Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
6 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
7 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
8 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
9 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Newtown Linford Bradgate House

Bradgate House

The alleged birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, who was executed at age 16 for claiming the throne of England.

Newtown Linford, England

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Bradgate House.   Stephen McKay/CC BY-SA 2.0
Bradgate House.   Stephen McKay/CC BY-SA 2.0
Exterior of Lady Jane’s tower.   Stephen McKay/CC BY-SA 2.0
Interior of Lady Jane’s tower.   Stephen McKay/CC BY-SA 2.0
Lady Jane Grey.   National Portrait Gallery/Public Domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Bradgate House is said to have been the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, who reigned as the Queen of England for fewer than 10 days, when she was a mere teenager. The once-magnificent mansion is now nothing but ruins.

The Protestant King Edward VI declared Jane as his successor as a way of preventing the succession of Queen Mary I, a Catholic. Though members of the Privy Council persuaded Jane to take the crown, they soon changed their minds after Mary’s support rapidly increased. After just nine days, Jane’s supporters abandoned her and she was deposed, earning her the nickname the "Nine Day Queen.”

She and her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, were tried and found guilty of high treason. At first they were spared execution. However, after her father took part in a rebellion against Mary, it was decided that Jane was a threat to the Crown and had to be killed.

She was beheaded, at the age of 16, within the walls of the Tower of London on February 12, 1554. She went to her death after watching the body of her husband being brought back to the Tower after his public beheading on the same day.

The Grey family began constructing the Bradgate House in 1499 and completed it in 1520. Though the family briefly lost the estate after falling out of favor with the Crown, they eventually reacquired the property. Still, it was abandoned in 1734 and was in ruins by 1790. The once-impressive building was one of the first large mansions constructed in England without defenses. It was also one of the first buildings in the country to be built with bricks. It was a magnificent structure, very similar to Hampton Court.

Related Tags

History Religion Royalty Houses Death Execution Mansions Ruins Teens Homes Sacred Spaces

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

Greg Jones, Kerry Wolfe

  • Greg Jones
  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

August 24, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Bradgate House
Bradgate Park Trail
Newtown Linford, England
United Kingdom
52.686742, -1.211413
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Abbey Sewage Pumping Station

Leicester, England

miles away

King Richard III's Car Park

Leicester, England

miles away

Mini Statue of Liberty

Leicester, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,199
Stories 144

Nearby Places

Abbey Sewage Pumping Station

Leicester, England

miles away

King Richard III's Car Park

Leicester, England

miles away

Mini Statue of Liberty

Leicester, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,199
Stories 144

Related Stories and Lists

Found: The Original Home of England's Doomed '9-Day Queen'

archaeology

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • The Oneida Community Mansion House.

    Oneida, New York

    Oneida Community Mansion House

    The shared home of a utopian commune that practiced "free love" a century before the hippies.

  • Paris, France

    Execution Site of Jacques de Molay

    The approximate spot where the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar was put to death.

  • The facade of the house.

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Last Home of Descartes

    A plaque marks the house in Stockholm where the French philosopher René Descartes lived up until his death.

  • Warwickshire, England

    Baddesley Clinton

    This medieval manor house was equipped with secret compartments for hiding priests.

  • The gates with Traquair House in the background.

    Scottish Borders, Scotland

    The Bear Gates of Traquair

    The main gates have been locked since 1745 and will remain so until the Stuart Dynasty returns to the throne.

  • View from Above; a more recent concrete construction can be seen nearby

    Green Island, Taiwan

    Youzihu

    The ruins of a prehistoric village hide on a remote Taiwanese island.

  • The ruins in the wood.

    Bingley, England

    Milner Field Ruins

    A lavish Victorian mansion wound up inheriting a gruesome reputation that would be its demise.

  • Huis Doorn

    Doorn, Netherlands

    Huis Doorn

    The elegant manor house where Kaiser Wilhelm II lived in exile after World War I.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.