The House of Stratford () is a British aristocratic family, originating in
Stratford-on-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon (), commonly known as just Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-wes ...
between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. The family has produced multiple titles, including
Earl of Aldborough
Earl of Aldborough, of the Palatinate of Ormond Upper, Upper Ormond, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the House of Stratford, Stratford family. It was created on 9 February 1777, along with the courtesy title of Viscount Amiens, for ...
,
Viscount Amiens
A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a Title#Aristocratic titles, title used in certain European countries for a nobility, noble of varying status.
In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-he ...
,
Baron Baltinglass
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
,
Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe and the
Dugdale Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Dugdale, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.
The Dugdale Baronetcy, ''of Merevale and Blyth in the County of Warwick'', was created in the Baronetage of the United Ki ...
. The
Viscount Powerscourt
Viscount Powerscourt ( ) is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of Ireland, each time for members of the Wingfield family. It was created first in 1618 for the Chief Governor of Ireland, Richard Wingfield. However, this creat ...
and
Baron Wrottesley
Baron Wrottesley, of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 July 1838 for Sir John Wrottesley, 9th Baronet. He was a Major-General in the Army and also represented Lichfield, ...
both claim descent from this House. Historic seats have included
Farmcote Manor and
Stratford Park
Stratford Park is a green flag awarded area of Stroud in Gloucestershire, south west England. With a large park and lake, and a leisure centre complex, Stratford Park is a major tourist area for Stroud. It is located on the outskirts of Stroud to ...
in
Gloucester
Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east ...
,
Merevale Hall
Merevale Hall is a private country house in Merevale, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building. The estate descends from Merevale Abbey which once stood on the site.
The Manor of Merevale was granted in 1540 to Sir Walte ...
in
Warwickshire
Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon an ...
, Baltinglass Castle, Belan and Aldborough House in
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, and
Stratford House in London, amongst many others. The house was at its most powerful in the fourteenth, sixteenth, and eighteenth centuries.
Origins
Though an 18th-century pedigree names the founder of the house as one ''Edvardus Stratford'' from an "illustrious
Anglo-Saxon
The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...
family" in the 9th century, and some researchers theorise the house descends from a cadet branch of the
Norman
Norman or Normans may refer to:
Ethnic and cultural identity
* The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries
** People or things connected with the Norm ...
House of Tosny
The House of Tosny was an important noble family in 10th and 11th century Normandy, though it did not include any comtes or vicomtes. Its founder was Raoul I of Tosny (died after 1024).
Origin
The earliest account of the origin of the Tosny fami ...
which came to England with
William the Conqueror
William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...
, indisputable descent begins with ''Robert de Stratford'', an original
burgess __NOTOC__
Burgess may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Burgess (given name), a list of people
Places
* Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community
* Burgess, Missouri, U ...
of
Stratford-on-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon (), commonly known as just Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-wes ...
in the 1200s. His children and nephews rose to positions of significant power and influence in the political and religious landscape of England in the fourteenth century, and originated all other branches of the family.
The children and nephews of Robert de Stratford include:
*
John de Stratford
John de Stratford ( – 1348) was Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of Winchester, Treasurer and Chancellor of England.
Early life
Stratford was born into the landed Stratford family of Stratford-on-Avon around 1275. His father was Robert de St ...
(c.1275 - 1348),
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held ''ex officio'' (except dur ...
,
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Acts of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third-highest-ranked Great Officer of State in ...
,
Lord Chancellor
The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. The ...
,
Archbishop of Canterbury
The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...
*
Robert de Stratford
Robert de Stratford ( c. 1292 – 9 April 1362) was an English bishop and was one of Edward III's principal ministers.
Early life
Stratford was born into the landed Stratford family of Stratford-on-Avon around 1292. His father was anoth ...
(c.1292 – 9 April 1362),
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...
,
Chancellor of the University of Oxford
This is a list of chancellors of the University of Oxford in England by year of appointment.
__TOC__
Chronological list
See also
*List of vice-chancellors of the University of Oxford
*List of University of Oxford people
* List of chancello ...
,
Lord Chancellor
The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. The ...
,
Archdeacon of Canterbury
The Archdeacon of Canterbury is a senior office-holder in the Diocese of Canterbury (a division of the Church of England Province of Canterbury). Like other archdeacons, he or she is an administrator in the diocese at large (having oversight of ...
