at Alton Towers, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 to 18, 23, 24;
Earl of Darnley, 44;
Duke of Devonshire, 126, 340;
Earl Mount Edgcumbe, 70;
at Hardwick Hall, 128 to 152;
Duke of Norfolk, 161;
Lord de L’Isle and Dudley, 184;
Earl of Warwick, 204;
Bear and Ragged Staff, 201;
Dukes of Rutland, 278;
at Haddon, 221 to 293;
Earls of Essex, 316;
Hardwick, 137.
Ashbourne, 25.
Avenell, Family of, 227, 272.
Barlow, 6.
Baslow, 396.
Beeley, 396.
Beauchamp, Family of, 197 to 201, 215 to 219;
Chapel, 215 to 217;
Monuments, 215 to 218.
Bedford, Duke of, 174.
Beton, John, Brass to, 391.
Bear and Rugged Staff, 201.
Bess of Hardwick, 6, 117, 128, 130, 137 to 143, 325, 334.
Bakewell, 282 to 292;
Church, 282 to 292;
Sepulchral Arms, 284;
Vernon Chapel, 284 to 288;
Dorothy Vernon’s Tomb, 286, 287;
Vernon Monuments, 284 to 288;
Wensley Monument, 288;
Saxon Cross, 290;
Curious Epitaphs, 290 to 292.
Bligh, Family of, 42 to 44.
Bohun, Family of, 172, 173, 195.
Bolton Abbey, 119.
Bolsover Castle, 119.
Border Warfare, 79.
Broke Family, 40 to 44, 51, 121.
Brooke, Lords, 204, 205.
Burleigh, Family of, 297, 298.
Buckingham, Duke of, 175.
Buxton, 222, 223, 224;
Baths, 222.
Capel, Family of, 312 to 316.
Cavendish, Family of, 6, 119 to 126, 138 to 143, 149 to 152,
324 to 396;
Life of Wolsey, 120, 121, 334;
Monuments, 391 to 393;
Overhall, 120.
Cecil, Family of, 41, 297 to 301.
Cassiobury, 308 to 321;
History of, 308 to 311, 317;
Situation, 308;
Park and Grounds, 316, 317, 319;
Interior, 318, 319;
Monuments, 320.
Chatsworth, 6, 7, 117, 119, 138, 140, 322 to 396;
History of, 323;
Situation, 322, 340, 341;
Mary Queen of Scots at, 325 to 328;
Arabella Stuart born at, 328, 329;
Hobbes of Malmesbury, 329, 330;
Park, 340, 341;
Interior, 342 to 372;
Sketch Gallery, 345;
Grinling Gibbon’s Masterpiece, 347;
Sculpture, 360 to 362;
Chapel, 364 to 369;
Carvings, 366 to 369;
Watson the Carver, 368, 369;
Hood’s Titles, 370;
Roman Antiquities, 371;
Gardens and Grounds, 373 to 383, 384;
French Gardens, 374;
Waterworks, 374 to 376, 377, 381;
Cascade, 375;
Willow-tree, 377;
Great Conservatory, 379, 380;
Emperor Fountain, 381;
Royal Trees, 382, 383;
Hunting Tower, 384, 385;
Queen Mary’s Bower, 385;
Kitchen Gardens, 385 to 387;
Victoria Regia House, 385;
Hotel, Edensor, 395.
Chesterfield, 119.
Clifton, Lords, 41 to 44.
Cobham, Family of, 39 to 44, 49 to 51, 121, 174.
Cobham Hall, 37 to 53;
Situation, 38;
Park and Grounds, 45;
Interior, 46, 47;
“Three Sisters,” 47;
Village, 52;
Church, 48 to 51;
Brasses in the Church, 49 to 51;
Monuments in the Church, 49 to 51;
College, 51.
Compton Place, 119.
Croxden Abbey, 3, 36.
Cothele, 63, 70 to 77;
Situation, 70, 71;
Interior, &c., 71 to 74;
Grounds, 74;
Family of Edgcumbe, 63 to 74.
