Defying Henry VIII and a royal coup are just some of the Throckmorton stories – now the British aristocratic family is exhibiting photos of its generations
The Throckmorton family was one of the most influential in British history – now, its current generations are exhibiting historic photos of their ancestors at their family estate, Coughton Court
The Throckmorton family boasts a rich and daring history, with a legacy that spans over six centuries. As former aristocrats, they held influential political positions and even stood against the Tudor monarchy. Currently, their grand Tudor home, Coughton Court, in Warwickshire, England, is showcasing an exhibition of historic portrait photographs called Throckmorton Family: Through the Lens.
The exhibition features a series of photographs highlighting the personal histories and that of the house spanning the past three centuries. The Throckmortons once called Coughton Court their ancestral home, dating back to 1409 when John de Throckmorton acquired the Warwickshire estate through marriage. For centuries, the family flourished as prominent English landowners while openly opposing Henry VIII's religious reforms as devout Roman Catholics, facing centuries of persecution.
Notable members of the family include Sir William Throckmorton (1838-1919) and Henry Langford-Brooke (1843-1907), whose lives and those of their descendants are explored in the exhibition. Famed for their opposition to Henry VIII's religious reforms, the Throckmortons faced persecution throughout the centuries. In 1583, Sir Francis Throckmorton attempted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and reinstate Catholic rule, while thirty years later, the family was involved in another attempted royal assassination during the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
In more recent history, the Throckmortons transferred Coughton Court to the National Trust in 1946 to weather post-WWII financial strain while retaining the right to remain in residence. However, in February 2026, current residents Magnus and Imogen Birch-Throckmorton took control of the estate, with Imogen Gee stating that the new exhibition was to celebrate this return to family control.
The Throckmorton Family: Through the Lens exhibition is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am – 4pm until the end of the year. Entry is included with all house and garden tickets. For further information, visit the Coughton Court website.
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