Gunpowder plot drama features Alcester's Coughton Court

A NEW BBC drama about the Gunpowder plot to kill King James I and Parliament will be shown on television this Saturday and Alcester's Coughton Court is featured in the story line.

Gunpowder follows Robert Catesby (nephew of Thomas Throckmorton of Coughton Court), the infamous terrorist who hired Guy Fawkes as part of an attempt to assassinate King James I by blowing up Parliament in 1605. Several of the plotters were related to the Throckmorton family.

Arms, ammunition and horses were stored at Coughton Court ready for the uprising that was meant to follow the assassination.

It was in the gatehouse that the family and associates of the plotters received the news of the plot’s failure early on November 6th 1605.

Some plotters were killed being arrested and some were arrested and then executed – some in London and some in the county.

The three part series begins on BBC One this Saturday at 9.10pm