List of Lieutenants of Hampton Court Chase, Rangers of Bushy Park facts for kids
The Lieutenants and Keepers of Hampton Court Chase and Rangers of Bushy Park were important people who looked after a special royal hunting ground and park. They were in charge of this area because of their official job.
History of the Royal Chase
In 1539, King Henry VIII wanted a large hunting area near his Hampton Court Palace. So, a special law was passed by Parliament to create "Hampton Court Chase." This was a huge area where the King and his guests could hunt animals like wild boar, deer, and rabbits.
The person given the job of looking after this area was called the Ranger or Keeper of Bushy Park. This person had the right to build and live in a grand house within Bushy Park. They also had special powers, similar to the King's, when it came to hunting. This job also meant they could collect money from people who grazed their animals or took wood from the chase.
The new chase included areas like Hampton, Hanworth, Kempton, and Walton-on-Thames. However, Parliament made sure that the King's hunting rights did not unfairly affect the land owned by other people.
In the early years, the Ranger or Keeper also held the job of Housekeeper of the Palace. This meant they helped manage Hampton Court Palace itself. The land directly next to the Palace, called the 'Home Park', usually had a separate ranger.
Some people who held this title lived in Bushy Park as their main home. The King or Queen usually gave this important job to the main heir of the person who held it before. During a time when England had no king (the Commonwealth of England), the title was given to General Monck. He remained in favor when the King returned to power.
People Who Held the Office
| Name | When they held the job | How their time ended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Anthony Browne | 1539-1548 | Died naturally | |
| Sir Michael Stanhope | 1548-1552 | Lost his life | He was involved in political events during King Edward's reign and faced serious charges. |
| William Parr, 1st Marquis of Northampton | Around 1559-1571 | ||
| Charles, "Lord Howard of Effingham", later 1st Earl of Nottingham | Around 1571-1624 | ||
| James Hamilton, 2nd Marquis of Hamilton | Around 1624-1625 | ||
| George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham | Dates not specified | A very close and influential friend to both King James I and King Charles I. | |
| Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey (died 1630) | Dates not specified | His main home was Ashley Park. He was the brother of George Villiers. | |
| During the time without a king (the Commonwealth), this job was not held. It was brought back after Oliver Cromwell died. | |||
| General George Monck | 1658-1677 | Died naturally | A famous leader in Parliament and the military. King Charles II confirmed his appointment when he returned to the throne. |
| Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland | Around 1677-1709 | Died naturally | A very influential figure to King Charles II. |
| Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax | 1709-1714 | Died naturally | |
| George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax | 1714-1739 | Died naturally | He was the nephew of the previous Earl of Halifax. |
| George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax | 1739-1771 | Died naturally | He was the son of the previous Earl. |
| Anne, Lady North, later Countess of Guildford | 1771-1797 | Died naturally | Her husband was the nephew of the previous Earl and also served as Prime Minister. |
| Prince William, Duke of Clarence | 1797 | Died naturally | When he died, the title passed to Queen Adelaide. After her death, the title was no longer used. The nearby Bushy House was later used by a French prince and then given to a national science organization. |
See also
- Bushy Park
- Bushy House/The New Lodge (National Physical Laboratory)
- Ashley Park House (no longer standing)
- Royal chase
- Royal forest