Cotton, Charles, Wonders of the Peak, 330, 331.
Darnley, Earls of, 41 to 44.
De L’Isle and Dudley, Lord, 184;
Arms of, 184, 185.
Demon’s Dale, 36.
De Cobham, Family of, 38 to 44.
De Verdon, Family of, 3 to 6, 9.
De Vesci Family, 82 to 84.
Devonport, 56.
Derby, 224.
Derbyshire Scenery, 116 to 119, 222 to 227.
Devonshire, Dukes of, 119 to 126, 148 to 152, 322 to 396;
Arms of, 126, 340.
Devonshire Scenery, 54 to 58.
Dove-Dale, 25.
Doveridge, 25.
Duffield, 224;
Castle, 227.
Edensor, 387 to 396;
Church, 388 to 394;
Brass of John Beton, 390, 391;
Cavendish Monument, 391 to 393;
Tomb of Duke of Devonshire, 393;
Curious Epitaphs, 394;
Hotel, 395.
Eddystone Lighthouse, 56, 57.
Edgcumbe, Family of, 63 to 70;
Story of Sir Richard, 64;
Tombs, 66.
Essex, Earls of, 314 to 316;
Arms of, 316.
Exeter, 55.
Ferrars, 3, 4.
Fitzalan, Family of, 156 to 158, 170, 171;
Monuments, 170, 171.
Furnival, 3 to 5.
Gernon Family, 120.
Gibbons, Grinling, 347, 366 to 369.
Greville, Family of, 204, 205.
Guy, Earl of Warwick, 211 to 215.
Guy’s Cliff, 198.
Guy’s Tower, 210.
Guy’s Cave, 218.
Hardwick, Family of, 6, 7, 117, 128, 130, 137 to 143, 325, 334.
Hardwick Hall, 6, 7, 116 to 152;
Approaches to, 117;
Situation, 127;
Exterior, 127;
Interior, 128 to 136;
Curious Table, 132;
Mary Queen of Scots’ Room, 133, 134;
Old Hall, 143;
“Giant’s Chamber,” 144;
Accounts of Building, 145, 146.
Hartington, Marquess of, 126, 339.
Hault Hucknall, 119, 146 to 152.
Haddon Hall, 71, 117, 221 to 293;
Situation, 221 to 226, 235, 236;
History of, 227 to 242;
Court-yards, &c., 236;
Arrangement, 236 to 242;
Chapel, 243 to 249;
Interior, 242 to 269;
Roman Altar, 250;
Grounds, 269 to 272;
Terrace, 270;
Bowling Green, 271;
Gold Ring, 280;
Washing Tally, 281.
Hatfield House, 294 to 307;
Situation, 294,295;
History, 294 to 297, 301;
Exterior, 301 to 303;
Interior, 303 to 306;
Park and Grounds, 306, 307.
“Hobbes of Malmesbury,” 119, 148 to 152, 329, 330;
Memoir of, 149 to 152;
Tomb, 148;
De Mirabilibus Pecci, 329, 330.
Howard, Family of, 158 to 161.
Hulne Abbey, 112, 113.
Ina’s Rock, 32.
Kedleston Hall, 117.
King of the Peak, 232 to 235, 285.
Leche, Family of, 323, 324.
Leicester, Earl of, 181.
Lisle, Viscount, 181.
Longshawe, 282.
Manners, Family of, 129, 233, 234, 272 to 278;
Monument, 282.
Mary Queen of Scots, 7, 116, 128, 140 to 143, 222, 325;
Statue of, 128;
at Chatsworth,325 to 329;
Household of, 327,328;
Bower, 385;
Monument to John Beton, 391.
Matlock, 117, 224, 292.
Mount Edgcumbe, Earls of, 63 to 70;
Arms, 70.
Mount Edgcumbe, 54 to 77;
Interior, 62, 63;
Route to, 55;
Situation, 58, 59;
Park and Grounds, 58 to 62;
Lady Emma’s Cottage, 60.
