44-529: Baron Dudley is a title in the Peerage of England . It was created circa 1440 for John Sutton , a soldier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . The title descended in the Sutton family until the 17th century when Frances Sutton, the heir apparent to the title, married Humble Ward who was granted the title Baron Ward in 1644. Their heirs inherited both titles until 1740 when the differing rules of inheritance meant that
88-485: A chapel and great chamber were added within the castle walls. Following the death of John Sutton II, the castle passed to his wife, Isabel, daughter of John de Cherleton who held it until her death in 1397. In 1532, another John Sutton inherited the castle but after having money problems, he was ousted by a relative, John Dudley , later Duke of Northumberland, in 1537. John Dudley was the great-grandson of John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley and had risen to prominence during
132-523: A computer-generated reconstruction of the castle as it was in 1550, displayed through hardware that demonstrated an early use of the virtual tour concept. Dudley Castle has the distinction of being haunted. Dudley is believed to be the most haunted castle in England. One of the supernatural presences that has usually been sighted at the site is the Grey Lady, who is believed to be the spirit of Dorothy Beaumont,
176-426: A cousin. However, certain estates that had recently been purchased passed with the title Lord Dudley to the aforementioned Ferdinando Dudley Lea, the eleventh Baron Dudley. The family surname of the first five barons was formally 'Sutton', but in practice, they seem always to have been called 'Dudley'. In title deeds and other formal documents, the surname often appears as 'Sutton otherwise Dudley'. The heir apparent
220-473: A particular rank, including extinct, dormant, and abeyant peerages, see: Each peer is listed only by their highest English title. Peers known by a higher title in one of the other peerages are shown in blue, and peers with more than one title of the same rank in the Peerage of England are shown in orange. Subsidiary title Subsidiary title Dudley Castle Dudley Castle
264-432: A surname. John and Margaret were only in possession of the castle for a few years before the property was seized by the younger Hugh Despenser , a favourite of Edward II of England . Despenser owned the castle from 1325 to 1326, being dispossessed when the king fell from power. The castle was returned to John and Margaret in 1327. It was probably during the time of John and Margaret's son and successor John Sutton II that
308-611: A woman who died in the Castle, along with her baby, shortly after childbirth. She'd requested to be buried next to her daughter and for her husband to attend the funeral, but neither happened and so it's thought she now wanders the castle and its grounds. The ghost of Dorothy can often be seen near the castle keep and in the pub that was named after her on the castle grounds, the Grey Lady Tavern. Since opening, there have been many reports here, mostly of unexplained sounds, alarms going off in
352-462: Is a ruined fortification in the town of Dudley , West Midlands , England . Originally, a wooden motte and bailey castle built soon after the Norman Conquest , it was rebuilt as a stone fortification during the twelfth century but subsequently demolished on the orders of Henry II of England . The rebuilding of the castle took place in the second half of the thirteenth century. It culminated in
396-567: Is an outcrop of Wenlock Group limestone that was extensively quarried during the Industrial Revolution and which now, along with Wren's Nest Hill , is a scheduled monument of the best-surviving remains of the limestone industry in Dudley. It is also a Grade I listed building . Localised structural problems led to it being placed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register in 2020. The Dudley Tunnel runs beneath Castle Hill, but not
440-547: Is surrounded by a dry moat. In the medieval period, there were probably buildings in an outer court beyond the bailey moat. The castle keep dates from the rebuilding that started in 1262. It rests on the motte, constructed in the Norman period but somewhat reduced in height afterwards. The original building was slightly rectangular in plan with approximate dimensions 15 metres north to south and 22 metres east to west. The four drum towers on each corner are 9.8 metres in diameter. After
484-672: Is the present holder's son Hon. Dominic Wallace (born 1997) Peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. From that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were closed to new creations, and new peers were created in a single Peerage of Great Britain . There are five peerages in the United Kingdom in total. English Peeresses obtained their first seats in
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#1732844823261528-545: The County of Warwick , by letters patent . They were both succeeded by their son, the seventh and second Baron respectively. On the death in 1740 of the latter's grandson, the tenth Baron Dudley and fifth Baron Ward, the two titles separated. The barony of Ward, which could only be inherited by males, was passed on to the late Baron's kinsman, the sixth Baron (see the Earl of Dudley for the later history of this title). The barony of Dudley
