Coughton Court, Warwickshire

The flag bearing the Throckmorton family coat of arms, flies over the house that has been the family's home for the last 600 years. Coughton Court in Warwickshire has been the family seat since the early part of the 16th century, and during that time has not only witnessed several key events in our nation's history - most notably perhaps its occupation by the infamous gunpowder plotter Sir Everard Digby - but has also experienced significant change and development. A National Trust property since 1946, celebrations are taking place at the house throughout the year, and as part of those festivities a modern re-creation of the legendary Throckmorton Coat took place at a special event on 21 June.

The famous bet to make the Throckmorton Coat in just one day took place in 1811, when at dawn two sheep were shorn and by dusk the coat was on the back of Sir John Throckmorton and the bet won. Naturally, the logistics of recreating the coat under the precise circumstances experienced in 1811 would be unworkable for an event that the public were attending, and therefore a contemporary coat was created by Victoria Geary and Becky Griffiths of Herefordshire textile company Pretty Rubbish. Their modern version - based on the tailcoat style of the original Throckmorton Coat - was presented to Mrs Clare McLaren -Throckmorton's grandson, Magnus Birch on the day.

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Travel & Events

Tags:

• Coughton Court
• National Trust
• Throckmorton Family
• Pretty Rubbish