Morley, Earl of, 76.
Morrison, Family of, 311, 312;
Monuments, 320, 321.
Nevile, Family of, 3, 201 to 203.
Newburgh, Family of, 195.
Norfolk, Dukes of, 157 to 162;
Arms of, 161;
Monuments, 170, 171.
Northumberland, Dukes of, 97 to 101;
Arms of, 101.
Over Haddon, 227.
Paxton, Sir Joseph, 385 to 387.
Peacock at Rowsley, 225.
Pembroke, Countess of, 180.
Percy, Family of, 84 to 88, 96 to 101.
Penshurst, 172 to 191;
History of, 173 to 178;
The Sidneys, 176 to 185;
Situation, 185;
Interior, 186 to 190;
Sacharissa’s Walk, 185;
Sidney’s Oak, 185;
Church, 190, 191;
Monuments, 191.
Peveril, Family of, 227.
Plymouth, 55;
Breakwater, 56, 57;
Eddystone Lighthouse, 56, 57, 58;
Hoe, 56;
The Tamar, 70;
Mount Edgcumbe, 54 to 57;
Cothele, 70 to 77;
Trips round, 76, 77.
Poultney, Family of, 174.
Pugin, 10, 23, 32;
Hoax upon, 33.
Rich, Lords, 203;
Family of, 203.
Roman Altar, 250.
Rowsley, 225, 226, 282;
Church, 282;
Monument of Lady John Manners, 282.
Rutland, Duke of, 139, 233, 272 to 278;
Arms of, 278.
Sacharissa, 183.
Saltram, 76.
Salisbury, Marquess of, 300, 301;
Arms of, 301.
Sheffield Manor, 140, 325.
Shrewsbury, Earls of, 3 to 9, 14, 15, 35, 36, 138 to 143, 326 to 329;
Arms of, 9, 11 to 13;
Countess of, 6, 117, 128, 130, 137 to 143, 325, 334.
Sidney, Family of, 172 to 191;
Sir Philip, 173, 178 to 181.
Sidney’s Oak, 185.
St. Loe Family, 6.
Smithson, Family of, 97 to 101.
Stanley, Family of, 233.
Stanton Woodhouse, 282.
Stuart, Lady Arabella, 328, 329.
Sudbury, 25.
Talbot, Family of, 3 to 9, 16, 17, 18, 35, 36;
Monuments, 14, 35, 36.
Tutbury, 25, 140, 227.
Uttoxeter, 25, 26.
Verdon Family, 3 to 6, 9.
Vernon, Lords, 25, 230 to 232;
Family of, 228 to 234;
Sir George, 232, 233, 288;
Dorothy, 233, 234, 261, 262, 275, 285, 286, 289;
Monuments, 284 to 288.
Waller the Poet, 183.
Warwick, Earls of, 195 to 204;
The King Maker, 201;
Tournament, 197.
Warwick Castle, 192 to 220;
Grounds, 210 to 212;
History, 192 to 194;
Situation, 206;
Interior, 207 to 210;
Dungeons, 210;
Guy’s Tower, 210;
Warder’s Horn, 207;
Burning of, 205;
Cæsar’s Tower, 210;
Guy Relics, 212;
Legend of Guy, 211 to 215;
Guy’s Cave, 218;
Beauchamp Chapel, 215 to 217;
St. Mary’s Church, 215 to 218;
Monuments, 215;
East Gate, 219;
Herald, 198;
Vase, 211.
Wingfield Manor, 117, 140.
Watford Church, 320;
Monuments, 320, 321.
Watson, Samuel, the Carver, 368, 369.
Washing-Tally, 281.
END OF FIRST SERIES.
THE
STATELY HOMES OF ENGLAND
_SECOND SERIES_
INTRODUCTION.