572-572: The Crimean Wars were installed. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the site was used for fêtes and pageants. In 1937, when the Dudley Zoo was established, the castle grounds were incorporated into the zoo. The castle is located on a hill at one end of Dudley Town centre with the entrance (shared with Dudley Zoo) to the grounds off Castle Hill (the A459). The hill is an outcrop of limestone that
616-524: The Barony of Dudley descended on Ferdinando Dudley Lea, who became the 11th Baron whilst the Barony of Ward went to John Ward, who later became 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward. On Ferdinando's death in 1757, the title fell into abeyance. The title was revived in 1916. Baron Dudley is a title in the Peerage of England . It was created circa 1440 for John Sutton , a soldier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . According to Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage he
660-564: The Barony: "where can we find a more striking contrast than this mournful tale of the Barony of Dudley? The history of that famous title would, in its first chapter, speak of chivalry, warlike achievement, and magnificent hospitality in the ancient castle from which the Barony took its name. The last chapter would tell the story of the Halesowen farmer, the custom-house clerk, and the toll-bar-keeper, all resident within range of that very castle." In 1916
704-639: The Council on 25 February 1342, but neither he nor his son (died c. 1370 ), grandson (died 10 March 1396) or great grandson (all called John Sutton of Dudley) were summoned, so that they can probably not be regarded as peers. Lord Dudley's great-grandson, the third Baron, managed to get himself severely into debt and lost the family seat of Dudley Castle to his cousin John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland . He became known as "Lord Quondam" ( "Lord Has-been" or "Lord Formerly" ). However, Dudley Castle and
748-509: The Dudley borough only in 1926 when the restructuring of the boundaries took place to allow the development of the Priory Estate . The motte is the oldest remaining structure at the castle site. It originally had a moat at its foot which could have been wet or dry. The motte has a core of limestone rubble encased in clay. It stands around 9 metres high. The oval-shaped bailey, which measures 100 metres north to south and 80 metres east to west
792-650: The House of Lords under the Peerage Act 1963 from which date until the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999 all Peers of England could sit in the House of Lords . The ranks of the English peerage are, in descending order, duke , marquess , earl , viscount , and baron . While most newer English peerages descend only in the male line, many of the older ones (particularly older baronies) can descend through females. Such peerages follow
836-524: The West Midlands." John Dudley was executed in 1553 for his attempt to set Lady Jane Grey on the throne of England. The castle was returned to the Sutton family by Queen Mary , ownership being given to Edward Sutton . The castle was visited by Queen Elizabeth I in August 1575 and was considered a possible place of imprisonment for Mary, Queen of Scots . However, the Sutton family were not destined to hold
880-407: The abeyance was terminated in favour of Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith, who became the twelfth Baron. He was the great-great-grandson of Anne, sister of the eleventh Baron, and her husband William Smith. As of 2010 the title is held by his grandson, the fifteenth Baron, who succeeded his mother in 2002 (who in her turn had succeeded her younger brother). The holders of the title (until 1740) were
924-437: The castle for much longer and Edward Sutton's son, Edward Sutton III , was the last of the male line to possess the property. In 1592, this Edward sent men to raid the property of Gilbert Lyttelton, carrying away cattle which were impounded in the Castle grounds. Financial difficulties continued to mount, however, until Edward Sutton III solved the problem by marrying his granddaughter and heir, Frances Sutton, to Humble Ward ,
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#1732844823261968-554: The castle itself. The antiquarian William Camden claimed a castle was constructed at Dudley about the year 700 by a Mercian duke named Dodo or Doddo and some subsequent histories and articles repeated this claim. However, this assertion is not taken seriously by today's historians, who usually date the castle from soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is thought one of the Conqueror's followers, Ansculf de Picquigny , built
1012-441: The castle was demolished ( slighted ) by order of the king. According to historian Sidney Painter , it was one of at least 21 castles demolished on Henry II's instructions. The Somery's were the next dynasty to own the site when Ralph de Somery I succeeded his uncle, Gervase Paganel in 1194. Roger de Somery II set about rebuilding the castle in 1262. The castle was far from complete on the death of Roger de Somery II in 1272 and
