Exhibition explores lives of Tudor spy family

Letters and documents reveal how the Selbys became part of a ring of spies across the country

A Tudor family that owned Ightham Mote and had connections to notorious spymasters will be explored as part of a new exhibition at the National Trust site.

Selby Spies, which opens on Monday, traces how the family helped foil plots against Elizabeth I by passing on information, as well as their first-hand role in the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne in 1603.

Ightham Mote in Sevenoaks, Kent came under ownership of Sir William and Dame Dorothy Selby in 1591 and kept in the family for nearly three centuries until 1889.

Frederick Forman, senior collections and house officer at Ightham Mote, said: "Understanding the Selby story brings a significant period in the history of Ightham Mote out of the shadows".

Before moving to Ightham, the Selbys were a gentry family active in military posts and politics in the north of England.

They obtained the estate due to their role in passing on information to the royal court.

The exhibition is free to view with admission to Ightham Mote

The National Trust said new research for the exhibition shows how their work "keeping the peace" during "tumultuous" times drew them into the orbit of key political players of the day, including Sir Francis Walsingham, famously known as spymaster to Elizabeth I.

Mr Forman, who is co-curator of the exhibition, said: "In many instances we pieced together the Selbys' lives through historical sources written or produced by them.

"These first-hand accounts have painted a true picture of their secretive interactions and influence for the first time."