THE noble mansions which have been chosen to form the second series
of our “Stately Homes of England” will, it gives us pleasure to know,
be found to fully bear out what was said in the Introduction to the
first volume, that England is emphatically a Kingdom of Homes, and that
these and their associations, and the love which is felt for them, are
its main source of happiness and true greatness. For assuredly those
we have now selected, like those already illustrated, are noble in
their plans, their proportions, and their architecture; stately and
magnificent in their appointments and internal arrangements; stirring
in the historical incidents with which they have been connected;
interesting from the grand old families by whom they have been, and
are still, inhabited; and more than passingly interesting from their
antiquarian character, their architectural features, their romantic
beauties, their picturesque surroundings, and the invaluable treasures
of Art enshrined within their walls. No matter in what Shire they
are situated—and we have selected them alike from east and west,
from north and south, as well as from the “lovely midlands”—these
“Homes” serve but as examples of innumerable others that, dotted over
the surface of the country, form the glory of England, and, through
their noble owners, add to the stability, the greatness, and the proud
supremacy of
“Our own, our native land.”
England has, indeed, reason to be proud of her Homes, and it has been
a pleasant and a loving task to describe and to illustrate some of
them in these volumes; to give records of the historical incidents with
which they have been associated; and to add the ample genealogical
notices of the families to whom they belong.
Like those in the first volume, these notices were prepared for,
and originally appeared in, the _Art Journal_, but they have been
rearranged, here and there rewritten, and in every case materially
added to. We shall hope to follow up the present volume—the second of
the series—with two or three more of a similar character, in which
other houses, equally beautiful, equally interesting, and equally
“stately” with those we have described, will form the theme of our pen
and the subject of our pencil.
CONTENTS OF SECOND SERIES.
PAGE
I.—BELVOIR CASTLE, LEICESTERSHIRE 1001
II.—TRENTHAM, STAFFORDSHIRE 1032
III.—KNOLE, KENT 1056
IV.—CASTLE HOWARD, YORKSHIRE 1074
V.—KEDLESTON HALL, DERBYSHIRE 1093
VI.—AUDLEY END, ESSEX 1112
VII.—BURLEIGH, LINCOLNSHIRE 1128
VIII.—HEVER CASTLE, KENT 1147
IX.—WESTWOOD PARK, WORCESTERSHIRE 1160
X.—MELBOURNE HALL, DERBYSHIRE 1186
XI.—SOMERLEYTON, SUFFOLK 1203
XII.—WILTON HOUSE, WILTSHIRE 1224
XIII.—RABY CASTLE, DURHAM 1242
XIV.—CLIEFDEN, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1265
XV.—WARNHAM COURT, SUSSEX 1280
XVI.—LOWTHER CASTLE, WESTMORELAND 1291
XVII.—CLUMBER, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 1317
XVIII.—WELBECK, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 1327
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
SECOND SERIES.
Page
I.—BELVOIR CASTLE.
View from one of the Towers 1001
Belvoir Castle from the Grantham Road 1002
Arms of De Todeni, De Albini, and De Ros 1003
Ancient Arms of Manners 1006
Belvoir Castle from the North-west, showing the Grand
Entrance 1008
Augmented Arms of Manners 1009
Arms of Duke of Rutland 1014
Belvoir Castle from the North-west 1015
The Grand Corridor, or Ball-room 1021
The Duchess’s Garden 1024
The Statue Garden 1025
Belvoir Castle, from the Stables, showing the Covered
Exercise-ground 1027
The Gardener’s Cottage 1028
II.—TRENTHAM.
Arms of Duke of Sutherland 1032
Trentham, from Monument Hill, Tittensor 1034
Statue of Sir Richard Leveson in theourtyard at
Trentham 1036
Monument of Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland, Trentham
Church 1040
The South Front, from the Italian Gardens 1043
The South Front, with Grecian Temple 1045
The Conservatory and Private Wing, South Front 1046
The Private Conservatory 1047
Trentham Church 1049
The Upper Terrace Garden, Italian Garden, and Lake 1051
The Gardener’s Cottage 1053
Children’s Cottage and Gardens 1054
III.—KNOLE.
