The Visit of Queen Elizabeth I to Middleton Hall

The 28th/29th July 2025 marks the 450th anniversary of the visit of Queen Elizabeth I to Middleton Hall and the knighting of Sir Francis I Willoughby.

Portrait of Sir Francis I Willoughby. Courtesy of Lord Middleton

Francis Willoughby is likely to have been a reluctant host for the Queen. This is because he was definitely a reluctant knight. It was said that Queen Elizabeth thought that Francis should be knighted because he was one of the wealthiest, most landed and most influential gentlemen in the country at that time. However, he actively managed to avoid being knighted for almost a decade.

On 24th August 1566, Francis’ father-in-law, John Littleton, wrote to Francis to tell him that if he had not left the festivities at Kenilworth early, he would have been knighted, and John’s daughter would’ve become a Lady. He stated that Francis had been sought, but they could not find him. So, in his absence, six knights were made and Sir John Littleton was one of them, having taken Francis’ place. This is the first time Francis is known to have avoided becoming a knight.

Many further letters refer to Francis having visited Kenilworth, including in July 1575, and having then left early and thus avoided being knighted. Even more letters comment that Francis had avoided attending court. Therefore, if Queen Elizabeth was determined to knight Francis, the one way to ensure it would be done was to visit his home with little advance notice. This is exactly what happened.

Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Middleton Hall was part of her 1575 progress which began on 16th March. This progress is most noted for her extended lavish stay at Kenilworth Castle, where she was hosted by Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. The Queen spent almost the entirety of July at Kenilworth before heading to Lichfield. On 27th July, the Queen left Kenilworth and travelled to Meriden, where she was hosted by William Foster. She then journeyed to Middleton Hall. She arrived on Wednesday 28th July and left the following day, having spent two days and a night at the Hall. From Middleton, she travelled to Swinfen and arrived in Lichfield on 30th July.

The retinue of the Queen was greatly reduced for the small section of her route between Kenilworth and Lichfield. This was because the majority of the court, including the scribes, travelled directly by land from Kenilworth to Lichfield. As a result, there are few written descriptions of her visit to Middleton. It is also uncertain how the Queen travelled between Kenilworth and Lichfield because Meriden to Middleton could be completed via water along the rivers Blythe and Tame.

Records state that Sir Francis I Willoughby was knighted around a circle of bricks in the Great Hall of Middleton Hall and that William Catesby of Northamptonshire was knighted at the same time. One source reported that during the Queen’s visit to Middleton Hall 69 beef, 128 sheep and over 2000 chickens were consumed. Multiple sources have asserted that the Queen’s accommodation at Middleton Hall was on the first floor of the Great Hall. Unfortunately, those rooms were removed in the 1604 renovation by Sir Percival Willoughby.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p.527-8.

Mary Hill Cole, The Portable Queen. 1999.

W. A. Shaw, The Knights of England, vol. 2, 1906. p.76.

Egbert de Hamel, Historical Notes on Middleton Hall, 1901.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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