Built / Designed For: Ralph, Lord Cromwell

House & Family History: Though the Estate was granted by William the Conqueror to one of his knights, William Peverell, the current Wingfield Manor was built in the mid-15th century by Ralph, Lord Cromwell, Treasurer of the Exchequer to Henry VI. Mary, Queen of Scots, was held prisoner at Wingfield for nine years under the guardianship of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. At the outbreak of the Civil War the Estate was the property of Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke; by 1678 it was owned by the Halton family, by whom the House was mostly demolished in 1774 so that the stone could be used to build a new house at the bottom of the hill. Wingfield Manor has not been lived in since the 1770s and is today a ruin.

Country Life: XXXVIII, 90, 1915. CLXXI, 946 plan, 1042 plan, 1982.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: William Peverell, 11th century. Ralph de Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell, 15th century. George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 16th century. Sir Ralph Sadler, Kt., 16th century. Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke, 17th century. Halton family, 1678 until the 18th century.

Current Ownership Type: English Heritage

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01773-832-060

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No