,
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East and West Sussex. The see is based in the City of Chichester where the bishop's seat ...
* Thomas de Stratford, Dean of Gloucester
* Stephen de Stratford, progenitor of the ''Stratfords of Farmcote''
*
Henry de Stratford
Henry de Stratford was a Greater Clerk of the Royal Chancery under Edward III, and member of the Noble House of Stratford.
Life
He was born into the wealthy Stratford Family of Stratford-on-Avon, and was related to Ralph Stratford (Bishop of Lo ...
Greater Clerk of the
Royal Chancery under
Edward III
Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...
*
Thomas de Stratford
Thomas de Stratford (also called Thomas Stratford) was a medieval Archdeacon of Gloucester of the Noble House of Stratford.
Early life
Stratford attended Oxford University and in 1348 and 1349 held the position of Senior Proctor. He was born into ...
(died 12 June 1396)
Senior Proctor
Proctor (a variant of ''procurator'') is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another.
The title is used in England and some other English-speaking countries in three principal contexts:
* In law, a proctor is a historical class of lawye ...
of
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
,
Archdeacon of Gloucester
The Archdeacon of Gloucester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Gloucester, England whose responsibilities include the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the ''Archdeaconry of Gloucester.''
History
The first ...
,
Prior of Caldwell
*
Ralph de Stratford (c. 1300-1354), also known as Ralph Hatton of Stratford,
Bishop of London
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
*
Andrew de Stratford (died 30 November 1378), landowner and verderer, progenitor of the ''Stratfords of Wessex''
The Stratfords of Farmcote
![Great Farmcote Manor, Gloucestershire](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Great_Farmcote_Manor%2C_Gloucestershire.jpg)
A
cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
branch of Stratfords, founded by ''Stephen de Stratford'', were granted Lordship of the Manors of Farmcote, Hawling and Temple Guiting in 1314. His son, John Stratford, in 1320 became a member of parliament for Gloucestershire, and his son was raised to the knighthood as Sir Stephen Stratford. Sir Stephen married Elizabeth Monthault, descendant of
Eustace de Montaut
Eustace de Montaut, or Monte Alto, Montalt, Monhaut, or FitzNorman ( 1027 – 1112), was a Breton people, Breton soldier, and later baron, who fought on the side of the Normans during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and for his achievement ...
, and all later cadet branches stem from this union. Following the dissolution of
Hailes Abbey
Hailes Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey, in the small village of Hailes, two miles northeast of Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England. It was founded in 1246 as a daughter establishment of Beaulieu Abbey. The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII ...
in 1539 this branch took Farmcote Manor House as their seat. This line were cousins to
Robert Dover, and involved in the establishment of the
Cotswold Olimpick Games
The Cotswold Olimpick Games is an annual public celebration of games and sports now held on the Friday after Spring Bank Holiday near Chipping Campden, in the Cotswolds of England. The games likely began in 1612 and ran (through a period of disc ...
in 1612.
[Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter 9. The Cotswold Games, The Dovers and Stratford]
/ref>
The Farmcote and Hawling estates were sold in 1756, by sons of Walter Stratford, though part of Farmcote Manor still stands, and Stratford tombs, arms and effigies can be found in the estate chapel there.[Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter 6. Farmcote, The House, Manor, and Chapel]
/ref>
Descendants of the Farmcote Stratfords were still recorded living in the area during the time from 1841 to 1900 censu
Notable members of this line include:
* Stephen de Stratford, progenitor of the ''Stratfords of Farmcote'', family of John de Stratford
* John Stratford, member of parliament for Gloucestershire, 1320
* Sir Stephen Stratford, knight of the realm
* Thomas de Stratford (died 12 June 1396) Senior Proctor
Proctor (a variant of ''procurator'') is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another.
The title is used in England and some other English-speaking countries in three principal contexts:
* In law, a proctor is a historical class of lawye ...
of Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, Archdeacon of Gloucester
The Archdeacon of Gloucester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Gloucester, England whose responsibilities include the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the ''Archdeaconry of Gloucester.''
History
The first ...
, Prior of Caldwell
* John Stratford (entrepreneur), John Stratford (c.1582-c.1634) Merchant and entrepreneur, a significant grower of tobacco in the Cotswolds
The Stratfords of Wessex
Andrew de Stratford, a nephew of John de Stratford and friend of William of Wykeham, moved to the Wessex area as part of his uncle's familia when he became Bishop of Winchester. Acquiring land in the New Forest, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire, Andrew married a certain Christine and founded a cadet branch of Stratfords, descendants of which remain in Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Berkshire to this day.
