Despenser family

The Despensers, a great family of England controlled the Manor of Martley for over two hundred years, but nothing remains locally to show us. Robert Despenser was William the Conqueror's Steward and built Elmley Castle on the slopes of Bredon Hill. Hardly anything remains but it was through Robert that the Despensers had significant control of Worcestershire from then on.

In 1234, Henry III signed a Charter granting Geoffrey Le Despenser the Manor of Martley with the Advowson of Martley Church. The Charter was drawn up at Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Elsewhere in the County the family obtained the Manor of Oldberrow, on the border with Warwickshire, from the Abbey of Evesham and were also given a Charter to hold fairs and markets there in 1253. Hugh Despenser was a Chief Officer of State and Administrator of Justice in 1260. He died at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, fighting on the side of the Barons.

Hugh Despenser (son of the above Hugh) became Head of the King's Court in 1312, fell out of favour and was banished in 1321 with his son (another Hugh) but then recalled to the Court in 1322 by Edward II and made Earl of Winchester. As the tide of politics flowed he fell from grace and was executed at Bristol in 1326, and his son was executed at Hereford. It had been the return of Queen Isabella (Edward II's wife) which signaled the end of the Despenser dynasty at Martley. ...next


The figure of Lord Edward Despenser in Trinity Chapel, Tewkesbury Abbey

  • A1. Thomas le Despenser;
    • B1. Hugh le Despenser of Loughborough;
      • C1. Sir Hugh le Despenser, d:1265, m. Aline Basset;  ==>  Basset family
        • D1. Alianore le Despenser, m. Hugh de Courtenay;  <==  Courtenay family
        • D2. Anna le Despenser, m. William de Ferrers;  <==  Ferrers family
        • D3. Sir Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester, lvd:1260/1326, m. Isabel de Beauchamp;  ==>  Beauchamp family
          • E1. Isabel le Despenser, m. Sir John de Hastings;  <==  Hastings family
          • E2. Elizabeth le Despenser, m. John FitzAlan;  <==  FitzAlan family
          • E3. Philip le Despenser of Parlington, d:1313, m. Margaret de Gousille;
            • F1. Philip le Despenser of Parlington, lvd:1313/1349, m. Joan de Cobham;
          • E4. Sir Hugh le Despenser, Lord Despencer, d:1326, m. Alianore de Clare;  ==>  de Clare family
            • F1. Elizabeth Despenser, m. Maurice de Berkeley;  ==>  Berkeley family
            • F2. Edward Despenser of Buckland, d:1342, m. Anna Ferrers;  ==>  Ferrers family
              • G1. Sir Edward Despenser, 1st Lord, lvd:1336/1375, m. Elizabeth Burghersh;
                • H1. Margaret Despenser, d:1415, m. Robert de Ferrers;  <==  Ferrers family
                • H2. Anne Despenser, m. Sir Hugh Hastings;  <==  Hastings family
                • H3. Thomas Despenser, Earl of Gloucester, lvd:1373/1400, m. Constance Plantagenet;  ==>  Plantagenet
                  • I1. Isabel Despenser, lvd:1400/1439, m1. Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester, m2. Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick;  <==  Beauchamp family

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