Ruins of Cavendish House (Leicester)

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Leicester Abbey was dissolved in 1538 and the land leased to Francis Cave. By 1562 the land was in the hands of Henry Hastings who built a mansion out of the materials salvaged from the abbey. In 1613 the house was sold to William Cavendish, first Earl of Devonshire. Many important people were guests at the house, including Charles I, who spent the night of 24 August 1642 here before, on the next day, he raised his standard at Nottingham.

In May 1645 the King's army laid siege to parliament controlled Leicester and by the last day of the month had overcome all resistance. The king stayed for the next two days at the abbey house before leaving for Oxford. Shortly afterwards the undisciplined Royalist troops set fire to the building, thereby destroying it and reducing it to its present condition.