Notable members of this line include:
* Andrew de Stratford (died 30 November 1378), landowner and verderer, family of John de Stratford
* Robert Stratford (died before 1392), landowner, son of Andrew Stratford
* John Stratford (verderer)
John Stratford (1380 – July 1433), also known as ''John Stratforde'', was a medieval English verderer and landowner.
John was born into the landed Wessex Stratford Family of Hampshire and Wiltshire, son of Robert Stratford, grandson of And ...
(died July 1433), landowner and verderer, son of Robert Stratford
* John Stratford (mayor)
John Stratford (died about 1501), was a medieval Mayor of Winchester.
John was born into a cadet branch of the aristocratic House of Stratford, a descendant of John Stratford and Andrew de Stratford, and relative of the de Inkepenne family. ...
(died about 1501), medieval Mayor of Winchester
The Office of Mayor of Winchester is the second oldest mayoralty in England, dating back to the period when Winchester was the capital of Wessex and England. The Mayor of Winchester thus stands second only to the Lord Mayor of the City of Lond ...
* Frank Stratford (1873 - 1954), Mayor of Basingstoke
* Graham Stratford landowner and agriculturalist, Mayor of Alton, grandson of Frank Stratford
* Brice Stratford
Brice Stratford is an English Theatre director, director, writer, historian, folklorist, actor-manager, and heritage campaigner. His work focuses on classical and Shakespearean theatre, the New Forest area of Southern England, British folkl ...
director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''Di ...
and actor-manager
An actor-manager is a leading actor who sets up their own permanent theatrical company and manages the business, sometimes taking over a theatre to perform select plays in which they usually star. It is a method of theatrical production used co ...
, grandson of Graham Stratford
The Stratfords of Merevale
The Manor of Merevale
Merevale is a small village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England. Located about one and a half miles west of Atherstone, it is the site of a medieval Cistercian Abbey (founded in 1148) and ...
in north Warwickshire (including the original Merevale Hall
Merevale Hall is a private country house in Merevale, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building. The estate descends from Merevale Abbey which once stood on the site.
The Manor of Merevale was granted in 1540 to Sir Walte ...
and estate) was purchased in the mid-seventeenth century by ''Edward Stratford'' (died 1665), 9x great grandson of Sir Stephen de Stratford of Farmcote.
[ ''A History of the County of Warwick - Volume 4'' (1947) pp142-147 from British History Online]
/ref> In 1749 the property was inherited by Penelope Bate Stratford (the daughter and co-heiress of Francis Stratford of Merevale) who married into the (now) Dugdale baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Dugdale, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.
The Dugdale Baronetcy, ''of Merevale and Blyth in the County of Warwick'', was created in the Baronetage of the United Ki ...
, who still possess the estate.[Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter 11. The Extinct Earldom]
/ref>
The Stratford Dugdales and Dugdale baronets
In 1749 Merevale Hall
Merevale Hall is a private country house in Merevale, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building. The estate descends from Merevale Abbey which once stood on the site.
The Manor of Merevale was granted in 1540 to Sir Walte ...
was inherited by Edward's eventual descendant ''Penelope Bate Stratford'' (the daughter and co-heiress of Francis Stratford of Merevale) who married William Geast. William Geast took the surname of his Uncle, John Dugdale, and their child was Dugdale Stratford Dugdale who married the honourable Charlotte Curzon, daughter of Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon
Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon (2 February 1730 – 21 March 1820), styled Lord Curzon between 1794 and 1802, was a British Tory politician.
Background and education
Curzon was the second son of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 4th Baronet of Kedles ...
of the (now) Earls Howe. Their son William Stratford Dugdale had a son also named William Stratford Dugdale who had a son named William Francis Stratford Dugdale, who came to be the 1st Baronet. The Merevale
Merevale is a small village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England. Located about one and a half miles west of Atherstone, it is the site of a medieval Cistercian Abbey (founded in 1148) and ...
estate has descended to the present incumbent, his grandson Sir William Matthew Stratford Dugdale, 3rd Bt of the Dugdale baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Dugdale, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.
