Family return to running Coughton Court in Warwickshire
Magnus and Imogen Birch Throckmorton will resume the running of Coughton Court in Warwickshire, taking over from The National Trust which has managed the visitor operations at Coughton Court since 2005. The conservation charity will continue to do so until early next year, following which the property will return to an independent family-run house.
Magnus and Imogen Birch Throckmorton are descendants of Sir Robert Throckmorton who built the house in 1409. The young couple and their two children already live at Coughton Court and manage the estate’s beautiful gardens while the National Trust looks after the property and visitor experience.
Magnus Birch Throckmorton said: “From the Gunpowder Plot to award winning gardens and a fascinating collection of historic treasures, Coughton Court has so many stories. We’re incredibly excited to bring a family touch to the visitor experience and work with our brilliant team to deliver a vibrant next chapter that will stand out in Coughton’s history in another 300 years.
“The Throckmortons have a legacy of hands-on management - my mother and grandmother designed and created the gardens that thousands of visitors enjoy today. Imogen and I will continue to uphold this by working across the estate and with the local community to let its distinctive nature shine.”
As well as introducing events for the community and visitors, the family are exploring ways to appeal to wider audiences and build on the current visitor experience which includes parkland trails, self-guided house tours and Coughton Kitchen Café.
Magnus added: “We are extremely grateful to the National Trust for the restoration and preservation work that has been undertaken to date. Coughton Court has always been well cared for but feel the time is right to bring its management back into family hands and celebrate its uniqueness.”
The National Trust owns the property and will continue to support in its care and maintenance.
Oliver Burke, Assistant Director of Operations for National Trust, South Midlands, said: “We have very much enjoyed welcoming visitors to Coughton Court during our time managing that side of the property – as we will continue to do this year. The Throckmortons have a long-standing history at Coughton and we know they are looking forward to sharing this with visitors once again when they take on the day-to-day management of the property in early 2026.
“The National Trust and the Throckmorton family care a great deal for Coughton and we will continue to play our part in looking after the fabric of the building. Over the next 12 months we will be working closely with the family to ensure a smooth handover, and we wish them well for the future.”
Coughton Court is currently closed for winter and re-opens to visitors on Saturday 15 March. The National Trust will continue to run the visitor side of the property for the rest of the 2025 season and there is a full programme of events and activities planned.
