Lady Blanche Arundell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blanche Arundell
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Lady Blanche Arundell
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| Born | Blanche Somerset 1583 |
| Died | 28 October 1649 (aged 65–66) Winchester, Hampshire, England |
| Resting place | Tisbury, Wiltshire, England |
| Title | Baroness Arundell |
| Known for | Defender of Wardour Castle |
| Spouse(s) | Thomas Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Wardour |
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Lady Blanche Arundell (born Lady Blanche Somerset; 1583 or 1584 – 28 October 1649) was a brave English noblewoman. She is famous for defending Wardour Castle during the English Civil War. She held the castle for almost a week with only 25 men and her maidservants. They faced a much larger force of 1300 soldiers.
Contents
A Life of Nobility and Courage
Lady Blanche Arundell was born Blanche Somerset in 1583 or 1584. Her father was Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester. Her mother was Lady Elizabeth Hastings.
Early Life and Court
As a young woman, Blanche took part in special dances called masques. One such event was at the wedding of Anne Russell in June 1600. She danced with other noble ladies. They wore beautiful clothes made of silver cloth and silk.
On May 11, 1607, Blanche married Thomas Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Wardour. He was the son of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour. Together, they had three children:
- Henry Arundell, 3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour
- Katherine Arundell
- Anne Arundell
Blanche also served as a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Denmark. This meant she helped the Queen with her daily life. She was present at important events at court.
The English Civil War Begins
The English Civil War was a conflict between those who supported King Charles I and those who supported Parliament. Blanche's husband, Lord Arundell, was loyal to the King. He formed a group of horsemen to fight for King Charles I.
In May 1643, Lord Arundell was injured in the Battle of Stratton. He sadly died a few days later.
Defending Wardour Castle
While her husband was away fighting, Lady Blanche Arundell faced a huge challenge. From May 2, 1643, she had to defend her home, Wardour Castle. The castle was near Tisbury, Wiltshire.
She had only herself, her children, a few maidservants, and 25 men. They were up against 1300 Parliamentary soldiers. These soldiers were led by Sir Edward Hungerford and Colonel Edmund Ludlow. The Parliamentary forces also had cannons.
Lady Blanche and her small group bravely defended the castle for six days. They fought hard against the much larger army.
Surrender and Aftermath
Eventually, Lady Blanche was forced to give up the castle. She surrendered on terms that were supposed to be fair. However, the Parliamentary forces did not keep their promises.
The castle was looted and damaged. Lady Blanche was taken prisoner to Shaftesbury. Because she became ill, she was later moved to Dorchester.
Lady Blanche Arundell died in Winchester, Hampshire, in 1649. She was buried in Tisbury. Her will was officially approved shortly after her death.
