The Throckmortons through their paintings Follow the family’s story through their incredible collection of portraits and art Staircase Judith Tracey Oil on panel; English school c.1570 The Throckmortons increased their influence through marriage alliances with important local families. Judith’s mother was from the Lucy family at nearby Charlecote Park and her father was a Protestant Member of Parliament. She married Francis Throckmorton, who was Nicholas and Robert’s cousin, and lived nearby. Katharine Vaux (c1488–1571) Oil on panel; English school c.1576 The daughter of Lord Vaux and aunt of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Katherine married George Throckmorton and gave birth Sir James Wilford to 19 children. She remained a (c1516–1550) Catholic despite her Parr family Oil on panel; after Hans Eworth, connections, but lived to see 16th Century her son Nicholas choose to The Throckmortons also boosted be a Protestant and her family their family position through divided by religion. Her many marriages with nationally known surviving children went on to families. Robert’s grandson, marry into prominent families John, married Agnes Wilford, and as a result five of the granddaughter of Sir James Gunpowder Plot conspirators Wilford. Sir James was an were related to Katherine Vaux. English soldier who found fame as Commander during the dramatic Siege of Haddington in Edward VI’s war with France and Scotland 1548–49. The siege is shown in the top right. 4 Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (1515—1571) Oil on panel; English school c.1564 Nicholas was Robert’s younger brother but he chose to convert to the new church founded by King Henry VIII. He was knighted by Henry’s Sir Robert Throckmorton Protestant son Edward VI, was (d.1580) Chamberlain of the Exchequer and Ambassador to France Oil on panel; English school and Scotland. However, when 16th Century the Catholic Mary I took the Robert inherited the newly throne he became involved built Coughton Court begun in the Wyatt rebellion against by his grandfather, who had the Queen and was arrested. gained wealth and position He survived in exile and his by supporting the Tudors in daughter, Bess, went on to the Wars of the Roses. Robert marry Sir Walter Raleigh. became High Sheriff of Warwick and Leicester and remained a staunch Catholic after Henry VIII split the church in England. He endured religious persecution under the Protestant Elizabeth I. His daughters, Anne and Muriel, were mothers of the Gunpowder plotters Catesby and Tresham. START 5 John Throckmorton Oil on board; English school c.1609 Married Agnes Wilford, granddaughter of the famous soldier Sir James Wilford (seen lower down the stairs). His son was made 1st Baronet Clement Throckmorton by Charles I at the start of the Civil War. Parliamentary forces (1682–c.1716) garrisoned Coughton, which Oil on canvas; English then suffered bombardment by Royalists before being set alight and abandoned by the garrison in 1644. Lucy Throckmorton Oil on canvas; circle of Michael Dahl c.1700 Lucy Throckmorton of Haseley was the granddaughter of the clever Protestant politician Clement. After the execution of Charles I, their branch of the Throckmorton family provided Members of Parliament for Warwickshire—both under Cromwell’s rule and the ‘Cavalier’ Parliaments of Charles II. Powerful connections like these helped the Catholic Throckmortons survive persecution and meant that Sir Robert’s heirs retained the land and the money to rebuild Coughton. 7 Catherine Collingwood Thomas Peter Giffard of Chillington Oil on canvas; John Vanderbank 1737 (1735–1776) Having survived the turbulent seventeenth Oil on canvas; studio of Pompeo Batoni c.1768 century, the Coughton Throckmortons Married Barbara Throckmorton, daughter remained staunchly Catholic. They of Sir Robert (4th Baronet) and Catherine continued to socialise with and marry Collingwood. This is believed to be, at least into other important rebellious families in part, the work of the renowned artist like the Collingwoods. Catherine’s father Pompeo Batoni. He painted those travelling had been hung, drawn and quartered the Grand Tour. The Giffards of Chillington following his support for the failed were also a wealthy Catholic family. Jacobite uprising against the new King, George I, in 1715. Despite considering becoming a nun she instead married Sir Robert Throckmorton (4th Baronet). 