Kimbolton Local History Society

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Maximum group of 50 persons

Drayton House is a country house 1 mile (1.6 km) south-west of the village of Lowick, Northamptonshire, England.

Aubrey de Vere I participated in the Norman conquest of England and was awarded land near Northampton to build a manor house. In the early thirteenth century, Sir Walter de Vere dropped the "de Vere" family name, and assumed the surname "Drayton"

The core of the house was built by Sir Simon de Drayton around 1300 and still survives. He received his licence to crenellate in 1328. There have been changes to the house in each century since, including works recorded by Isaac Rowe, John Webb, William Talman, Gerard Lanscroon, William Rhodes, Alexander Roos, George Devey and John Alfred Gotch. However, the house is important for the transformation it underwent during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. There is a unique spiral cantilever oak staircase dating from around 1680 and an embroidered State Bed from 1700.

In 1770 the house passed to the Sackville family. Two rooms were redecorated in the Adam style. The house today preserves its medieval origins and the changes in the Baroque period, and is a family home. It is built of squared coursed limestone and limestone ashlar with lead and Collyweston stone slate roofs, and sits in large grounds known as Drayton Park.