East Midlands

Our grand mansions and castles in the East Midlands are rich in stories of royalty, revelry and riches. From a Norman knight to a high-living Stuart courtier and from powerful medieval bishops to one of the richest women in Elizabethan England, introduce your group to fascinating characters from times gone by.

54 Bolsover Castle 55 Kirby Hall 55 Lyddington Bede House 55 Peveril Castle 55 Rushton Triangular Lodge

ITINERARY IDEA

Looking for a day out with a difference? Start the day with a stop at Lyddington Bede House, a medieval bishops palace turned almshouse. Travel onwards just 4 miles to enjoy a guided tour of the house and grounds at Kirby Hall. Break for lunch in the pretty town of Oundle, before calling in at Rushton Triangular Lodge where your group can try their luck at spotting the Elizabethan visual codes at this unique and delightful folly.

BOLSOVER CASTLE

Positioned not far from Junction 29A of the M1, Bolsover Castle offers a memorable stop-off for groups travelling north or south along the motorway. Exquisitely restored to recreate its past glories, this unique Stuart showpiece was the hilltop pleasure-palace of a horse-mad Cavalier playboy. Now, centuries later, our imaginative and carefully researched re-presentation still makes a memorable impression.

East Midlands BOLSOVER CASTLE

01246 822844 bolsover.castle @english-heritage.org.uk english-heritage.org.uk/ bolsovercastle Castle Street, Bolsover, Derbyshire S44 6PR

FACILITIES

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Coach Parking Limited coach parking in the council car park, opposite site car park. Catering The café in the visitor centre seats 50 inside and a further 30 outside. Serves a selection of drinks, cakes, freshly made sandwiches, as well as hot and cold light lunches. VISITS

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VISIT LENGTH

2-3h ■ Explore the playfully pinnacled and battlemented ‘Little Castle’, the core of the 17th-century mansion. ■ See the sumptuous replica tapestries, satin hangings and luxurious furnishings that bring the Star Chamber and

Marble Closet back to life.

■ Cabinets of curiosity reveal how the

Little Castle’s maze of rooms were used to intrigue and impress noble visitors. ■ Stroll the restored wall walk round the

Venus Garden, where Stuart courtiers promenaded to see and be seen. ■ Enjoy regular summer weekend displays of horsemanship in the famous Riding

House, which celebrates horse-mad

Cavalier, William Cavendish’s passion for training horses.

East Midlands OTHER PLACES TO VISIT IN THE REGION

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1. Kirby Hall 2. Peveril Castle 3. Lyddington Bede House 4. Rushton Triangular Lodge 2

KIRBY HALL 01536 203230 kirby.hall@english-heritage.org.uk Kirby Lane, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 3EN The impressive and extensive remains of one of England’s greatest Elizabethan mansions - home of Sir Christopher Hatton, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Includes redecorated state rooms and magnificent gardens. Lyddington Bede House is nearby. g w V U s F B

RUSHTON TRIANGULAR LODGE 01536 710761 english-heritage.org.uk/rushton Rushton, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN14 1RP Crack the Elizabethan visual codes at this unique and delightful little folly, where everything comes in threes to symbolise the Holy Trinity, designed to proclaim the resolute Roman Catholic faith of its builder. g s

LYDDINGTON BEDE HOUSE 01572 822438 english-heritage.org.uk/lyddingtonbede Blue Coat Lane, Lyddington, Rutland LE15 9LN In a pretty village setting, this late medieval bishops’ palace served as an almshouse from Elizabethan times until the 1930s for poor ‘bedesmen’ and women. g s

PEVERIL CASTLE 01433 620613 peveril.castle@english-heritage.org.uk english-heritage.org.uk/peverilcastle Market Place, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 8WQ In the spectacular heart of the Peak District these dramatic Norman castle ruins are perched high on a rocky crag, above the tranquil village of Castleton. Enjoy far-reaching views of the countryside and interactive displays. s B