 The English aristocratic Spencer family has resided at their ancestral home at Althorp, Northamptonshire, since the early 16th century.The Estate now covers in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Norfolk.From pre-Tudor times the Spencers had been farmers, coming to prominence in Warwickshire in the 15th century when John Spencer became feoffee of Wormleighton in 1469, and a tenant at Althorp in 1486.