Fire Dogs 1056
Front View from the Park 1058
The South Front 1062
Knole, from the Garden 1065
The Brown Gallery 1067
The Cartoon Gallery 1069
The King’s Bed-room 1070
The Staircase 1071
The Retainers’ Gallery 1072
IV.—CASTLE HOWARD.
In the Grounds 1074
The South Front 1079
The Garden Front 1080
The Mausoleum 1084
The Dairy 1085
The Great Hall 1086
The Garden 1090
The Grand Fountain 1091
V.—KEDLESTON HALL.
Vase in Garden 1093
The Hall and Bridge from the Park 1096
Arms of Lord Scarsdale 1099
Arms of Leke 1100
The North Front 1102
The Great Hall 1103
The Saloon 1105
The South or Garden Front 1107
Kedleston Church, from the West 1110
Kedleston Church, Interior 1111
VI.—AUDLEY END.
The Lodge 1114
The West Front 1115
East Front, from the Garden 1118
South Front 1120
The Entrance Porch, West Front 1122
The Temple of Concord 1124
The Garden 1125
VII.—BURLEIGH.
Arms of Marquis of Exeter 1128
Burleigh House, from the Park 1130
West View 1131
North View 1134
East View 1135
The Quadrangle, looking West 1139
The Great Hall 1141
The Ancient Stone Staircase 1143
VIII.—HEVER CASTLE.
Axe and Crown 1147
Entrance Gateway, with Portcullis 1149
Hever Castle, from the East 1153
Hever Castle, from the West 1154
Anne Boleyn’s Chamber 1156
Hever Castle: the Court-yard 1157
In the Long Gallery 1158
IX.—WESTWOOD PARK.
Arms of Lord Hampton 1160
Entrance Lodge 1161
Westwood, from the Main Approach 1162
The Gatehouse, as seen from the Mansion 1164
The Entrance Porch 1165
The Grand Staircase 1168
The Saloon 1169
Armorial Initial Letter 1171
North-east View 1173
The North Front 1177
The Principal Front 1179
Hampton Lovett Church 1182
X.—MELBOURNE HALL.
The Fountain 1186
Arms of Coke 1189
Melbourne Hall, from the Garden 1191
The Gardens and Yew Tunnel 1194
The Gardens, as seen from the Hall 1195
Melbourne Church, West Doorway 1198
King’s Newton Hall as it was 1199
Holy Well, King’s Newton 1200
The Trent and Weston Cliff 1201
The Trent and Donington Cliff 1202
XI.—SOMERLEYTON.
Iron-work Monogram 1203
The South Lodge 1205
The Front 1207
The West Front 1209
North-east View 1211
In the Winter Garden. Spanish Dancers, Hautmann 1213
In the Winter Garden. Statue, Hautmann 1214
In the Winter Garden. Statue of Hymen, Byrtrom 1215
In the Winter Garden. Nymph at her Toilet, Haudmauer 1216
Somerleyton Church 1221
XII.—WILTON HOUSE.
Initial Letter 1224
The Principal Front 1225
Wilton, from the River 1230
The Cedars 1231
The Hall 1233
The Drawing-room 1234
The New Church at Wilton 1237
Salisbury Cathedral 1240
XIII.—RABY CASTLE.
South Side 1243
North-east Side 1246
South and East Sides 1249
East Side 1256
Raby Castle, from the West 1257
Raby Castle, West Side 1262
XIV.—CLIEFDEN.
Cliefden, from the Thames 1266
The Thames at Cliefden 1268
Cliefden: the Cottage 1269
Cliefden: the Summer Cottage 1270
The Principal Front 1273
The Summer House 1276
XV.—WARNHAM COURT.
Distant View from the Lake 1281
The South or Grand Terrace 1283
The Garden Front 1284
The Mansion and Conservatory, from the Grounds 1285
View from the North-west 1288
XVI.—LOWTHER CASTLE.
