Holdenby House, Holdenby, Northamptonshire
In 1575 Sir Christopher Hatton, the Lord Chancellor, commissioned John Thorpe to design Holdenby Palace. The vast building with extensive grounds was completed by 1583. It was used by James I in the early 17th century and Charles I was held prisoner here in 1647. The estate passed to Captain Adam Baynes in 1651. He demolished many parts of it. In 1660 the estate was restored to the Crown, but for two centuries there was no resident squire. In 1873-5 and 1887-8 work was done on a new house (one eighth the size of the original). It was built incorporating part of the building that was left standing by Baynes.
