Le Strange Descendants

If you are curious to know what happened to the medieval ancestors read on.

Norfolk

The Family continue to this day as owners of the Hunstanton Estate, for which the legacy has lasted so far for 939 years. There are 32 generations since Ralph fitz Herluin owner in 1086, or 31 generations from Roland le Strange of 1100’s who married into the legacy and whose name was passed down.

Many le Strange Family tombs and memorials can be found in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Hunstanton. There is also a Family plot in the churchyard.

Although the Church website has not included the information on the le Stranges, it is still part and parcel of the Family Estate.

It was this Norfolk branch who the Irish le Strange ancestors stem from.

Shropshire

The main le Strange Castle in Shropshire can be found located in a small village called Knockin (Knokyn) near Oswestry; the le Strange Barony of Knockin was absorbed by more affluent Titled families of the North.

By the 1540’s Knockin Castle was said to have been left in a state of ruin. Their higher status with the Earls of Derby who had built their palatial medieval residence in 1496 included the original medieval Lathom House with impressive 18 towers, and a tall central tower known as Eagle Tower.

The ‘Baron Strange’ title did not die easily either. It has outlived the ruined Castle by many centuries; It had originally fallen into obeyance in 1594 on the death of Ferdinand (13th Lord Stanley, 5th Earl Derby) whose wife, Alice Spencer of Althorpe outlived him.

However, it was to be reappointed to Elizabeth Frances, Viscountess St. Davids in 1921, a mere 327 year later! Today, the title is still alive and thriving. (NB: Google states that it is currently held by Viscount Drummond.)

The Earls of Derby connection came via the sole Heiress, Baroness Joan le Strange 1463-1514, who who married Sir George Stanley  (Earl of Derby). She was the only child of Jacquetta Woodville (sister-in-law to King Edward IV) and Baron John Le Strange, of Knockin (1444–1479) who was Knighted in Westminster Abbey at the Coronation of Edward IV.  

Her parents were buried at St. John the Baptist Church, Hillingdon which contains “the oldest most celebrated memorial (CH50 brass relief carving on a slab of marble). A notice adjacent to the slab explains that the slab was once the lid to a tomb made in 1509, and which once contained John, 8th Lord Strange, Baron of Knokyn and Jacquetta his wife”.

Many will be familiar with the Woodvilles; Jacquetta’s sister was Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of Edward IV, and mother of the princes in the Tower, one of whom was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

This brings us full circle with the Shrewsbury connection; Knockin is in Shrewsbury but is near Oswestry, so its address is: Knockin, SY10 8HH (Shrewsbury postcode).