θɹuː ðə twˈɛlfθ ænd θˈɜːtiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹiz ðə mˈænɚ wʌz hˈɛld baɪ ðɪ ˈɜːlz ʌv lˈɛstɚ, ðə lˈæst ˈɜːl bˌiːɪŋ dʒˈɑːn ʌv ɡˈɔːnt, dˈuːk ʌv lˈæŋkæstɚ dˈaɪd wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn.
Through the 12th and 13th centuries the manor was held by the Earls of Leicester, the last Earl being John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (died 1399).