Ralph De Stafford Earl 1301-1372

Sir Ralph DeStafford KG, 1st Earl and 2nd Baron of Stafford



b. 24 Sep 1301  Stafford, Staffordshire, England
d. 31 Aug 1372  age 70, Bur Tunbridge, Kent, England
m. 1326 — age: 25  Stafford Castle, Staffordshire, England
    to: Lady Margaret de Audley, Baroness

Parents
   Sir E De Stafford, Earl and Baron of Stfford 1272 – 1308
   Lady Margaret de Bassett, Baroness de Stafford 1273 – 1337
Spouse
   Lady Margaret de Audley, Baroness 1318 – 1347
Children:
   Margaret Stafford 1327 – 1373
   Elizabeth Stafford 1334 – 1375
   Sir H De Stafford, Earl and Baron of Stafford 1334 – 1386
   Joan de Stafford  1336 – 1397
   Beatrice Stafford  1337 – 1365
   John De Stafford  1337 – 1398
   Ralph STAFFORD  1337 – 1374
   Lady Beatrice De Stafford Baroness Ros  1338 – 1415
   Catherine Stafford  1338 – 1361
   Ralph STAFFORD  1338 – 1347
   Lady Beatrice Stafford, Countess  1340 – 1361
   Margaret DeStafford  1341 – 1361
   Eleanor Stafford  1342 –
   Jane de Stafford  1343 – 1396
   Ralph Stafford  1344 – 1347
   Margaret De Stafford, Baroness  1345 – 1418
   Thomas Stafford  1347 – 1398
from ancestry.com  

  Sir Ralph 1st Earl de Stafford
      (from an alternate source)

b.  9 Oct 1299  Tonbridge, Kent, England
d. 31 Aug 1372  Tonbridge, Kent, England      
    Emaciated and worn out with old age and constant military service. Died in his castle. He had a will, but its date and its probate are unknown
Parents:

    Edmund 1st Baron de Stafford  1272 – 1308

    Margaret de Basset, Baroness de Stafford 1280 – 1337

Spouses:

m1.  1326— Age: 27 Stafford, Staffordshire, England

    to Katherine de Hastang 1301-1336 

m2. 1335 6 Jul— Age: 35  Stafford, Staffordshire, England

    to Lady Margaret Countess and Baroness de Audley  1318-1347

    Wife (Lady Margaret) was an heiress. Groom abducted and eloped with the bride. The family complained to Edward III, but he supported Stafford. He appeased the bride's father by making him the Earl of Gloucester.

Children (w/ Lady Margaret):

    Ralph de Stafford 1338 – 1358

    Lady Beatrice of Stafford 1340 – 1415

    Lady Catherine Baroness de Stafford 1340 – 1361

    Eleanor de Stafford 1342 –

    Hugh Earl of Stafford 1342 – 1386

from ancestry.com

Ralph Earl of Stafford

Was an English soldier and nobleman, and became a founding Knight of the Garter in 1348.
Stafford was summoned to Parliament as the 2nd Baron Stafford from 1337 to 1350. He was created 1st Earl of Stafford in 1351. He served as a military leader under King Edward II, fighting in campaigns in Scotland, then in Brittany, France, where he was captured during the Siege of Nantes. He died in 1372 at Tunbridge, Kent.
from ancestry.com

Wikipedia: Ralph Stafford

Sir Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford (24 September 1301 – 31 August 1372) was an English nobleman and notable soldier during the Hundred Years War against France.
He was the son of Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford, by his spouse Margaret Bassett.
Stafford was appointed Steward of the Royal Household in 1327. He became a founding Knight of the Garter on August 26, 1348, and was summoned to Parliament by Writ as the 2nd Baron Stafford from 1337 to 1350. In 1345 he became Seneschal of Aquitaine, an English possession in France and he participated in the English victory at the Battle of Crecy, on August 26, 1346.
He was created the 1st Earl of Stafford, March 5, 1350. He subsequently served as a military leader under King Edward III, fighting in campaigns in Scotland, then in Brittany, France, where he was captured during the Siege of Nantes.
Lord Stafford married firstly, before 1326, Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Hastang, Knt., of Chebsey, Staffordshire, and they had two daughters:
Margaret, married Sir John of Bramshall (or Wickham) de Stafford, Knt.
Joan, married Sir Nicholas de Beke, Knt.
He later sensationally abducted Margaret de Audley (1318-1347), daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester and Margaret de Clare. They filed a complaint to the King, but King Edward III of England supported Stafford. He appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh Earl of Gloucester. Margaret de Audley and Stafford married before July 6, 1336 and they subsequently had three sons and four daughters, of whom:
Hugh, born circa 1336 in Staffordshire, England
Katherine, (1348 - 1361), married Sir John de Sutton, Knt., Baron of Dudley, Staffs.
Elizabeth, (d. 1375), married, secondly, John de Ferrers, 4th Lord Ferrers of Chartley.
Beatrice, (d. 1415), married, secondly, Thomas de Ros, 4th Lord Ros of Helmsley.
Joan, (d. 1397), married, firstly, John de Cherleton, 3rd Lord Cherleton.
He died August 31, 1372 at Tonbridge Castle, Kent, England, where he was buried.
from ancestry.com

Ralph's Story
The Earl of Stafford
Spouse(s) Katherine de Hastang
Margaret de Audley (1336–1347)
Issue
1. Margaret Stafford, Joan Stafford
2.Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, Katherine Stafford, Elizabeth Stafford, Beatrice Stafford, Joan Stafford Noble family Stafford Father Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford
Mother Margaret Bassett Born 24 Sept 1301 Died 31 Aug 1372 (aged 70-71)  Burial Tonbridge Priory, Kent
Ralph de Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford and 1st Earl of Stafford, KG (24 September 1301 –  31 August 1372) was an English nobleman and notable soldier during the Hundred Years War against France.
He was the son of Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford, by his spouse Margaret Bassett.

