Few British families have a history as rich, influential, and daring as the Throckmortons. Former aristocrats, the family once held strong political positions at the top of society and, in centuries gone by, even challenged the Tudor monarchy.
Now, the current generation of Throckmortons are exhibiting historic portrait photographs of their ancestors at the family’s grandiose Tudor home, Coughton Court, in Warwickshire, England.
Throckmorton Family: Through the Lens highlights a series of photographs exploring the lives of the different generations, from Sir William Throckmorton (1838-1919) and Henry Langford-Brooke (1843-1907) through to the present day.
The exhibition sheds light on the influential family members who called Coughton Court home over the past three centuries, exploring their personal histories, and that of the house.
Rebecca Gee, curator at Coughton House, said that the exhibition highlights the “pride” of the family home and “faith” of its current residents, Magnus and Imogen Birch-Throckmorton, and their children Isabella and Hector, to continue the historic building’s legacy.
This 600-year story dates back to 1409, when John de Throckmorton (1380-1445) acquired the Warwickshire estate through marriage.
Over the next century, the family established themselves as prominent English landowners, all while openly opposing Henry VIII’s infamous religious reforms.
As devout Roman Catholics, the Throckmortons faced centuries of persecution. In 1583, Sir Francis Throckmorton (1554-1584) concocted a cunning, yet ultimately failed, plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and return Catholic rule to the country.
Less than thirty years later, the family would once again be at the heart of another attempted royal assassination.
In 1605, conspirators of the infamous Gunpowder Plot gathered at Coughton Court to await the outcome of the event we now call “Bonfire Night” in the UK.
In more recent times, 1946, to survive post-WWII financial strain, the Throckmortons transferred Coughton Court to the National Trust under a unique 300-year lease, maintaining their right to remain in residence.
However, in February 2026, Magnus and Imogen brought control of the estate back into the family’s control, with Imogen Gee saying that the new exhibition was to celebrate this.
Throckmorton Family: Through the Lens is on display Wednesday to Sunday, 11am – 4pm until the end of the year. Entry is included with all house and garden tickets. For further information, including prices and National Trust concessions, visit the Coughton Court website.
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