North Front 1293
Arms of the Earl of Lonsdale 1297
South Front 1298
The Sculpture Gallery 1303
Roman Remains from Kirkby Thore and
Drumburgh 1304
Roman Altars from Old Penrith 1306
Roman Remains from Kirkby Thore and
Drumburgh 1307
Roman Remains from Kirkby Thore and
Drumburgh 1308
Roman Remains from Kirkby Thore and
Drumburgh 1309
In the Grounds of Lowther Castle 1311
XVII.—CLUMBER.
West Front 1318
Roman Sepulchral Altars 1324
Roman Sepulchral Altars 1325
XVIII.—WELBECK.
West Front and Oxford Wing 1328
Arms of Cavendish 1331
Arms of Hardwick 1332
Autograph of the Countess of Shrewsbury 1333
Margaret (Lucas) Duchess of Newcastle 1336
Arms of Holles 1337
Arms of Bentinck 1338
Arms of the Duke of Portland 1341
Part of Welbeck in 1658 1342
Welbeck, from the South-east 1346
The Riding School 1348
The Greendale Oak 1354
BELVOIR CASTLE.
[Illustration: _View from one of the Towers._]
ONE of the most majestic in character, commanding in situation,
picturesque in surroundings, and striking in its arrangements, of all
the “Stately Homes of England,” is Belvoir Castle, the grand old seat
of his Grace the Duke of Rutland. Stately among the stateliest, and
standing on an eminence in the midst of an undulating country, the one
object on which the eye rests from whichever side it is approached,
the castle commands uninterrupted views ranging over three separate
counties, and embracing within its ken such a variety of plain and
water, wood and valley, hill and meadow, as no other “Home” can boast.
Situated nearly at the junction of the three counties of Leicester,
Nottingham, and Lincoln, the panoramic view obtained from the castle
combines the characteristics of each, and its extent ranges over an
area of fifty or sixty miles in diameter—being on one side bounded by
Lincoln Minster (which is, in a clear atmosphere, distinctly visible)
and the hills beyond, although thirty miles off “as the crow flies.”
Its immediate neighbourhood, the lovely and fertile “vale of Belvoir,”
the theme of poet and prose-writer, and the delight of the painter and
lover of nature, lies immediately below, while beyond are miles of
lovely country, gloriously diversified with wood and water, and studded
at intervals with hamlets, villages, and homesteads, which add greatly
to the beauty of the scene.
[Illustration: _Belvoir Castle from the Grantham Road._]
A marked and peculiar character of Belvoir, and one of its greatest
charms, is that it stands in the midst of this open country, not within
the confines of its own park. There is no enclosed park; and park
palings, lodges, bolts, bars, and locks are unknown. The Duke, in this
noble mansion, rests in the midst of his immense estates, and draws no
cordon around him. The roads, right up to the very castle, are open and
free to all, and restriction is unknown. For miles in extent, and from
every side, the public may wander on foot, or ride or drive, through
the estate and up to the very doors, unmolested, and untrammelled by
fear of porters, or deterred by appliances of state or ceremony. The
stronghold of the De Todenis, the Albinis, the Especs, the De Ros’, and
the Manners’, thus nestles securely in the very heart of the country,
as does its noble owner—the descendant and representative of this long
line of illustrious men—in the hearts of his tenantry, his friends,
and all who have the privilege of knowing him.
[Illustration: _Arms of De Todeni, De Albini, and De Ros._]
The history of Belvoir Castle dates back to very early times, and is
invested with more than ordinary interest. Leaving the question as to
its site having originally been a Celtic stronghold taken possession
of and formed into a station, or something of the kind, by the Romans,
to be discussed elsewhere, it is sufficient for our present purpose to
say that at the Norman Conquest, Belvoir, with some fourscore manors,
was given by William the Conqueror to his faithful standard-bearer,
Robert de Todeni, who here built a castle and founded a monastery.
