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
Basil Brooke (Leicestershire MP) Basil Brooke (Leicestershire MP) Sir Basil Brooke, of Lubenham (died 12 November 1612) was an English MP for Leicestershire in 1607. Basil Brooke of Lubenham was the son of Sir Andrew Brooke of Kirby, a Gentleman Usher to Queen Mary and the son of Thomas Brooke of Leighton. Basil succeeded his father in 1569. He was appointed Escheator of Warwickshire and Leicestershire in 1597 and was a justice of the peace for Leicestershire from 1601 to at least 1608. He was knighted at the accession of James I in 1603 and served as High Sheriff of Leicestershire for 1605 (Feb