6 Anne, Lady Anderley (d.1642) Oil on canvas; style of Cornelius Jonson 17th century Sister of Mary Yate, née Pakington, she married into a prominent Catholic and Royalist family. Sir John Yate (1605–1659) Oil on canvas; English school 17th century Sir John married Mary Sir Charles Yate Pakington, who had (c.1643—1680) inherited the extensive Description on right estates of her family with her sister. Through their marriage, John and Mary controlled large estates and grand houses including both Buckland and Harvington. Their granddaughter, also Mary, married Sir Francis Throckmorton’s son and heir, Sir Robert (3rd Baronet) and brought her family’s land and wealth into the Throckmorton family. This injection of wealth came at a critical time; Sir Francis William Herbert Sir Robert was still Throckmorton completing the repairs and 2nd Marquis of Powis 2nd Baronet improvements to Coughton (d.1745) (1641–1680) started by his father, Francis. Oil on canvas; style of With the overthrow of Description on right Sir Godfrey Kneller 18th Century James II in 1688 in favour of A Catholic supporter of James II the Protestant William and and the Jacobite cause, he was Mary of Orange, there were imprisoned in the Tower and anti-Catholic riots and a Newgate jail during the reign of mob attacked the East Wing Protestant monarchs William and at Coughton on hearing Mary before exiling himself to rumours of a newly built Europe. Eventually regarded as private chapel. The East harmless, he was reinstated to Wing at Coughton remained his lands and titles after 1715. His derelict for the next century daughter, Lady Theresa Herbert, before being pulled down. became the first wife of Sir Robert Throckmorton 4th Baronet. 10 Mary Yate Oil on canvas; circle of Peter Borsseler c.1664 Wealthy daughter of Humphrey Pakington of Harvington Hall, Mary married Sir John Yate. Their granddaughter, also called Mary, married Sir Francis Sir Charles Yate Sir Robert Throckmorton Throckmorton, (c.1643—1680) (3rd Baronet) and brought his family significant 2nd Baronet Large painting (left): land and wealth. In this (1641–1680) oil on canvas; attributed to Pieter Borsseler c.1664 painting she is shown at Oil on canvas; Gerard the age of 54, wearing Soest 17th century Small painting (above); widow’s clothes. Inherited the badly oil on canvas, English damaged Coughton school Court in 1650, aged 8, Son of Sir John and Mary Ambrose during the English Civil Yate and father to the Throckmorton War. It cost a fortune Mary who married Sir Oil on canvas; English school to rebuild; £2,355 on Robert (3nd Baronet), 17th century bricks and stonework bringing with her the alone between 1663 estates at Buckland and Son of John Throckmorton and 1665. The trauma Harvington. Marriage and brother of Sir Robert of his family’s decline alliances were important (1st Baronet), he is shown in fortunes and cost of ways to improve status. dressed in armour. He Coughton’s repair made was a Lieutenant Colonel him tight with money in the regiment raised and as a result he fell by the Throckmortons out with his wife, who from their estate tenants loved playing cards. to fight with Charles I They separated and unsuccessfully against after an unhappy court Parliament in the Civil War. battle she secured an Sir Anthony allowance of £350 and Chester of some access to her Chicheley children. She outlived Francis and lived at Oil on canvas; style of Coughton until 1728. Gerard Soest c.1670 Son of an ardent Royalist in the Civil War, his family served Catholic James II before the King was deposed by Parliament in order to install the Protestant William and Mary to the throne in 1689. 11 Tribune Alatheia Fairfax (m. 1677) Oil on canvas; English school Alatheia was a cousin of Mary Yate, whose marriage to Sir Robert, the 3rd Baronet, brought the estates of Buckland and Harvington to the Throckmortons. Alatheia is pictured here as a child, holding a bouquet of spring flowers. She would go on to marry William Widdrington and would see him lose all his family’s Northumberland estates as punishment after he supported the Jacobite uprising against the Protestant English monarchy in 1715. The threat of Catholic plots and rebellions was used by the English state to justify the legal persecution of all Catholics. Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (1515–1571) Oil on canvas; English school c.1564 Nicholas converted to the new church founded by King Henry VIII. He was knighted by Henry’s Protestant son Edward VI, was Chamberlain of the Exchequer and Ambassador to France and Scotland. However, when the Catholic Mary I took the throne, he became involved in the Wyatt rebellion against the Queen and was arrested. Whilst not found guilty, he was forced to live abroad, away from his family and lands, in exile. His daughter, Bess, served Elizabeth I but fell out of favour with the Queen after she married Sir Walter Raleigh, one of Elizabeth’s favourites, without royal permission. Sir Walter Raleigh ended up imprisoned and was later beheaded. Bess kept his head in a bag that she carried around with her. 26 Three Children The Saloon Oil on canvas; attributed to Eden Upton Eddis (1812–1901) This portrait has been attributed to Eden Upton Eddis, who was famed for his ability to paint delicately detailed portraits of children. The family records of who these children are, are now sadly lost.