This magnificent grade II listed building has been home to three distinguished families who have lived in the hall for 800 years, from 1088 until 1839 Tolethorpes, and from 1088-1316, the Burtons family lived in the hall for over 200 years and from 1316-1503 the Brownes

Little is know about the Tolethorpes, but we do know that Sir Tomas Burton served as an MP and High Sheriff of Rutland three time. Parliamentary seemed to go with the house, in 1316 the house was purchased by Francis Browne who was also an MP for Stamford and High Sheriff for 1524.  His grandson Robert Browne was born at Tolethorpe, and later became the leader of the Brownists, early advocates of a congregational form of organisation for the Church of England. In 1580 he attempted to set up a separate church in Norwich, he then moved to Middelburg in the Netherlands in 1581 but he returned to England and to the Church of England, being employed as a schoolmaster and parish priest.