Holbeche House
Encyclopedia
Holbeche House is a mansion located near Kingswinford
, on the borders of Staffordshire
. It is the building in which some of the central Gunpowder plotters
were captured, and the rest killed.
to blow up of the House of Lords
during the State Opening of Parliament
, thereby killing James I
and his court, the prelude to a revolt during which a Catholic monarchy would be restored to the English throne.
It was after the failure of the plot that the fugitives took shelter in Holbeche House, owned by Stephen Lyttelton. Several were maimed when gunpowder left to dry in front of the fire was ignited by a stray spark. On 8 November 1605 the house was surrounded by a posse led by Richard Walsh (the Sheriff
of Worcester
), and in the ensuing fight most of the plotters were either killed or wounded. Those still alive were taken to London, and later executed.
Kingswinford
Kingswinford is a suburban area in the West Midlands.Historically within Staffordshire, the area is mentioned in the Domesday Book its name relates to a ford for the King's swine - Latin Swinford Regis. The current significance is probably in tourism, education and housing...
, on the borders of Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. It is the building in which some of the central Gunpowder plotters
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
were captured, and the rest killed.
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt by a small party of provincial English CatholicsRecusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
to blow up of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
during the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
, thereby killing James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and his court, the prelude to a revolt during which a Catholic monarchy would be restored to the English throne.
It was after the failure of the plot that the fugitives took shelter in Holbeche House, owned by Stephen Lyttelton. Several were maimed when gunpowder left to dry in front of the fire was ignited by a stray spark. On 8 November 1605 the house was surrounded by a posse led by Richard Walsh (the Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
), and in the ensuing fight most of the plotters were either killed or wounded. Those still alive were taken to London, and later executed.