Withcote

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox UK place |country = England |static_image= Withcote.jpg |static_image_width= 240px |static_image_caption= |official_name= Withcote |coordinates = {{coord|52.644125|-0.82647|display=inline,title}} |civil_parish= Withcote |population = |shire_district= Harborough |shire_county= Leicestershire |region= East Midlands |constituency_westminster= Harborough |post_town= Oakham |postcode_district = LE15 |postcode_area= LE |dial_code= |os_grid_reference= |london_distance= }}

'''Withcote''' is a small parish currently comprising a number of scattered dwellings in Harborough, a local government district of Leicestershire. The population is included in the civil parish of Braunston-in-Rutland.

==Buildings== left|thumb|Withcote Hall left|thumb|Withcote chapel Withcote Hall is a Grade II* listed building<ref name="britishlistedbuildings">{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-190653-withcote-hall-withcote-leicestershire|title=Withcote Hall - Withcote - Leicestershire - England | British Listed Buildings|author=Good Stuff|publisher=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk|accessdate=29 July 2016}}</ref> that is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register as being unoccupied and in a very bad state<ref>{{cite report|title=Heritage at Risk 2018 - East Midlands |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/har-2018-registers/em-har-register2018/ |page=37|publisher=Historic England |accessdate=2 February 2019}}</ref> It is an early C18 country house, incorporating an earlier building. In the sixteenth century the house built by Roger Ratcliffe was described by John Leland as "one of the fairest houses in Leicestershire".<ref>Thomas Hearne, ''Itinerary of John Leland'', vol. 1 (Oxford, 1768), p. 28.</ref>

The Tudor Withcote Chapel adjoins the Hall and is protected by the Churches Conservation Trust. It contains some stained glass attributed to Galyon Hone; a glazier to Henry VIII.<ref name=vc>[http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/content.php?nID=11&churchID=330 Withcote Chapel], VisitChurches.org, accessed March 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Withcote Chapel, Withcote, Leicestershire |url=https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/withcote-chapel.html |website=visitchurches.org.uk |publisher=The Churches Conservation Trust |accessdate=2 February 2019}}</ref> Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed at Withcote on 24 September 1586 on her way to Fotheringhay Castle.<ref>David Templeman, ''Mary, Queen of Scots: The Captive Queen in England'' (Exeter: 2016), p. 229.</ref>

Sauvey Castle,<ref>http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/1782.html The Gatehouse gazetteer of medieval fortifications in England and Wales</ref> an early medieval ringwork and bailey castle and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is also in this parish.<ref name="Pastscape">{{PastScape|mnumber=321118 |mname=Sauvey Castle|accessdate=26 March 2009}}</ref>

Close by is Launde Abbey which contains the Tudor monument to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas, who dissolved the monastery and built himself a mansion there.

==Notable residents== *Henry Smith (1620–1668) was born here, an English Member of Parliament and one of the regicides of King Charles I.<ref>[http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/smith.htm Biography of Henry Smith, regicide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015201/http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/smith.htm |date=30 September 2007 }} British Civil Wars website</ref> *Henry Poole (died 1559), High Sheriff of Leicestershire: originally from Derbyshire, he acquired Withcote Hall by marriage into the Smith family and made it his principal residence.

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Withcote}}

Category:Villages in Leicestershire Category:Civil parishes in Harborough District