Starborough Castle

Starborough Castle

In 1477 Sir Thomas Burgh finalised the marriage agreement (having borrowed funds from the Abbot of Thornton, Lincs to clinch it) between his eldest son , Edward (aged 13) and the heiress of the Cobham family, Anne, Lady Mountjoy (aged 9)

Lady Anne had been "affianced" to Edward Blount, 2nd Lord Mountjoy, who had died, aged 8, in 1475. Her father Sir Thomas Cobham, died in 1471 leaving his wife, Anne a daughter of Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, to try and arrange another suitable match. The last Lord Cobham had died in 1446, and the family had been beset with problems. Eleanor Cobham, a daughter of Lord Reginald, married the Duke of Gloucester, brother to Henry V, and caused uproar and scandal when she was discovered to have been using magic and witch craft to forecast the death of King Henry VI - treason. Eleanor was divorced from the Duke (who could do nothing to save her), made to do penance of walking through London in her shift, and then imprisoned for life, being moved from one hell hole castle to another until her death. The Cobhams were also connected to Sir William Oldcastle, the dangerous "lollard" (religious dissenter), who was burned for heresy after escaping the Tower of London and carrying out a terror campaign till finally captured.

For the up and coming Sir Thomas the marriage of his eldest son, Edward brought glittering prizes; Starborough Castle, near Lingfield, the Cobhams chief residence, was a major prize in itself, located within beautiful Kentish parklands, with a fairy tale moat and French like towers, the castle, although small, was an ideal southern home for the Burghs. Along with Starborough Castle came other Cobham manors; Cowden Leighton, Chiddinstone, Bogeshill, Tyehurst, and widespread rents in places like Hever, all bringing considerable income from their lands, tenements, parks and courts. Sir Thomas wasted no time at all, and by the end of 1477 (Michaelmas) his Bailiff. Edward Baynebrigge, had supplied a detailed account roll, giving the income of the new estate, down to the last penny.

Edward Burgh was knighted at the battle of Stoke Field in 1487, and succeeded to the barony in March 1496. Although the manor house at Gainsborough (now the old hall) in Lincolnshire remained the main family home, Starborough Castle, being closer to court, (Westminster and Windsor) slowly became the preferred southern family residence, the Burghs spending more and more time there. Starborough provided excellent hunting for visitors and the neighbours, at Penshurst and Igtham Mote were of the local gentry. When Lord Edward became mentally ill in 1510, Starborough Castle would have ben the ideal place for him to stay. Quiet scented gardens, well appointed and decorated rooms - a secure home cum hospital for keeping Edward safe, and it's proximity to London allowing the doctors and apothcaries to visit and apply their "dreadful" quack remides.

In the early 1500's had led to huge fines being imposed by a suspicious Henry VII, for his good behaviour. His eldest son, Sir Thomas, was knighted at Flodden Field in 1513 and, on his fathers death in 1528 (his mother having died in 1526). became 3rd Lord Burgh.

Lord Thomas married Agnes Tyrwitt in 1496 (another marriage arranged by his astute grand father), and it was Lord Thomas who put the Burgh family back on track. Lord Thomas's second marriage, to Alice London, a widow twice over, took him away from both Gainsborough and Starborough castle. Lord Thomas married Agnes Hewit. Alice a widow twice over, took him away from both Gainsborough and Starborough Castle. Lord Brght lived at Euston Hall near Thetfoe

The Burghs family suffered many family problems during Lord Thomas life, including bastardising his eldest sons children, coupled with national events, such as the Pilgrimage of Grace and the reformation (he was an officer in Queen Anne Boleyns Household), which Thomas found himself heavily involved with. The 4th Lord Burgh was William, 3rd son of Thomas. He married Katherine Clinton, daughter of the earl of Lincoln. It was during Lord Williams lifetime that Gainsborough was abandoned as the main family home and everything moved to Starborough castle. Although Nigel Saul, author of the 2001 issue of the history of Lingfield Church , says the Burghs were "largely non resident", they now chose the Collegiate Church as their burial place. In October 1584, a month after his death in London, Lord William was buried in the church at Lingfield, his widow joining him there in August 1621 (this burial appears not to be recorded by the Church authorities).

The 5th Lord Burgh was Thomas, 2nd eldest son of Lord William. Lord Thomas like his great great great grandfather, became a trusted royal servant; being created Knight of the Garter by Elizabeth I. He was a soldier, ambassador, M.A. Oxford! Governor of Brill, Lieutenant of Ireland, and running rapidly out of money..............

To fund many of these enterprises, which, by rights were his Queens, Lord Thomas had to sell off and mortgage his estates. In 1595 he became indebted to William Bereblock for £3,000, and mortgaged the Lincolnshire estate, including Gainsborough, to him. By the time of his death, in Ireland, in October 1597 much of Northumberland, Yorkshire and the Kent/Surrey estates were either sold or mortgaged off. Gainsborough manor and its estate was sold, in 1596, to pay off Bereblock, for £5,200 to William Hickman, a London merchant - and so ended the Burghs long association with Lincolnshire.

All this time Lady Francis Burgh and the family were living at Starborough castle, trying valiantly to save the finances. The heart rending letters that Lady Francis sent to Elizabeth I, begging for her husbands release from duties, still survive - but to no avail. Elizabeth had Lord Thomas buried, apparently, in St James Chapel, Westminster Abbey. The 6th Lord Burgh, Robert, named after the Queens favourite, was only 3 years old in 1597, and was "in the care" of Thomas Bilson, Bishop of Winchester. Lord Robert died on the 26th February 1602 after a long illness (buried in Winchester Cathedral). He left behind, through no personal fault, a ruined barony and four sisters to inherit it.

Lady Francis lived on till July1647, living in Westminster after Starborough castle was sold, having arranged marriages for all of the girls. She was buried in St.Margarets Church, Westminster, the same church as her daughter Frances had married Francis Coppinger in 1604. Starborough Castle itself was sold to Richard, Lord Richardson and the Burgh families portraits (some full length), letters and heirlooms scattered amongst the four girls families.

For more information on Starborough Castle after the Burghs left, its later history, and how to visit it, go to and learn how Warwick Leadley has transformed the site, preserving it, the Cobhams and Burgh families memories for the Nation.

Sources. History of Lingfield Church - N.Saul. Surrey history centre - Losely Mas. Nottingham archives. Calender of patent rolls- Hen VI, Ed IV, Ric III, Ed V,Hen VIII. Calender of fine rolls - as previous. Inquisitions post mortem - as previous. Lincolnshire archives. Public records office - Kew. The British library. Peerage - G.E.C. Cockayne. HenryVIII and the English Nobility - Miller. Westminster Abbey Library. House of Lords record office. West Sussex records office. Centre for Kentish studies (streatfield mas). The Old Hall guide book.