Life
Having lost his father at the age of seven, Ralph grew up in the midlands with his mother's relatives, including her second husband Thomas Pipe. He had his first experience of royal service, along with his brothers and stepfather, when he joined the retinue of Ralph, 2nd Lord Bassett.[1]

Stafford was made a Knight banneret in 1327 and was fighting the Scots shortly afterwards. He supported the plot to free Edward III from the control of Roger Mortimer, which earned the king's gratitude. By the summer of 1332, he was a commissioner of the peace in Staffordshire and had served abroad on royal business, accompanying Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester. He was also still fighting the Scots, commanding archers at the Battle of Dupplin Moor on 11 Aug 1332 and on three further Scottish campaigns[1].

He was first summoned to Parliament by writ as Lord Stafford on 29 November 1336 and continued to attend until 1350.

His military career continued, accompanying King Edward to France in 1338 as an advisor and being present at the naval battle of Sluys on 24 June 1340. He also fought at the relief of Brest and the siege of Morlaix. He was captured at Vannes but was exchanged in time to negotiate a truce at Malestroit.

On 6 January 1341, he was made Steward of the Royal Household but resigned that post on 29 March 1345 having assumed the office of Seneschal of Aquitaine, an English possession in France, where he stayed for about a year. Further battles included the battle of Auberoche, the siege of Aiguillon, from where he escaped prior to its lifting, a raid on Barfleur and the English victory at the Battle of Crecy, on 26 August 1346. He became one of the twenty-six founding members and the fifth Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1348[1].

In November 1347, his wife's father died; they were able to take possession of his estates without paying the king's homage, an indication of the relationship between them. Ralph was now a very wealthily man, from his estates and from the many prizes from the French war[1].

Edward III created a number of new peerage titles to honour his war captains and to mark his jubilee year. Ralph was created the 1st Earl of Stafford on 5 March 1350, with an annuity of 1000 marks. He now replaced Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster as the king's lieutenant in Gascony, he committed to serve with 200 men at his expense with the expectation of this being doubled in March 1353 at the king's expense. The campaigns provided several captives that were ransomed, but were ultimately unsuccessful, leading to the appointment of Edward, Prince of Wales to command[1].

Even at the age of sixty, Stafford continued to command troops and act as a royal envoy, both in France and in Ireland in 1361, accompanying Lionel of Antwerp to try and restore English control.

Marriages and children
Lord Stafford married firstly, before 1326, Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Hastang, Knt., of Chebsey, Staffordshire, and they had two daughters:

Margaret, married Sir John of Bramshall (or Wickham) de Stafford, Knt.

Joan, married Sir Nicholas de Beke, Knt.

He later sensationally abducted Margaret de Audley, 2nd Baroness Audley (1318-1347), daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester and Margaret de Clare, who was worth at least £2314/year, more than ten times his own estates. Her parents filed a complaint to the King, but King Edward III of England supported Stafford. He appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh Earl of Gloucester. Margaret de Audley and Stafford married before 6 July 1336 and they subsequently had three sons and four daughters, of whom[2]:

Ralph de Stafford, married Maud Grosmont, daughter of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Isabel de Beaumont in 1344. Died 1347[1]

Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, born circa 1336 in Staffordshire, England

Margaret de Stafford, born circa 1338 in Staffordshire, England

Katherine de Stafford, born circa 1340 or 1348 in Staffordshire, England and died in December 1361. Married on 25 December 1357 Sir John de Sutton III (1339 – c. 1370 or 1376), Knight, Master of Dudley Castle, Staffordshire, Mother of Sir John de Sutton IV, Grandmother of Sir John de Sutton V

Elizabeth de Stafford, born circa 1340 in Staffordshire, England, died 7 August 1375, married firstly Fulk le Strange; married secondly, John de Ferrers, 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley; married thirdly Reginald de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham

Beatrice de Stafford, born circa 1341 in Staffordshire, England, died 1415, married firstly, in 1350, Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond (d. June 1358); married secondly, Thomas de Ros, 5th Baron de Ros, of Helmsley; married thirdly Sir Richard Burley, Knt.

Joan de Stafford, born in 1344 in Staffordshire, England, died 1397, married firstly, John Charleton, 3rd Baron Cherleton; married secondly Gilbert Talbot, 3rd Baron Talbot

He died on 31 August 1372 at Tonbridge Castle, Kent, England.[1] He was buried at Tonbridge Priory,[3] next to his second wife and her parents.[1]

Ancestry Ancestors of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford

   (edit below into a family tree)

Henry de Stafford
Robert de Stafford
Petronell de Ferrers
Nicholas de Stafford
Thomas de Corbet
Alice Corbet
Isable de Valletort
Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford
Thomas de Clinton
Thomas de Clinton
Mazera de Bisey
Eleanor de Clinton
Sir Ralph Bracebridge
Maud Bracebridge
??
Ralph Stafford
Baron Ralph Basset
Sir Ralph Basset
Margeret de Somery
Lord Ralph Bassett of Drayton
??
Hawise of Drayton
??
Margaret Bassett
Reynold de Grey, Baron Grey
John de Grey, Baron Grey
Maud de Longchamp
Joan de Grey
William de Ferrers, Lord of Groby
Anne de Ferrers
Lady Anne le Despencer
     (end of family tree)

References

^ a b c d e f g h Ralph Stafford, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
^ A general and heraldic dictionary of the peerages of England, Ireland and Scotland, extinct, dormant and in abeyance by John Burke. Publisher Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831. p491. From Google books, checked 30 Jan 2010
^ "Houses of Austin canons, The priory of Tonbridge". British History Online. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38209. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
The Peerage, p1414
Audley genealogy
Peerage of EnglandNew creationEarl of Stafford
1350–1372 Succeeded by
Hugh Stafford Preceded by
Edmund de Stafford Baron Stafford
1308–1372
Retrieved from: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_de_Stafford,_1st_Earl_of_Stafford
from ancestry.com

Earl de Stafford

  

Sir Ralph Stafford: Sir Knight

Stafford was made a Knight banneret in 1327 and was fighting the Scots shortly afterwards. He supported the plot to free Edward III from the control of Roger Mortimer, which earned the king's gratitude. By the summer of 1332, he was a commissioner of the peace in Staffordshire and had served abroad on royal business, accompanying Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester. He was also still fighting the Scots, commanding archers at the Battle of Dupplin Moor on 11 Aug 1332 and on three further Scottish campaigns

His military career continued, accompanying King Edward to France in 1338 as an advisor and being present at the naval battle of Sluys on 24 June 1340. He also fought at the relief of Brest and the siege of Morlaix. He was captured at Vannes but was exchanged in time to negotiate a truce at Malestroit.

