Coughton Court

We went to the nearby National Trust property, Coughton Court.  Home to the Throgmortons the house has notoriety as being a safe home for some of the conspirators of the gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 (I don't think it had anything to do with Brexit!).  The Throgmortons moved out during this period so not to be involved, they also have two churches, Anglican and Catholic in their grounds, hedging their bets during those turbulent times.

There was access to a viewing area on top of the tower. Unfortunately it was by two dark, narrow stone spiral staircases.  The worse bit was the fact that the same stairs where used for ascending and descending, it was quite busy at the house today so many people were trying to get up and down, at the same time, some of whom were of advancing years and non too steady on their feet, like me, there were no passing places!

Still the view was quite good from the battlements, The main picture shows the moss covered old stones and the two churches.

The extra is one of the many stained glass windows. Dated 1579, Sheldon was the name taken by Anne Throgmorton on her marriage to Robert Sheldon MP in 1557. They had eleven children.