This monastery, situated at the foot of the castle hill, and on whose
site many interesting remains have in late years been exhumed, was
established in 1077, and was endowed with large estates; its founder,
Robert Belvidir or De Todeni, agreeing to give to it for ever a tenth
part of all the lands he might acquire by the help of God or the
grant of the King. This priory was established for four monks of the
Benedictine Order (and afterwards became a cell of the Abbey of St.
Albans), who were to pray for the souls of the King, of the Earl of
Cornwall, of Robert de Todeni, and Adelais, his wife, and of their
parents and children. Robert de Todeni died in 1088, and, with his
wife, who predeceased him, was buried in the priory at Belvoir which he
had founded. He was succeeded by his son William, who took the surname
of De Albini Brito, by whom the grants to the priory were confirmed and
increased, and he obtained for the monks a grant of a fair for eight
days in the year on the feast of St. John the Baptist. He married Maud
de St. Liz, widow of Robert de Tonebrigg, daughter of Simon, Earl of
Northampton and Huntingdon, and, dying in 1155, he, too, was buried at
Belvoir, and was succeeded by his son, William de Albini, or Meschines
(also buried here), who in turn was succeeded by his son, the third
William de Albini, whose name, in connection with King John and Magna
Charta, is matter of history. During his imprisonment at Corfe Castle
by his unforgiving king, Belvoir Castle was, at the summons of the
sovereign, surrendered into his hands. Under Henry III., Albini, being
reinstated in favour, had a chief command at the battle of Lincoln,
and took part in most of the stirring events of the period. Besides
adding to the endowments of Belvoir Priory, he founded the Hospital of
Our Lady at Newstead, for the health of the souls of himself and his
two wives, and there his body was buried in 1236, while his heart was
placed under the wall opposite the high altar at Belvoir. He married
Agatha Trusbut, for the privilege of marrying whom he gave the King 600
marks (about £6,000 of our money). He was succeeded by his son, the
fourth William de Albini, or, as he was called, William de Belvoir,
who left no male issue, but, by his wife Albreda Biset, had an only
child, a daughter Isabel, who married Robert de Ros, Lord of Hamlake,
fifth in regular descent from Peter de Ros, who, by marriage with
Adeline, daughter of Walter Espec, became the inheritor of two princely
fortunes. Thus by the marriage of Isabel de Albini with Robert de Ros
the estates of Espec, Ros, and Albini became united.
This Robert de Ros, after his accession to the Belvoir estates,
obtained a grant of free warren and a weekly market there from Henry
III. Later on, as one of the insurgent barons, he was imprisoned and
fined. In 1267 he raised a new embattled and fortified wall at Belvoir
Castle. He died in 1285; his body being buried at Kirkham, his bowels
before the high altar at Belvoir, and his heart at Croxton Abbey. At
the suppression of the monasteries part of the monument which had been
placed over his heart at Croxton was removed to Bottesford Church,
where it still remains in the chancel wall. His widow, Isabel, died
in 1301, and was buried at Newstead. He was succeeded by his son,
William de Ros, who became an unsuccessful competitor for the crown of
Scotland, founding his claim on his descent from his great-grandmother
Isabel, daughter to William the Lion, King of Scotland. By his marriage
with Matilda de Vaux he added to the family estates and ecclesiastical
patronage; and on his death, in 1317, was succeeded by his son, William
de Ros, who was created Lord Ros of Werke; became Baron Ros of Hamlake,
Werke, Belvoir, and Trusbut; was summoned to Parliament, second Edward
II. to sixteenth Edward III.; was made Lord High Admiral, and one of
the Commissioners to treat for peace with Robert Bruce. He died in
1342, and was succeeded by his son, William de Ros, who, after a busy
military life, fighting against the Scots, at the siege of Calais,
and against the Saracens, died on his way to the Holy Land, and was
buried abroad. He married Margaret, daughter of Ralph, Lord Nevill, who
survived him, and afterwards married Sir Henry de Percy.