The Dugdale Baronetcy, ''of Merevale and Blyth in the County of Warwick'', was created in the Baronetage of the United Ki ...
thus:
* Sir William Francis Stratford Dugdale, 1st Baronet (1872-1965)
* Sir William Stratford Dugdale, 2nd Baronet (1922-2014)
* Sir William Matthew Stratford Dugdale, 3rd Baronet, (born 22 February 1959); the only male issue of the 2nd Baronet's first marriage
* Thomas Joshua Stratford Dugdale FRSA (born 1974), British documentary film-maker, male issue of the 2nd Baronet's second marriage
* Eric Stratford Dugdale, (born 18 May 2001), heir apparent to the baronetcy, son of Sir William Stratford Dugdale, 3rd Baronet
The Earls of Aldborough
''Edward Stratford'' of Merevale Hall settled the sum of £500 on his younger brother ''Robert Stratford'' to establish a line in Ireland.[Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter 5. The Tracys, Dugdales, Throgmortons and Overburys]
/ref> Robert settled at Baltinglass Castle, and his grandson entered the Peerage of Ireland, peerage as Earls of Aldborough, of the Palatinate of Upper Ormond. The title was created on 9 February 1777, along with the subsidiary title Viscount Amiens, for John Stratford, 1st Viscount Aldborough. He had already been created Baron Baltinglass, of Baltinglass, in the County of Wicklow, on 21 May 1763, and Viscount Aldborough, of the Palatinate of Upper Ormond, on 22 July 1776. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. Three of his sons, the second, third and fourth Earls, all succeeded in the titles. They became extinct on the death of the latter's grandson, the sixth Earl, in 1875. Their seats were Belan House, Aldborough House, Baltinglass Castle and Stratford House. and went on to sire the Earls of Aldborough.
Notable Stratfords of Baltinglass include:
* Robert Stratford (of the Merevale Stratfords)
* Edward Stratford, supporter of William of Orange, refused a peerage offered by William III William III or William the Third may refer to:
Kings
* William III of Sicily (c. 1186–c. 1198)
* William III of England and Ireland or William III of Orange or William II of Scotland (1650–1702)
* William III of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ...
* John Stratford, 1st Earl of Aldborough (c. 1691–1777)
* Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough (d. 1801)
* John Stratford, 3rd Earl of Aldborough (c. 1740–1823)
* Benjamin O'Neale Stratford, 4th Earl of Aldborough (d. 1833)
* Mason Gerard Stratford, 5th Earl of Aldborough (1784–1849) (Bigamist)
* Captain Benjamin O'Neale Stratford, 6th Earl of Aldborough (1808–1875)
The Stratford Cannings and Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe
''Abigail Stratford'' was the daughter of ''Robert Stratford'', progenitor of the Irish Stratfords. In 1697 she married George Canning, and in 1703 they had a son, named Stratford Canning. He had a son sometime after 1734, also named Stratford Canning, who had a son in 1786, also named Stratford Canning, who was created 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe on 24 April 1852.
* Stratford Canning
Stratford Canning, 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, (4 November 1786 – 14 August 1880) was a British diplomat who became best known as the longtime British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. A cousin of George Canning, he served as Envoy ...
, 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe KG GCB PC (1786–1880), a diplomat and politician, best known as the longtime British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
The Wingfield-Stratfords, Viscount Powerscourt, and Baron Wrottesley
Lady ''Amelia Stratford'' was the daughter of John Stratford, 1st Earl of Aldborough
John Stratford, 1st Earl of Aldborough (169829 May 1777) was an Irish peer and politician and member of the Noble House of Stratford.
Background
John was born either on 10 August 1697,Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter ...
. On 7 September 1760 she married Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt
Viscount Powerscourt ( ) is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of Ireland, each time for members of the Wingfield family. It was created first in 1618 for the Chief Governor of Ireland, Richard Wingfield. However, this creat ...
, and took his name; it is from this maternal Stratford lineage that the current Viscount Powerscourt
Viscount Powerscourt ( ) is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of Ireland, each time for members of the Wingfield family. It was created first in 1618 for the Chief Governor of Ireland, Richard Wingfield. However, this creat ...
descends.
