Sulgrave was originally a priory which surrendered to the Crown during the dissolution of the monastery. In 1540 three manors were sold together which included Sulgrave and was purchased by Laurence Washington a Wool Merchant and former Mayor of Northamptonshire.

In time he would be referred to as 5th times great grandfather of George Washington, the first president of the United Sates in 1789

The manor remained in the family for 3 generations before being sold to a Reverent Moss Hodges in 1673 and later purchased by the trust in 1914

In the 18th century The Culworth Gang were very active in the area, notably William Abbot the Parish Clerk of Sulgrave and a member of the Culworth Gang allegedly hid ill gotten gains in the church collection box and never performed a service without two loaded pistols. He was eventually caught and transported overseas for highway robbery