Compton Verney

It had good communications, being served by the Fosse Way, which runs north–south half a mile from the site and led originally from the Roman settlements of Cirencester to Leicester.

The Domesday Book of 1086 lists Compton as two manors, the largest of which was among the many holdings of Robert de Beaumont (c. 1049 – 1118), Count of Meulan, one of the few proven companions of William the Conqueror who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

In 1370, after two hundred years of ownership by his family, Sir Thomas Murdak surrendered the estate to Alice Perrers, mistress of King Edward III.

Finally, it was sold in 1921 to the Leeds soap magnate Joseph Watson (d.1922) of Linton Spring[10] near Wetherby in Yorkshire, who in 1922 was raised to the peerage as "Baron Manton of Compton Verney".

His eldest son and heir Miles Watson (1899–1968) resided at Compton Verney for a short while, but soon sold it and moved to Plumpton Place in Sussex.

Compton Verney House , the manor house rebuilt 1762–68 by John Peyto-Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke
1656 drawing of heraldic glass set up by Sir Richard Verney (d.1489) in a "great bay window" of the great hall of old Compton Verney House
Arms of Verney of Compton Verney: Gules, three crosses recerclée voided throughout or a chief vair ermine and ermines