The Stratford descendant Viscounts Powerscourt are as follows:
* Richard Wingfield, 4th Viscount Powerscourt (1762–1809)
* Richard Wingfield, 5th Viscount Powerscourt (1790–1823)
* Richard Wingfield
Sir Richard Wingfield KG of Kimbolton Castle (c. 1469 – 22 July 1525) was an influential courtier and diplomat in the early years of the Tudor dynasty of England.
Life
He was born at Letheringham, Suffolk to Sir John Wingfield (c. 1428 &ndash ...
, 6th Viscount Powerscourt (1815–1844)
* Mervyn Wingfield
Captain Mervyn Robert George Wingfield (16 January 1911–15 March 2005) was a Royal Navy officer who served in submarines throughout World War II, narrowly surviving a sinking after a collision in the North Sea, and was the first British ...
, 7th Viscount Powerscourt (1836–1904)
* Mervyn Richard Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt (1880–1947)
* Mervyn Patrick Wingfield, 9th Viscount Powerscourt (1905–1973)
* Mervyn Niall Wingfield, 10th Viscount Powerscourt (1935-2015)
* Mervyn Anthony Wingfield, 11th Viscount Powerscourt (born 1963)
* The heir presumptive to the viscountcy is a kinsman of the current holder, also a Stratford descendant: Richard David Noel Wingfield (born 1966), a great-great-great-grandson of the Rev. Hon. Edward Wingfield (1792-1874), the third son of the fourth Viscount. He has a son, Dylan.
When Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough
Edward Augustus Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough, FRS (1736 – 2 January 1801) of Belan house, styled The Honourable from 1763 to 1777 and Viscount Amiens in the latter year, was an Irish peer, Whig politician, and member of the Noble House ...
(Amelia's brother) died in 1801 he bequeathed the bulk of his estate to Amelia's grandson (his nephew, too junior to inherit the Powerscourt Viscountcy) on the proviso that he took back the Stratford name, thus becoming John Wingfield-Stratford in 1802. This line inherited Stratford House in London, and Amelia lived there until her death in 1831. It was sold in 1832.[Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter 13. Belan, Aldborough, and Stratford House]
/ref>
Notable Wingfield-Stratfords include:
* Brigadier-General Cecil Wingfield-Stratford
Brigadier-General Cecil Vernon Wingfield-Stratford CB, CMG (7 October 1853 – 5 February 1939) was a British Army officer in the Royal Engineers and an English international footballer who played as a forward.
Early life
Born in West Malling ...
CB, CMG (1853–1939) a British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
officer in the Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
and an English international footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
* Captain Esmé Cecil Wingfield-Stratford
Esmé Cecil Wingfield-Stratford (1882–1971) was an English historian, writer, mind-trainer, outdoorsman, patriot and ruralist.
Life
Esmé was born on 20 September 1882 elder son of Brigadier-General Cecil Wingfield-Stratford (a descendant of ...
DSC (1882–1971) an English historian, writer, mind-trainer, outdoorsman, patriot and ruralist
Esmé Cecil's daughter (Roshnara) married Richard John Wrottesley, 5th Baron Wrottesley
Major Richard John Wrottesley, 5th Baron Wrottesley MC (7 July 1918 – 23 October 1977), was a British peer and army officer.
Early life and education
Wrottesley was the only son of Hon Walter Bennet Wrottesley, 2nd son of Arthur Wrottesley, ...
, and though they later divorced it was through issue of their marriage that the Barony descended:
* Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley, 6th Baron Wrottesley (b. 1968), great-grandson of Esmé Cecil Wingfield-Stratford
* The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son the Hon. Victor Wrottesley (born 2004)
Stratford coats of arms
There are two main variant coats of arms associated with the Stratford family, Type A (or "trinity") and Type B (or "lion"). Type A can be further divided into the "Trestle" and "Roundel" subtypes.
Type A (trinity)
The Type A (or "trinity") Stratford Coat of Arms is the oldest of the two, first associated with John de Stratford
John de Stratford ( – 1348) was Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of Winchester, Treasurer and Chancellor of England.
Early life
Stratford was born into the landed Stratford family of Stratford-on-Avon around 1275. His father was Robert de St ...
and his familia in the early 1300s. It can be divided into two broad subtypes; Trestle
ATLAS-I (Air Force Weapons Lab Transmission-Line Aircraft Simulator), better known as Trestle, was a unique electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generation and testing apparatus built between 1972 and 1980 during the Cold War at Sandia National Laborato ...
