Bradgate House (16th century) It was lived in by the Grey family for the next 220 years. It is believed that the house was the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, later Queen, ruling for a mere 9 days before being overthrown by Mary I. Jane was executed in 1553 and when her father was executed the following year the estate passed to the crown. Local history claims that groundskeepers marked the occasion of Jane's execution by pollarding the estate's oak trees in a symbolic beheading. Examples of pollarded oaks can still be seen in the park. In 1563 the family regained favour, and the
John Harington (died 1553) John Harington (died 1553) Sir John Harington (by 1499 – 25 August 1553) of Exton, Rutland was an English politician. He was the eldest son of Sir John Harington of Exton, who he succeeded in 1524. He was a Justice of the Peace for Rutland and Lincolnshire and held a number of other positions such as Bailiff of Leicester and Esquire of the Body. He served as High Sheriff of Rutland for 1520–1, 1533–4, 1540–1 and from 1552 to his death, for Warwickshire and Leicestershire for 1532–3 and for Lincolnshire for 1537–8. He was elected a Member (MP) of the