Why Build a Castle?
It is not known why Gregory Gregory would build a manor such as Harlaxton, but there are theories. Some believe he wanted a title, and one way to obtain one was to give himself legitimacy by having a fantastic home that looked as though his family had been established for generations. Another theory is that he wanted to be seen as an equal of the Duke of Rutland from Belvoir Castle, which can be easily seen from Harlaxton Manor. He did make sure that Harlaxton had exactly one more room than the castle across the vale. Finally, there are those who think that Gregory did not build this manor because he wanted to create a legacy or get a title, but instead he built Harlaxton because he thought it would be fun. He poured everything into its construction: his time, his money, his energy.
Harlaxton Manor Archives 