On 6 January 1341, he was made Steward of the Royal Household but resigned that post on 29 March 1345 having assumed the office of Seneschal of Aquitaine, an English possession in France, where he stayed for about a year. Further battles included the battle of Auberoche, the siege of Aiguillon, from where he escaped prior to its lifting, a raid on Barfleur and the English victory at the Battle of Crecy, on 26 August 1346. He became one of the twenty-six founding members and the fifth Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1348[1].

In November 1347, his wife's father died; they were able to take possession of his estates without paying the king's homage, an indication of the relationship between them. Ralph was now a very wealthily man, from his estates and from the many prizes from the French war[1].

Edward III created a number of new peerage titles to honour his war captains and to mark his jubilee year. Ralph was created the 1st Earl of Stafford on 5 March 1350, with an annuity of 1000 marks. He now replaced Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster as the king's lieutenant in Gascony, he committed to serve with 200 men at his expense with the expectation of this being doubled in March 1353 at the king's expense. The campaigns provided several captives that were ransomed, but were ultimately unsuccessful, leading to the appointment of Edward, Prince of Wales to command[1].

Even at the age of sixty, Stafford continued to command troops and act as a royal envoy, both in France and in Ireland in 1361, accompanying Lionel of Antwerp to try and restore English control.
from ancestry.com

Battle of Duplin Moor

In 1329 Robert the Bruce died and was succeeded by his young son. Now was the opportunity for the dispossessed and for Edward Balliol, who claimed the crown of Scotland by the right of his father King John Balliol, who had reigned in Scotland until 1296. They gained the tacit support of Edward III of England for a ‘private’ invasion of Scotland. Henry Beaumont was the driving force behind the campaign, together with various other lords who had lost their Scottish astates as a result of Bruce's victory in the War of Independence. In 1332 Balliol’s army sailed for Scotland with an expeditionary force comprising largely English troops and some mercenaries. After a skirmish at Kinghorn, where they landed, the dispossessed soon marched for Perth, to engage the smaller of two armies that were being mustered against them. A few miles to the south west of the town, on Dupplin Moor, a heavily outnumbered, mainly English force, destroyed a far larger Scottish army, using tactics that would make English armies a dominant force in Europe for the next hundred years. Dupplin was the battle which first demonstrated the legendary battle winning power of the English longbow.
from ancestry.com

Battle of Crecy

English troops waiting to go into action at the Battle of Crecy, August 1346 (painting circa 1860). One of the defining battles of the Hundred Years War between England and France, Crecy was a victory for the English over a much larger French army, brought about largely by the impact of the English longbowmen.

from ancestry.com

Battle of Crécy





















Edward III accompanied with his bodyguard of mounted Knights cheers the detachment of Man-at-arms who fought with his son, Edward, the Black Prince at the Battle of Crécy. From right to left: Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent (mounted to the right of the King), Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel (mounted to the rear of the king and carrying the pennant of St George), Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford (on foot to the left of the King), Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh (on foot to the left of the king and furthest forward)

from ancestry.com



Battle of Sluys

† The Battle of Sluys: the style of warfare is clearly shown in this illustration from Froissart’s chronicles. Archers discharge arrows from the crow’s nests, forecastles and aftercastles while knights and men-at-arms board the enemy vessels. The fate of the vanquished is to be thrown over the side. It seems likely that neither England nor France had a dedicated fleet of warships in the mid-14th Century. In times of war each king called upon the merchant vessels of his subjects and manned them, in addition to their crews, with archers and men-at-arms; converting the ships for war by building forecastles, after castles and crows nests, fortifications from which archers directed their fire onto enemy vessels. These merchant vessels were called Cogs; square rigged and single masted with sharp prows and sterns and steered by an oar or a rudder. The nearest to a formal English navy was the arrangement King Edward III had with the Kentish towns known as the Cinque Ports. In return for trading privileges the Cinque Ports provided a number of vessels for a period each year for royal military purposes. French ships were shallow drafted and small, highly manoeuvrable particularly in shallows, while the English ocean-going Cogs, larger and with a deeper draught, were slower to manoeuvre. The Genoese and Castilian fleets comprised galleys, powered by sail and oars, specifically constructed for war. The English armed one or two of their vessels with guns, some of the larger ships at Sluys having 2 or 3 pieces of ordinance on board. In battle a ship would lay alongside an enemy, decimate her crew with discharges of arrows and showers of heavy stones, leaving the way clear for men-at-arms to board, overcome the survivors and take the ship and its crew. It seems to have been the practice of the time to throw captured enemy soldiers over the side unless they seemed sufficiently well equipped to be worth a ransom. -- The description is from britishbattles.com. The image is a miniature of the battle from Jean Froissart's Chronicles, 14th century. See Wikipedia, File:BattleofSluys.jpeg

from ancestry.com

Historically Significant Battle
The decisive naval Battle of Sluys was fought on 24 June 1340 as one of the opening conflicts of the Hundred Years' War. It is historically important in that it resulted in the destruction of most of France's fleet, making a French invasion of England impossible, and ensuring that the remainder of the war would be fought mostly in France. The battle, which was fought with exceptional ferocity, concluded with the almost total destruction of the French fleet.

from ancesstry.com

Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge Castle Burial Place of Sir Ralph

Sir Ralph died on 31 August 1372 at Tonbridge Castle, Kent, England, where he was buried next to his second wife and her parents.

