The manor of Horninghold was purchased for £566 by Edward Griffin, whose family owned the manor of Gumley, south of Kibworth. His brother, who was groom of the privy chamber at the 1539 reception of Anne of Cleves, lived at Braybrooke, south east of Market Harborough.

Griffin became Solicitor General to Henry VIII in June 1545 and continued in that role under Edward IV. He subsequently became Attorney General under Mary I, where his devout Catholic faith would have been valued. However, he was removed from office on the accession of Elizabeth I. Despite this Elizabeth visited Dingley Hall in 1566 while on progress, after residing at Collyweston Palace.

Griffin acquired a Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers at Dingley, just east of Market Harborough, which he refashioned during the 1550s into a house for his own use. He also gained manorial interests in Harborough. The porch of this house, which bears the arms of Griffin, can be seen in the banner image.

The manor of Horninghold was sold by Griffin's heir in 1590 to William Turpin.