Donington le Heath Manor House
Year 5, St Paul’s CE Primary
Donington le Heath Manor House Donington le Heath Manor House was built about 700 years ago, between 1288 and 1295. Donington le Heath is near Coaville, Leicestershire about 20 miles (32 km) from Nuneaton. The manor house is now used as a museum.
History of The Manor House The house is medieval, it was owned by one of the Gunpowder Plotters. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Donington le Heath Manor House was owned by the Digby family. The family would have been rich because they had glass windows put into the building.
The Digby Family Sir John Digby fought at Bosworth Battlefield in 1485. King Henry VII defeated Richard III and rewarded the Digby’s by giving them the Manor House. Everard Digby (John’s brother) was a close friend of Guy Fawkes, famous for the Gunpowder Plot and trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
The Manor House The house was modernised in 1618. The house has a timber (wooden) frame and was originally made of wattle and daub. From 1670 until 1960, the house was rented out as a farm. In 1973, it opened as a museum.
Visiting the Museum Year 5 visited the museum at Donington le Heath Manor House to find out what life was like during Tudor times. We found out about how people lived in Tudor times and saw some of the things they would have in their homes
Learning how to be a Tudor! We worked in the kitchen and found out how food was prepared. We all made a pomander with herbs and spices.
We learnt how to set the table ready for the important family to have their meals.
Tudor Fun!
Dressing up in Tudor clothes.
Learning a Tudor dance.