from ancestry.com

Tonbridge Castle

Following the Norman Conquest, Richard Fitz Gilbert was granted land in Kent to guard the crossing of the River Medway. He erected a simple Motte-and-bailey castle on the site. To dig the moat and erect the motte 50,000 tonnes of earth were moved. In 1088, the de Clare family (descendents of Fitz Gilbert) rebelled against King William II. His army besieged the castle. After holding for two days the castle fell and as punishment the king had both the castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground. Before 1100, the de Clares replaced the wooden castle with a stone shell keep. This was reinforced during the thirteenth century, and in 1295 a stone wall was built around the town. The twin towered gatehouse was built by Richard de Clare, sixth Earl of Hertford or his son Gilbert. Construction of the gatehouse took 30 years, being completed in 1260. The gatehouse shares many similarities with the ones at Caerphilly Castle built by Gilbert in 1268-1271. The great seal of England was temporarily kept here during one of Edward's visits to France.
from ancestry.com

Stafford Castle

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Ralph de Stafford

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Order of the Garter Knight Insignia



Bronze Statue of Ralph de Stafford
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John Lord Sutton or Dudley 1400-1487

Background Info from House of Tudor.com

Knight of the Garter. 1428 Treasurer of the King's household. 26 Sep 1439 Summoned to Parliament as Baron Dudley.

According to Ormerod's (Hist. Cheshire), Stow, Dugdale, etc. The first of the Sutton Dudley family, that is worthy of a particular notice is John Sutton, lord Dudley (sixth in descent from Richard and Isabella), who had the honor of bearing the standard at the funeral of King Henry V, 1422. He was 2 years Lord Lieut. of Ireland, being appointed Jan 1428, in which employment and other services, his merit was so conspicuous, that, in 1439, he had summons to parliament then held at Reading, and the same year was appointed one of the commissioners to treat with the Duke of Burgundy upon a truce.

In 1446, being of the King's Council, he was sent Ambassador, with the Bishop of Chichester, to the Duke of Britanny, and on another embassy to the Duke of Burgundy.

In 1447, in consideration of his services, he received a grant of an annuity of one hundred pounds issuing out of the customs of the port of London. Being surprised and taken by Richard, Duke of York, at Gloucester, on his return from Ireland in 1451, he was sent to prison at the castle of Ludlow. Soon afterwards he fought in the battle of Bloreheath, 1459, and, being wounded, received thereupon, and for other services, honorable trusts and offices from his Sovereign and grants of more than œ200 per annum for life. Henry VI also appointed him treasurer of his household, and he was, in 1460, elected a knight of the most noble Order of the Garter. We are not told how long he remained in prison, but the House of Commons being mostly Yorkists, prayed the King to remove Sir John Sutton and some other noted persons from among them and exclude Sutton forever from his royal counsels, and ever to prohibit him from approaching within twelve miles of the court. But Henry VI refused the petition. Lord Dudley fought at the battle of St. Albans, May 23, 1455, where the King was defeated by the Duke of York and taken prisoner. Dudley was also taken a prisoner of war and sent to the Tower of London; but he was soon released, as peace prevailed shortly afterwards. He still, however, persevered in the Lancastrian cause for Henry VI. Leland, the noted antiquary, thus describes that action: "At Bloreheath, was a field fought between the Earl of Salisbury and northern men on King Edward's part, who overcame the lords Audley (slain) and Dudley (wounded) with Queen Margaret and Chestershire men, who lost the field". Lord Dudley was one of the knights taken prisoner. By singular good fortune he was equally honored in the next reign by Edward IV, who granted Lord Dudley a pardon in his first year from all debts upon accounts due for him in the exercise of his office, and, afterwards, another grant of one hundred marks yearly to issue from the Duchy of Cornwall, and lastly, one hundred pounds per annum from customs of the port of Southampton. In the 17th of King Edward IV, he was employed as a Commissioner, with his brother-in-law, the Earl of Arundel, who had married Dudley's wife's sister, (Eleanor Berkeley) to treat respecting the prorogation of the truce between France and England.

In the Register of the Order of the Garter, it is recorded, that, in 1461, Lord Dudley had the stall of the deceased Earl of Longueville. There were then only 12 companions. In 1472, there were 17 members. In 1486, there were 23; and in 1477, 25. It is recorded that Lord Dudley died Sep 1487.-Anstis' Order of the Garter.

Dugdale says, "he was faithful to King Henry VI, yet he did so comply with King Edward IV, when he obtained the crown, that he received many great favors and rewards from that new Sovereign". Edward V, also added to his honors, by appointing him to hold the Feast of St. George at Windsor, on the 4th of May, 1483, the day his coronation was to take place. But as soon as Edward V was suppressed, Lord Dudley attended a chapter of the Order of the Garter in Richard III's palace, at Westminster, in the first year of that King (1483), and obtained from him a grant of eight manors "for his faithtul service in favoring his title to the crown". He fought on Richard III's side at the Battle of Bosworth.

Henry VII revoked his grant, or prevented it from taking effect. However, Lord Dudley had from Henry VII 1000 marks and the manors of Northfield and Wiley, in Worcestershire, besides a full pardon; and created him Sheriff of Sussex. This Lord Kt. must have been a man, whose good will was valuable to all sorts of kings.

Probably few warriors, like him, of the great Henry V, had survived through the war of the Roses, and it is no wonder he should have become as he did, the origin of the noted historical houses by the name of Dudley.

His will, dated 17 Aug 1487, directed that he should be buried at the Priory of St. James, in Dudley, in a tomb to cost not over £20.

This Sir John Dudley was a great financier and diplomatist, if we are to judge by his success in those directions; for he not only acquired great honors, and offices and estates, but he married his children to heirs and heiresses of the great and wealthy houses of England, thereby preparing the way for their future renown, which far surpassed that of their noble ancestors, distinguished though they were. All this can be seen in the pedigrees and biographical sketches of this history.

