Towcester Mill Brewery Talk "Gunpowder, Treason & Sub-Plot! The Story behind one of Northamptonshire's Tudor Houses"

We welcome back Philomena Liggins for a fascinating talk in honour of Heritage Open Days.

Lyveden New Bield is an unfinished Tudor mansion in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. It stands as a testament to its creator Sir Thomas Tresham, but work stopped in 1605 due to the family’s staggering debts. This is where our story begins!

In 1605 a group of plotters planned to kill King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament. However, Sir Robert Cecil, who was the King’s head of intelligence, had other ideas and he and his collaborators foiled what would become known as the ‘The Gunpowder Plot’. The plotters were either killed or captured and tried and executed, apart from one, Sir Francis Tresham. Francis avoided his trial and execution having died of ‘natural causes’ whilst incarcerated in the Tower of London. Or did he?

This is Francis’s story, and that of his widowed mother Muriel. Did Francis escape from the Tower? And what part – if any – did Muriel play in organising her son’s escape? And to whom was Muriel paying off family debts until the day she died in 1615? It's up to you – the jury in the Brewery – to decide if Francis escaped from the Tower, where he went, and what was the business relationship between Muriel and Robert Cecil?

This will be Philomena's second Heritage Open Day talk and her fourth talk here at the Mill. She lives in Towcester and is a social historian and author.

Timings & Tours

Sunday 14 September:

17:00

Location & directions

Chantry Lane, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 6YY

Directions:

Towcester Mill Brewery is tucked down Chantry Lane right at the bottom of the lane. From the middle of town, go past the Town Hall and St Lawrence Church, both of which should be on your right as you walk down the lane.

Contact on day:

John Evans

Telephone number:

+441327437060

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Please pre-book your free space online so we can manage numbers

Booking contact name:

Kathryn Hunter

Booking telephone number:

+441327437060

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking website:

https://www.towcestermillbrewery.co.uk

Booking opens:

18 Jul 2025 12:00 PM

Booking closes:

14 Sep 2025 05:00 PM

Accessibility details

The talk will take place in the Malt Room on the second floor. There is a lift available to the second floor should anyone need it for access.

Additional information

The talk will start at 5pm. The Tap Room opens at 12pm on the day and doors to the Malt Room bar will open at 4.30pm.

Max no of people per tour:

80

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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