Ashby St. Ledgers, Manor House
The manor of Ashby St. Ledgers until 1605 was the principal residence of the Catesby family.
In 1605, with Catholics being persecuted by King James I, Robert Catesby, a young catholic and a natural leader, gathered together a group of colleagues. Here at the manor house in a room over the gatehouse, they planned the gunpowder plot.
On the 5th November, in the late evening, following the discovery of the plot, Robert and four companions rode from London back to the manor. Riding further north, Robert was eventually caught and shot dead at Holbeach, Staffordshire on 8th November. His fellow conspirators were later captured and executed in the Tower of London.