Isdabella de Cherleton 1308-1397

Isabelle de Cherleton b. 1308 Malpas, Cheshire, England d. 10 Apr 1397  Dudley Castle, Staffordshire, England m. 1329 age21 to John Sutton,  Dudley,Worcestershire,England   Parents:    John de Cherleton 1269 – 1353     Hawis de la Pole 1291 – 1345 Spouse:    John Sutton 1304 – 1359 Children:    John Sutton 1329 – 1370  from ancestry.com Death Living

Isabelle de Cherleton Birth 1308 in Malpas, Cheshire, Englandhttp://www.thepeerage.com/p284.htm#i2840

 

Isabella de Cherleton¹

b. circa 1308,

d. 10 April 1397

 

Last Edited=17 Sep 2011

Isabella de Cherleton was born circa 1308. She was the daughter of John Cherleton, 1st Lord Cherleton and Hawyse ap Owen.¹ She married, firstly, John de Sutton, son of Sir John de Sutton and Margaret de Somery.¹ She married, secondly, Sir Richard le Fisher.¹ She died on 10 April 1397.¹
Her married name became Fisher.¹ Her married name became de Sutton.¹

Child of Isabella de Cherleton and John de Sutton

     Sir John de Sutton¹ d. c 1370

 

Citations:

1. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1191. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

from ancestry.com

Notes on Isabella de Cherleton:
Isabella de Cherelton after the death of John de Sutton, married Richard (Le Fisher) Dudley, so called the 1st. "Dudleys", founder of the Clopton Dudley, Richard assumed the name of Dudley in right of his wife, the widow of Sir. John de Sutton. They held the castle and lands of Dudley; and Sir Richard Dudley by courtesy of England, styles himself "Richard de Dudleye, Seigneur de Dudley," in a charter "don a Duddley le Samady p'chain apres les utaves de Sente Michel l'Archangell, l'an de regne le Roy Edward tierce, puis la conq'st trente quartre" 1360, whereby he and Isabelle sa femme" grant and confirm to Thomas de Alleford, for the term of the life of Isabella, certain lands in King Swinford which she had by the grant and feoffment of Mons de Sutton."

When Isabella died in April 10, 1397, the post-mortem inquisitions say that she held the Castle of Dudley and the manors of Sedgley, Himley, Swinford, etc., and certain lands in Tybington, also lands in Gloucestershire in company with her husband Richard de Duddeley, chevalier, which lands, after the death of said Richard and Isabella, were to revert to John de Sutton, chevalier, and Joan his wife, and heirs of said John. Richard was probably descended from the Paganell and Somerie families which held Dudley Castle a long time.
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Dudley Castle

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Dudley Castle from Back (inside)

 

John Sutton Baron I Dudley 1304-1359

John Dudley Sutton b. abt  FEB 1304 Malpas, Chesire, England Death Living d. 23 NOV 1359  France Parents:    John Dudley Sutton 1290 – 1326    Margaret Somery 1290 – 1384 Spouse:    Isabelle de Charleton 1338 – 1396 Children:    Thomas Sutton     John De Sutton 1329 – 1357 from ancestry.com Sutton Castle, later known as Dudley Castle   John de Sutton was given some land by the king, as a reward for John's services to the king. The land given to John was was known as Dudda Leah or Duddas Land, later changed to Dudley. When John took processions of this land, he became known as Sir John de Sutton, Lord Dudley. The Sir because he was a Knight, in the Order of the Garter; de Sutton to designate his origins; John was from a place called South Town, in Old English, called de Sutton -- Sut for the word South, Ton, for the word Town. Now "de" is a Spanish word, meaning "of," so he became John de Sutton, or John of South Town. John was called Lord Dudley, because he was the Baron over the land of Dudley. As a noblemen's social standings goes, a Baron was called a Lord. Just as a knight had Sir at the beginning of his name, a Baron would have Lord at the beginning of his name. Because John was owner and master of the land called Dudley, his title was Sir John de Sutton, Lord Dudley, Baron of Dudley. Now, here is where it gets confusing. John Sutton married Isabel de Charlton and had several children. When John died in 1359, Johns and Isabel's children stayed on the land, and at the time kept the Sutton name until around 1420, when they started using de Dudley as their last name. Later they drop the de off and started using just plain Dudley, as their last name, doing away with the Sutton name altogether. Now, these Dudley's kept the lands and Dudley Castle, and where called Lords of Dudley or Barons of Dudley, and are known in the Dudley family history, as the Second House Dudleys. In 1575 Queen Elizabeth stayed at the castle, and in 1585 it was considered as a possible prison for Mary Queen of Scots. In 1647, during the English Civil War, Cromwell's army demolished the fortress; what remained of the living quarters was destroyed by fire in July of 1750. The castle was originally Saxon construction, around 700AD, of a wooden castle on the site of today's ruinous remains. from ancestry.com                            Dudley Castle 1   Dudley Castle - The Keep     from ancestry.com John Sutton Dudley  1304 from ancestry.com   Tomb of Sir John  de Sutton    The effigy & tomb of Sir John de Sutton, a veteran knight, who died in 1358, depicted clad in the armour he wore in 1346 at the Battle of Crècy. The new church was dedicated in 1349, coincidentally the year of the Black Death, but Sir John's tomb was already finished and in place, ready for him, for some 8 years before he died. That's faith for you. from ancestry.com      Sir John Dudley de Sutton Marriage Sir John I de SUTTON Knight [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 was born 1286 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. He died 1338 in Dudley, Staffordshire, England. John married Margaret de SOMERY on 1304 in Dudley, Staffordshire, England. Margaret de SOMERY [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 was born 1286 in Dudley, Staffordshire, England. She died 9 1384 in Dudley, Staffordshire, England. Margaret married Sir John I de SUTTON Knight on 1304 in Dudley, Staffordshire, England. They had the following children: Fi Katherine de SUTTON was born 1305. MiiSir John II de SUTTON Knight was born 1310 and died 21 Nov 1359.    