, and Roundel
A roundel is a circular disc used as a symbol. The term is used in heraldry, but also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of differ ...
.[Bedford, WK Riland. "The Blazon of Episcopacy" 1858]
Trestle
Stratford type A Trestle 1.jpeg, Gules, a fess humette between three trestles, or
Stratford type A Trestle 2.jpeg, Gules, a fess humette or, between three trestles, argent
Stratford type A Trestle 3.jpeg, Gules, a fess humette or, between two trestles, argent
Stratford type A Trestle 4.jpeg, Gules, a fess humette between three trestles, argent
The Trestle type is most closely associated with the original Warwickshire Bishops, the Hampshire Stratfords descended from Andrew Stratford
Andrew Stratford (died 30 November 1378), also known as ''Andrew de Stratford'' and ''Andrew de Strelford'', was a medieval England, English landowner and verderer of the House of Stratford.
Personal life and family
Andrew was born into the Ho ...
, and with Nicholas Stratford
Nicholas Stratford (1633 – 12 February 1707) was an Anglican prelate. He served as Bishop of Chester from 1689 to 1707.
He was born at Hemel Hempstead, graduated M.A. at Trinity College, Oxford in 1656, and was Fellow there in 1657. He cont ...
. The design is consistently based around gules, a fess humette, surrounded by three trestles argent (sometimes or). Variants include colour of fess and trestles, and number of trestles.
In heraldry the trestle (also ''tressle, tressel'' and ''threstle'') as a charge
Charge or charged may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Charge, Zero Emissions/Maximum Speed'', a 2011 documentary
Music
* ''Charge'' (David Ford album)
* ''Charge'' (Machel Montano album)
* ''Charge!!'', an album by The Aqua ...
is extremely rare, and known for symbolising hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis de Jaucourt, Louis, chevalier de J ...
(as historically the trestle was a tripod used both as a stool and a table support). The fess humette is apparently intended to represent a banqueting table, with the trestles gathered around.[Guillim, John. "A Display of Heraldry" 1724]
Roundel
File:Stratford type A Rondel 1.jpeg, Or, a fess gules, between three torteaux
File:Stratford type A Rondel 2.jpeg, Argent, a fess gules, between three bezants
File:Stratford type A Rondel 3.jpeg, Irish
Argent, a fess between three hawks heads erased, gules
File:Stratford type A Rondel 4.jpeg, Gules, a fess argent, between three plates
File:Stratford type A Rondel 5.jpeg, Sable, a fess argent, between three plates
File:Stratford type A Rondel 6.jpeg, Per fess gules and sable, three plates
The Roundel type is associated solely with the medieval Bishops, and appears to be an archaic, simplified or corrupted version of the Trestle type. The design is consistently based around a fess, surrounded by three roundels. Variants include colour of fess, field and rondel.
A single example of a variant Roundel type surviving is in the later Irish recording of a shield in the name of Stratford: argent, a fess between three hawks heads erased, gules.
=Streatfield
=
File:Stratford type A Rondel 6.jpeg, Stratford
Per fess gules and sable, three plates
File:Streatfield CoA.jpeg, Streatfield
Per fess gules and sable, three bezants
The arms of the Streatfield (or Streatfeild) family, recorded in the sixteenth century, bear a striking resemblance to an attributed form of Stratford arms. This could be seen as evidence that the Streatfields, though their line cannot be traced beyond the 1500s, are in fact a branch of the Stratford family, the name having been corrupted at some point prior to the sixteenth century.
Type B (lion)
File:Stratford type B 1.jpeg, Barruly of eight, argent and azure, a lion rampant gules
File:Stratford type B 2.jpeg, Paly of eight, argent and azure, a lion rampant gules
File:Stratford type B 3.jpeg, Barruly of five, azure and argent, a lion rampant ruby
File:Stratford type B 4.jpeg, Barruly of ten, argent and azure, a lion rampant gules, langued or
File:Stratford type B 5.jpeg, Barruly of ten, argent and azure, a lion rampant, or
File:Stratford type B 6.jpeg, Barruly of ten, or and gules, a lion rampant, argent
The Type B Stratford Coat of Arms was first recorded by the Heralds Visitations to Gloucester of 1543, and since has been consistently based around a lion rampant, gules, on a barruly of ten, Argent and Azure. It is associated with the Gloucester, Merevale and Irish branches. Variations have included the addition of a crescent to denote a younger son, a change in the barruly number, change in langue colour, and in lion colour.[Stratford, Gerald "A History of the Stratford Family" Chapter 2. The Stratford Family Heraldry]
The Earls of Aldborough took supporters of human figures, a winged woman and armoured man, representing Fame and War. Officially: Dexter a Female figure, representing Fame, vested Ar, winged Or, in her right hand a trumpet gold, and in her left hand an olive branch vert, the sword belt Gules. Sinister, a man in complete armour Proper, garnished Or, spurs, sword, shield and spear of the last, sword belt Gules, holding in his right hand the spear, and upon his left arm the shield.
