available

Children & Infants

  • Baby changing facilities

Establishment Features

  • Accept coach parties
  • Dogs Accepted - dogs on leads welcome on site, but only assistance dogs allowed in
...Read More

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled Accessibility - to ground floor and barn café only
  • Wheelchairs available - 1

Catering

  • On-Site cafe/restaurant/catering
  • Picnic area - Picnic Benches across site
  • Refreshments Available

Children & Infants

  • Baby changing facilities

Establishment Features

  • Accept coach parties
  • Dogs Accepted - dogs on leads welcome on site, but only assistance dogs allowed in the House
  • Gift shop
  • Public toilets
  • Wireless internet (WiFi) connection available

Key Features

  • Smoking Areas Available - Allowed outside. Some cigarette bins available

Parking & Transport

  • Parking (free)

Payment Methods

  • Credit cards accepted (no fee)

Tours and Demonstrations

  • Guided Tours Available for Groups
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TripAdvisor

Opening Times

* During November, up until 24th, the Tea Rooms and Gardens are open on Thursdays from 10.30am - 3.30pm.

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