Catherine Stafford 1340-1361

Catherine de Stafford
b. abt 1340 Turnbridge, Stafford, England
d. abt 1361  age 21
Parents:
   Ralph de Stafford  1301 – 1372
   Margaret de Audley  1318 – 1347
Siblings:
   Elizabeth de Stafford  1332 –
   Hugh de Stafford  1334 – 1386
   Beatrice de Stafford  1337 – 1415
   Catherine de Stafford 1340 – 1361
   Joan de Stafford  1340 – 1397
   Ralph de Stafford  – 1347
Spouse:
   John Sutton (2nd) of Dudley  1329 – 1370
Children:
   John Sutton (3rd) of Dudley  1361 – 1396
from ancestry.com

Katherine Stafford: Additional Information:
9. Katherine de Stafford, youngest dau, was b. on or bef 16 Sep 1348. She was m., aged nine or ten, on 25 Dec 1357 to John de Sutton, Baron of Dudley, Worcester, son and heir of John de Sutton of Dudley (desc of Charlemagne), by Isabel, dau of John de Cherleton, Lord of Powis. He was b. in or bef Nov 1338 (of age in 1359). She d. prob aged abt 14 bef 25 Dec 1361, prob in the childbirth of her only child on 6 Dec. ...
Plantagenet Ancestry of Seventeenth Century Colonist by David Faris, 1st Edition,
1996, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, pg 90
CATHERINE DE STAFFORD, b. ca. 1340, d. ante 25 Dec 1361; m. (his first) 25 Dec 1357, (age 17) John de Sutton III, Lord Dudley, of Dudley Castle, b. 1338, d. aft. 1369.
Excert from: Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants. Volume II
from ancestry.com

Catherine de Stafford
http://chrisman.org/pedigree/out62.htm#RIN24929
Catherine de Stafford
Father: Ralph de Stafford
Mother: Margaret de Audley
m: John de Sutton on ABT 1361 at England
Children: John Sutton
m. Joan or Jane [---] ,
children:
1. John Sutton (1379-1407).
from ancestry.com

Stafford Family

'Stafford01
'Index links to: Lead / Letter
Families covered: Stafford of Clifton, Stafford of Stafford

Hervey Bagot of Stafford (b c1140, d before 25.08.1214)
m. (c1171) Millicent de Stafford (b c1150, dau of Robert, Lord of Stafford)

BE1883 (Stafford) reports that Hervey, "a Staffordshire gentleman of ancient family", had to sell the lordship of Drayton in order to raise the funds necessary to obtain livery of his wife's inheritance. One source indicated that Hervey Bagot was in fact named Harvey Basset but confusion may have arisen because there was a well-known branch of the Bassets at Drayton. Indeed, the dates indicate that Drayton may have moved into the Basset family from this Hervey.
1.
Hervey de Stafford (d before 12.05.1237)
m. (by 1214) Petronilla de Ferrers (dau of William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby)
A.
Hervey de Stafford (dsp before 07.10.1241)
m. Mabel of Robert de Mucegros (a 04.1242, dau of Robert de Mucegros)
B.
Robert de Stafford (d before 04.06.1261)
m1. Alice Corbet (dau of Thomas Corbet of Caus)
i.
Nicholas de Stafford (d c1293)
We have seen reported that Nicholas married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas de Clinton, but, whilst BE1883 does not name his wife, TCP identifies her as ...
m. ?? (probably dau of Geoffrey de Langley)
a.
Edmund de Stafford, 1st Lord (b 15.07.1273, d before 12.08.1308)
m. (by1298) Margaret Basset (d 17.03.1336/7, dau of Ralph Basset, 1st Lord of Drayton)
(1)
Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, Earl of Gloucester (b 24.09.1301, d 31.08.1372)
m1. (c1326/7) Katharine Hastang (dau of Sir John Hastang of Chebsey)
m2. (before 06.07.1336) Margaret Audley (d after 28.01.1347/8, dau of Hugh de Audley, Earl of Gloucester)
(A)
Ralph de Stafford (dvpsp 1347)
m. (01.11.1344) Maud Plantagenet (d 1362, dau of Henry Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster, Leicester & Derby)
(B)
Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford (b by 1342, d 10.1386)
m. (before 01.03.1350/1) Philippa Beauchamp (dau of Thomas de Beauchamp, 3rd Earl of Warwick)
(i)
Ralph de Stafford (d unm 1385)
(ii)
Thomas de Stafford, 3rd Earl of Stafford (b by 1368, dsp 04.07.1392)
m. Anne Plantagenet (who later married his brother Edmund)
(iii)
William de Stafford, 4th Earl of Stafford (b 21.09.1375, d 06.04.1395)
(iv)
Edmund de Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford (b 02.03.1377, d Shrewsbury 21.07.1403)
m. Anne Plantagenet, Countess of Buckingham, Hereford & Northampton (b 1383, d 16.10.1438, dau of Thomas Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester, Earl of Buckingham)
(v)
Sir Hugh Stafford (dsp 1420)
m. Elizabeth Bourchier (dau of Bartholomew, Lord Bourchier)
(vi)
Margaret Stafford
m. Ralph Nevill of Raby, 1st Earl of Westmorland (d 21.10.1425)
(vii)
Katharine Stafford
m. Sir Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (b 1368, d 14.09.1415)
(viii)
Joane Stafford
m. Thomas Holland, 3rd Earl of Kent, Marshal of England (dsp 1400)
(C)
Beatrice de Stafford (d 04.1415)
m1. (1350) Maurice FitzMaurice FitzThomas, 2nd Earl of Desmond (b 31.07.1336, dsp before 05.06.1388)
m2. Thomas de Ros, 5th Lord (d 1384)
m3. Sir Richard Burley (dsp 23.05.1387)
(D)
Joane de Stafford (d before 1397)
m1. John de Cherlton, Lord of Powys (d 1374)
m2. (before 16.11.1379) Gilbert, Lord Talbot
(E)
Elizabeth de Stafford (b after 1332, d 07.08.1375/6)
m1. (mcrt 12.03.1346/7) Fulk le Strange, 3rd Lord of Blackmere (b c1330, d 30.08.1349)
m2. Sir John de Ferrers, 4th Lord of Chartley (d 02.04.1367)
m3. Reynold de Cobham, 2nd Lord of Sterborough (d c1403)
(F)
Margaret de Stafford
m. Sir John Stafford
(G)
Catherine de Stafford (d 12.1361) not reported by BE1883 but identified by BP1934 (Dudley)
m. (25.12.1357) John de Sutton, 'Lord' of Dudley (d 1376)
(2)
Sir Richard de Stafford of Clifton
m. Maud de Camville (dau of Richard de Camville of Clifton)
(A)
Richard de Stafford, 1st Lord of Clifton (d 1381)
(i)
Edmund de Stafford, 2nd Lord of Clifton, Bishop of Exeter (d 1419)
(ii)
Sir Thomas Stafford, 3rd Lord of Clifton
(a)
Thomas Stafford, 4th Lord of Clifton (dsp)
(b)
Katherine Stafford
m. Sir John Arderne of Elford

