Thomas Arundell of Wardour Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Thomas Arundell
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Site of the scaffold on Tower Hill
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| Born | c.1502 |
| Died | 26 February 1552 Tower Hill, London |
| Buried | Church of St Peter ad Vincula |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Howard |
| Father | Sir John Arundell |
| Mother | Eleanor Grey |
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Sir Thomas Arundell (born around 1502, died 26 February 1552) was an important figure in England. He lived at Wardour Castle in Wiltshire. Thomas Arundell was a government official from Cornwall.
He had strong connections to the royal family and other powerful English families. By the time King Henry VIII died, Sir Thomas was a very experienced government worker. However, some people in power worried about his influence. They also worried about his family's loyalty to the old religion.
He was accused of being involved in a rebellion in 1549. These accusations were not fully proven. Later, in 1551, he sided with Protector Somerset. This put him against John Dudley, Earl of Warwick. He was arrested and accused of serious crimes against the government. He was found guilty and was executed on Tower Hill on 26 February 1552.
After his death, his property was taken by the Crown. But in June 1552, some of it began to be returned to his wife. From 1553, his son also started getting property back.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Thomas Arundell was born around 1502. He was the younger son of Sir John Arundell. His father was a very important man in Cornwall. Sir John was the Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Thomas's mother was Lady Eleanor Grey. She was the daughter of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset.
Education and Career
Thomas Arundell studied at Lincoln's Inn. This was a famous place for legal education. He started his career working for Cardinal Wolsey. He worked there at the same time as Thomas Cromwell.
He was made a knight when Anne Boleyn became Queen. This was a great honor.
Sir Thomas held many important jobs. Most of these jobs were in the west of England. He was the first receiver for the Court of Augmentations. This court managed lands taken from monasteries. He worked for Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Dorset.
In 1533, he took over from his father. He became the Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in several counties. This meant he helped keep law and order.
He was part of groups that defended the coastline. He also led the Dorset militia (a local army). He did this during the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536–37. He also served in King Henry VIII's trip to France in 1544.
Sir Thomas was the High Sheriff of Dorset and Somerset twice. He also managed royal parks in Dorset. In 1539, he joined the Council of the West. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Dorset in 1545 and 1547.
He also helped manage the estates of his cousin, Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset. He also worked for Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland. He was a receiver for Anne of Cleves, one of Henry VIII's wives. He was also Chancellor of the Household for Queen Catherine Parr.
Acquiring Property
Sir Thomas Arundell was a commissioner for the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down monasteries. This role allowed him to buy many properties that used to belong to religious groups.
In 1547, he bought Wardour Castle in Wiltshire. This became his main home.
Later Life and Downfall
Sir Thomas Arundell was very connected to the royal family. He was also linked to many important families in England. By the time King Henry VIII died, he was one of the most experienced government officials.
However, when King Edward VI became king, new people were in power. They removed Sir Thomas's name from a list of people to be honored. They were worried about his influence. They also worried about his family's strong belief in the old Catholic religion.
In 1549, he was accused of being involved in a rebellion in the southwest. His brother, Sir John Arundell, was also accused. These accusations were not fully proven. Sir Thomas was put in prison in 1550 and again in 1551. This ended his career in government.
In late 1551, he temporarily supported Protector Somerset. This put him in conflict with John Dudley, Earl of Warwick. He was arrested and accused of serious crimes against the government.
Sir Thomas Arundell always said he was innocent. But he was found guilty. He was executed on Tower Hill on 26 February 1552. He was buried in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula.
His property was taken by the Crown. But in June 1552, the Crown started returning it to his wife. From 1553, his son Matthew Arundell also got property back. His wife, Margaret, died on 10 October 1571. She was buried in Tisbury, Wiltshire.
Marriage and Children
On 20 November 1530, Sir Thomas Arundell married Margaret Howard. She was born around 1515 and died on 10 October 1571.
Margaret was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard. Lord Edmund was the third son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. Margaret's mother was Joyce Culpeper.
Margaret Howard was the sister of Queen Katherine Howard. Queen Katherine was the fifth wife of King Henry VIII. Margaret was also a first cousin to King Henry's second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn.
Sir Thomas and Margaret had five children:
- Sir Matthew Arundell of Wardour Castle (born around 1535, died 24 December 1598). He married Margaret Willoughby. They had two sons: Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour and William Arundell.
- Charles Arundell (died 9 December 1587). He never married and had no children.
- Margaret Arundell.
- Dorothy Arundell (born around 1535, died around 1578). She married Sir Henry Weston.
- Jane Arundell (born around 1536, died 1593). She married Sir William Bevyle or Bevill.
The Arundell family of Lanherne, Cornwall, and Chideock, Dorset, are related to Sir Thomas Arundell's older brother, Sir John Arundell (of Lanherne, died 1557).
