A national drama was played out at Manor Lodge in the 16th century. It was here that Mary Queen of Scots was held under house arrest by order of Elizabeth I. Britain was deeply divided by religion and the power struggle of two determined Queens.

George Talbot and Bess of Hardwick, as Mary’s jailers, were trapped in the eye of this storm for 14 years. The onerous duty of guarding the Scottish Queen broke Talbot’s marriage, his health, and his chances of further political advancement.

Henry VIII, a second son not expected to inherit the throne, found himself a King at 18. He went on to establish the Church of England and was one of the most powerful and influential monarchs England has ever known. He was most infamous for his six marriages and his fiery temper. Henry elevated Thomas Wolsey to the height of power and wealth, only to be betrayed when Wolsey’s support was needed most.

Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, then Cardinal and candidate for the papacy, he was one of wealthiest and most powerful men of his time. His downfall started with a falling out with Henry over his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. In 1530, Wolsey was charged with high treason and arrested in York. On his long journey back to London to stand trial, he stopped at Manor Lodge as a guest of the fourth Earl for 18 days. Despite being frail and ill, Wolsey was forced to proceed and died two weeks later at Leicester Abbey, never reaching London or the fate that awaited him.

Bess of Hardwick. Made rich by four well chosen marriages Bess was wealthy, industrious, and powerful in her own right. Through her marriages, she had significantly prospered from her humble beginnings as the daughter of a member of the minor gentry. She has been described as “a builder, a buyer and seller of estates, a moneylender, a farmer, and a merchant of lead, coal, and timber.” For almost a decade, Bess and Queen Mary were close friends and spent hours working on their embroidery. In 1554, Bess’s daughter fell in love with Charles Lennox, the younger brother of Lord Darnley. Bess was eager to be related to the Royal Family. Queen Mary advised them marry and face the consequences after, which is what they did. Elizabeth was furious, and imprisoned both women in the Tower. Bess was soon released and told to return to Sheffield Castle. Facing her humiliation, she ended her friendship with Mary, eventually leaving Sheffield for good.

Elizabeth I. Protestant Elizabeth spent her entire monarchy trying to maintain peace in her realm from powerful Catholic factions determined to impose their religion on her kingdom. One of the biggest threats to her throne was her cousin and fellow female monarch, Mary Queen of Scots. Mary’s unexpected flight to England, forced Elizabeth into an awkward situation.

Deciding to hold Mary indefinitely as her “royal guest”, Elizabeth basically imprisoned Mary with Scotland’s full blessing. While Elizabeth fully trusted the Earl of Shrewsbury, she wasn’t so sure about his wife, the cunning Bess of Hardwick.

Mary Queen of Scots. Catholic Mary, forced to abdicate her throne in favour of her son James, fled to protestant Elizabeth’s protection, only to find herself a prisoner shortly thereafter. Endless plotting to install Mary in Elizabeth’s place eventually led to treason charges against Mary and her beheading. Shrewsbury, a caring and reluctant jailer, during her time in Sheffield, was forced to preside at her execution.

Mary spent 14 years of her imprisonment at both Sheffield Castle, and more comfortably, at Manor Lodge. This summer palace was the preferred home of the Shrewsburys. Its major extension in the 1570’s may have been prompted by the need to house a Queen and her retinue of 30 people.

George Talbot. The 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, was even grander and richer than his grandfather, with extensive land ownership in the Midlands and Yorkshire, and Lord Lieutenant of most of it. He was Queen Elizabeth’s right-hand man and was granted the title of Chamberlain of the Receipt of the Exchequer, then Earl Marshall of England. He was a keen house builder and an active industrialist, with mining interests and a semi-feudal control over the internationally renowned cutlery trade in Sheffield. He was probably entrusted to retain Mary because of his wealth and status, his position as a staunch protestant and a loyal servant to the Queen. He owned plenty of large houses to keep Mary well out of reach of her supporters.