Some of the following connections were originally found on a web site but the following has since been supported and supplemented by information kindly provided by a site visitor (RS, 19/24.01.05) from research of the IGI though, as reported on Stafford03, we do not accept all of the IGI data.
ii.
Isabella Stafford
m. William Stafford of Sandon (b 1278, d 1307) @@ just below
m2. Joan
2.
William de Stafford
Some sources show this William as having a son who was the William who married as follows (rather than this William).
m1. Ermentruda FitzWalkelin
m2. Edith de Vernon (dau of Warine de Vernon of Shipbroke)
A.
William Stafford of Sandon
m. Cecily de Waure (dau of Robert de Waure)
i.
William Stafford of Sandon = (?) William Stafford of Bromshull (b 1278, d 1307)
m. Isabella Stafford (dau of Robert de Stafford) @@ just above

Main sources: BE1883 (Stafford of Stafford and Buckingham, etc.) with input from BE1883 (Stafford of Clifton) and as reported above and some support from TCP (Stafford).
from ancestry.com

Stafford Castle

Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge Castle
Attach to Lady Catherine de Stafford

from ancestry.com

Tonbridge Castle History

Following the Norman Conquest, Richard Fitz Gilbert was granted land in Kent to guard the crossing of the River Medway. He erected a simple Motte-and-bailey castle on the site. To dig the moat and erect the motte 50,000 tonnes of earth were moved. In 1088, the de Clare family (descendents of Fitz Gilbert) rebelled against King William II. His army besieged the castle. After holding for two days the castle fell and as punishment the king had both the castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground. Before 1100, the de Clares replaced the wooden castle with a stone shell keep. This was reinforced during the thirteenth century, and in 1295 a stone wall was built around the town.[1]

The twin towered gatehouse was built by Richard de Clare, sixth Earl of Hertford or his son Gilbert.[2] Construction of the gatehouse took 30 years, being completed in 1260.[3] The gatehouse shares many similarities with the ones at Caerphilly Castle built by Gilbert in 1268-1271. The great seal of England was temporarily kept here during one of Edward's visits to France.[2]

The mansion was added in 1793. Both castle and mansion are Grade I listed buildings
from ancestry.com



Phillip Despencer 1330-1364

Phillip DESPENCER
b. 1330  Carlington, England
d.  abt 1364
Parents:
   unknown
Spouse;
   Margret Cobham
children:
   Alice Le DESPENCER 1363 – 1391

Peerage of Phillip le Despencer 1330
http://www.thepeerage.com/p39754.htm#i397536

Philip le Despencer 1
M, #397536
Last Edited=20 Oct 2009

Philip le Despencer lived at Carlington, England.1
   Child of Philip le Despencer:
Alice le Despencer +1 d. 1392
Citations:
[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1191. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
from ancestry.com

Elmley Castle

from ancestry.com

Alice Le Despencer 1364-1392

Alice Le Despencer
b. abt 1364 of, Carlington,england
d. 1392
m. abt 1378
Parents:
   Phillip Despencer abt 1330
   mother not known
Spouse:
   John Sutton Baron III (Dudley) 1361 – 1396
Children:
   John Sutton Baron IV Dudley 1380 – 1406

John Sutton Baron II Dudely 1329-1370

John Sutton (2nd Baron Dudley)
b. 1329  Malpas, Cheshire, England
d. c.1369, in France
m. 25 Dec 1357 to Catherine Stafford
Parents:
   John Sutton (1st Baron Dudley) 1304 – 1359
   Isabel Cherleton 1308 – 1397
Spouse:
   Catherine Stafford 1340 – 1361
Children:
   John Sutton (Baron III Dudley) 1361 – 1396

Sir John II family
John De SUTTON
Born: 1329, Malpas, Chester, England
Died: 1369/70, France
Father: John De SUTTON
Mother: Isabel De CHERLETON
Married 1: Catherine STAFFORD 25 Dec 1357
Children:
1. John SUTTON
Married 2: Joan CLINTON ABT 1362
Children:
2. Margaret SUTTON (b. 1362)
3. Elizabeth SUTTON (b. 1362)
4. Thomas SUTTON (b. 1363 - d. AFT 1402)
5. Richard SUTTON (b. 1365 - d. AFT 1420)
6. Dionysia SUTTON
from ancestry.com

The Title of Baron Dudley
Baron Dudley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baron Dudley is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in circa 1440 for John Sutton, a soldier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. According to Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage he was actually summoned to Parliament as "Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi", whereby he is held to have become Baron Dudley. The title is sometime referred to as Baron Sutton of Dudley. The peerage was created by writ, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines.

It is in fact arguable that the title arose even earlier, as his ancestor John Sutton (died 1359) had a writ of summons to the Council on 25 February 1342, but neither he nor his son (died c.1370), grandson (died 10 March 1396) or great grandson (all called John Sutton of Dudley) were summoned,[1] so that they can probably not be regarded as peers.

Lord Dudley's great grandson, the third Baron, managed to get himself severely into debt and lost the family seat of Dudley Castle to his cousin John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. He became known as "Lord Quondam" ("Lord Has-been" or "Lord Formerly"). However, Dudley Castle and the other family estates were restored to his son, the fourth Baron. He was succeeded by his son, the fifth Baron, who like his grandfather came heavily into debt. To clear his debts he married off his granddaughter and heir, Frances, to Sir Humble Ward, the son of a wealthy jeweller. Frances succeeded him and became the sixth holder of the title. In 1644 her husband Humble Ward was created Baron Ward, of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, by letters patent.