They also adopted the motto "Virtuti Nihil Obstat Et Armis" ''(Nothing Resists Valour and Arms)''.
Luxembourg and Lusignan
File:Coat of Arms of the House of Lusignan (Kings of Cyprus).svg, The Lusignan Coat of Arms, granted twelfth century
File:Arms of the Count of Luxembourg.svg, The Luxembourg Coat of Arms after 1288
File:Stratford type B 4.jpeg, The Stratford Type B Coat of Arms, first recorded 1543
File:The Stratford Coat of Arms (Irish, Earls of Aldborough).jpeg, The Aldborough Arms, with Supporters (eighteenth century)
The Stratford Type B Coat of Arms is remarkably similar to two other prominent Coats of Arms, an extremely unorthodox occurrence. The exact relationship to the arms of Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
and of Lusignan
The House of Lusignan ( ; ) was a royal house of French origin, which at various times ruled several principalities in Europe and the Levant, including the kingdoms of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia, from the 12th through the 15th centuries du ...
are unknown, if indeed any exists at all. Both bear (with some variation in number) a barruly of ten Argent and Azure, and both have a lion rampant gules - though often on these royal arms it is granted a crown (or), and the lion of Luxembourg bears a forked tail as difference. The similarity is too close to be dismissed satisfactorily as independent coincidence, and historians have generated various theories as to the connection between the houses and the arms, none conclusive.[Péporté, Pit. "Constructing the Middle Ages: Historiography, Collective Memory and Nation-Building in Luxembourg" pp 80-93. BRILL. (2011)]
References
Further reading
* (1986, biography)
* Haines, Roy Martin. "Bishop John Stratford's Injunctions to his Cathedral Chapter and to other Benedictine Houses in Winchester", Revue bénédictine, t. 117 (2007), 154–80
* (2010, historical records)
* {{cite book , editor-last=Haines , editor-first=R.M. , title=The Register of John de Stratford, Bishop of Winchester, 1323-1333: Vol. II , series=Surrey Record Society
Surrey Record Society is a text publication society which edits and publishes historic records relating to the county of Surrey, England. The society concerns itself with the historic county, which includes, in addition to the current administrati ...
, volume=43 , place=Woking , isbn=9780902978188 (2011, historical records)
* Ethel M Richardson.
Long Forgotten Days Leading to Waterloo
Heath, Cranton limited (1928)
* Ronald W. Lightbown,
An Architect Earl
Edward Augustus Stratford (1736-1801), 2nd Earl of Aldborough" OLL Editions in association with the Irish Georgian Society (2009)
* Ada K. Longfield (Mrs. H. G. Leask),
Linen and Cotton Printing at Stratford-on-Slaney, County Wicklow
' The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 75, No. 1 (Mar., 1945), pp. 24–31 (1945, regarding Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough
Edward Augustus Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough, FRS (1736 – 2 January 1801) of Belan house, styled The Honourable from 1763 to 1777 and Viscount Amiens in the latter year, was an Irish peer, Whig politician, and member of the Noble House ...
, and his work in founding Stratford-on-Slaney
Stratford-on-Slaney (), also known as Stratford or Stratford-upon-Slaney, is a small village on the River Slaney in west County Wicklow in Ireland. It was built by the Earl of Aldborough from 1774. According to the latest census, conducted in ...
)
* Martina Galvin,
Interior Landscapes: Aldborough House
Blurb Self-Publishing (2011, Photobook)
* Stanley Lane-Pool,
The life of Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, from his memoirs and private and official papers
' (1888, biography)
* E. C. Wingfield-Stratford, ''Before the lamps went out'' (1946, autobiography)
Stratford family
Streatfeild family
English families
Medieval English families