They were both succeeded by their son, the seventh and second Baron respectively. On the death in 1740 of the latter's grandson, the tenth Baron Dudley and fifth Baron Ward, the two titles separated. The barony of Ward, which could only be inherited by males, was passed on to the late Baron's kinsman, the sixth Baron (see the Earl of Dudley for later history of this title). The barony of Dudley was inherited by the Baron's nephew, Ferdinando Lea, 11th Baron Dudley, the eleventh Baron. He was the son of Frances, sister of the tenth Baron, and her husband William Lea. However, on Ferdinando's death in 1757 the peerage fell into abeyance between his sisters. It remained in abeyance for 159 years, but in 1916 the abeyance was terminated in favour of Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith, who became the twelfth Baron. He was the great-great-grandson of Anne, sister of the eleventh Baron, and her husband William Smith. As of 2010[update] the title is held by his grandson, the fifteenth Baron, who succeeded his mother in 2002 (who in her turn had succeeded her younger brother).

The holders of the title (until 1740) were the owners of Dudley Castle and an extensive estate around it, including the manors of Dudley, Sedgley, Kingswinford and Rowley Somery in Rowley Regis. By the 16th century, their main home was Himley Hall. On the death of the tenth Baron in 1740, the barony of Dudley passed to a female-line heir (see above), whereas the main estates were entailed to follow the barony of Ward and passed to a cousin. However, certain estates that had recently been purchased passed with the title Lord Dudley to the aforementioned Ferdinando Dudley Lea, the eleventh Baron Dudley.

The family surname of the first five barons was formally 'Sutton', but in practice they seem always to have been called 'Dudley'. In title deeds and other formal documents, the surname often appears as 'Sutton otherwise Dudley'.
from ancestry.com

Dudley Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




Location within West Midlands General information Town or city Dudley, Wes t Midlands Country England Coordinates 52.5142°N 2.0800°W Construction started 1070 Completed 1530 Demolished 1750 (destroyed by fire) Design and construction Client Earl of Dudley Dudley Castle is a ruined castle in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Dudley Zoo is located in its grounds. The location, Castle Hill, is an outcrop of Wenlock Group limestone that was extensively quarried during the Industrial Revolution, and which now along with Wren's Nest Hill is a Scheduled Ancient Monument as the best surviving remains of the limestone industry in Dudley. It is also a Grade I listed building. The Dudley Tunnel runs beneath Castle Hill, but not the castle itself.

History

According to legend, a wooden castle was constructed on the site in the 8th century by a Saxon lord called Dud or Dado. However this legend is not taken seriously by historians, who usually date the castle from soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066.[1] It is thought one of the Conqueror's followers, Ansculf, built the first castle in 1070.[2] and that his son, William Fitz-Ansculf, was in possession of the castle when it was recorded at the time of the Domesday Book of 1086. Some of the earthworks from this castle, notably the 'motte', the vast mound on which the present castle keep now sits, still remain. However the earliest castle would have been of wooden construction and no longer exists[3].

After Fitz-Ansculf, the castle came into the possession of the Paganel family, who built the first stone castle on the site. This castle was strong enough to withstand a siege in 1153 by the forces of King Stephen.[4] However, after Gervase Paganel joined a failed rebellion against King Henry II in 1173 the castle was demolished by order of the king. The Somery's were the next dynasty to own the site and set about building the castle in stone starting in the second half of the 13th century and continuing on into the 14th. The keep (the most obvious part of the castle when viewed from the town) and the main gate dates from this re-building. A chapel and great hall were also constructed[5].

The last of the male line of Somery, John Somery, died in 1321 and the castle and estates passed to his sister Margaret and her husband John de Sutton. Subsequently, members of this family often used Dudley as a surname. In 1532 another John Sutton (the seventh in the Dynasty named John) inherited the castle but after having money problems was ousted by a relative, John Dudley, later Duke of Northumberland, in 1537. Starting around 1540, a range of new buildings were erected within the older castle walls by him. The architect was William Sharington and the buildings are thus usually referred to as Sharrington Range. Dudley was later beheaded, for his attempt to set Lady Jane Grey on the Throne of England[6].

The castle was returned to the Sutton family by Queen Mary. The castle was later visited by Queen Elizabeth I and was considered as a possible place of imprisonment for Mary, Queen of Scots. A century later, the castle became a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War, and was besieged twice before its surrender to Cromwell's forces in 1646. Parliament subsequently ordered that the castle be partly demolished and the present ruined appearance of the keep result from this decision. However some habitable buildings remained and were subsequently used occasionally by the Earls of Dudley although by this time they preferred to reside at Himley Hall, approximately four miles away, when in the Midlands[7].

A stable block was constructed on the site at some point before 1700. This was the final building to be constructed in the castle[8].

The bulk of the remaining habitable parts of the castle was destroyed by fire in 1750. However, in the nineteenth century, the site found a new use as a 'Romantic Ruin' and a certain amount of tidying up of the site was carried out by the Earls of Dudley. Battlements on one of the remaining towers were reconstructed and two cannon captured during the Crimean Wars were installed. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century the site was used for fetes and pageants. In 1937, when the Dudley Zoo was established, the castle grounds were incorporated into the zoo.

Despite being situated on the edge of Dudley town centre, the castle was situated within the borders of Sedgley - which was part of neighbouring Staffordshire rather than Worcestershire - until the borders were changed to include the castle and its grounds within the Dudley borough in 1926, when restructuring of the boundaries took place to allow the development of the Priory Estate.[1] [2]

The maps of Christopher Saxton drawn in 1579 and John Speed in 1610, mark Dudley Castle in the County of Staffordshire not Worcestershire.[11]

Visitor centre

The castle visitor centre was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June 1994, and amongst other exhibits housed a computer generated reconstruction of the castle as it was in 1550, displayed through hardware that demonstrated the first use of the virtual tour concept, prior to its widespread adoption as a Web-based browser utility. More details of how Her Majesty became the first Royal to experience a virtual world here.

See also:
Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
List of castles in England
References:

Chandler, G. and Hannah, I.C., Dudley: As it was and as it is to-day, B.T.Batsford Ltd., London, 1949

"The fates and fortunes of Dudley Castle".
http://www.dudleymall.co.uk/loclhist/olddudley/dudleycastle.htm

"A Brief History of Dudley Town and Castle".
http://www.dudleymall.co.uk/loclhist/olddudley/dudleycastle.htm
from ancestry.com