1056-471: The coffin. Dudley Castle was the capital of the feudal barony of Dudley, with several lords over its history: On his death, the lands of the barony were divided between his two sisters. Weoley Castle went to Joan de Botetourt and her husband John de Botetourt . Dudley Castle passed to her elder sister Margaret, who had married John de Sutton I. John de Sutton II was summoned to Parliament, but none of his successors were until John de Sutton VI. For
1100-491: The construction carried on from this time into the 14th century by Roger's heirs. The keep (the most obvious part of the castle when viewed from the town) and the main gate date from this re-building. The last of the male line of Somery, John Somery , died in 1321. It is thought that the fortifications were complete by this date. The castle and estates passed to John Somery's sister Margaret and her husband John de Sutton. Subsequently, members of this family often used Dudley as
1144-530: The construction of a range of buildings within the fortifications by John Dudley . The fortifications were slighted by order of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War and the residential buildings were destroyed by fire in 1750. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the site was used for fêtes and pageants. Today, Dudley Zoo is located on its grounds. Its location, Castle Hill,
1188-524: The early Paganell castle is evident in the ruins. The range was destroyed by the fire of 1750. Once thought to be lodgings, the stable block was one of the last buildings constructed at the castle site, dating from before 1700. The block is situated between the Main Gate and the base of the motte. In front of the main gate but further down the hill is a gatehouse dating from the Elizabethan era. A wall runs to
1232-614: The east of this gate to a round tower, built at the same time, known as the watch tower. Two Russian cannons brought back as trophies from the Crimean War are installed in prominent positions on the remains of the two south-facing drum towers. The cannons were brought to the castle in June 1857, during one of the Dudley Castle Fêtes. The castle visitor centre was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in June 1994, and amongst other exhibits housed
1276-453: The first castle in 1070. The Domesday Book of 1086 records that Ansculf's son, William Fitz-Ansculf , was in possession of the castle when it was recorded at the time of the survey of 1086. The first line of the Domesday entry for Dudley translates as: "the said William held Dudley; and there is his castle". Some of the earthworks from this castle, notably the "motte", the vast mound on which
1320-520: The guardroom were the battlements. Probably constructed during the time of John Sutton II but re-modelled in the Tudor era when the Sharington Range was built for John Dudley. The block was in ruins before the fire of 1750. Constructed for John Dudley, starting around 1540, the three-storey range included a great hall, kitchen, servery, buttery, cellars and bedrooms. A small amount of masonry dating from
1364-462: The middle of the night without explanation, and extreme drops in temperature that are often accompanied by a strange blue mist that floats through the bar. Currently, it is believed that the most haunted place in the castle is its underground chapel, where there is an ancient stone coffin which is believed to have contained the body of John Somery , one of the lords of the Castle. Many people reported seeing what are believed to be Somery's legs next to
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1408-536: The old English inheritance law of moieties so all daughters (or granddaughters through the same root) stand as co-heirs, so some such titles are in such a state of abeyance between these. Baronets , while holders of hereditary titles, as such are not peers and not entitled to stand for election in the House of Lords. Knights , dames and holders of other non-hereditary orders, decorations, and medals are also not peers. The following tables only show peerages, still in existence. For lists of every peerage created at
1452-418: The other family estates were restored to his son, the fourth Baron. He was succeeded by his son, Edward the fifth Baron, who like his grandfather came heavily into debt. To clear his debts his granddaughter and heir, Frances , was married to Sir Humble Ward , the son of a wealthy jeweller. Frances became the sixth holder of the title. In 1644 her husband Humble Ward was created Baron Ward , of Birmingham in
1496-459: The owners of Dudley Castle and an extensive estate around it, including the manors of Dudley , Sedgley , Kingswinford and Rowley Somery in Rowley Regis . By the 16th century, their main home was Himley Hall . On the death of the tenth Baron in 1740, the barony of Dudley passed to a female-line heir (see above), whereas the main estates were entailed to follow the barony of Ward and passed to
1540-498: The present castle keep now sits, still remain. However, the earliest castle would have been of wooden construction and no longer exists. After Fitz-Ansculf, the castle came into the possession of the Paganel family, who built the first stone castle on the site. This castle was strong enough to withstand a siege in 1138 by the forces of King Stephen. However, after Gervase Paganel joined a failed rebellion against King Henry II in 1173,
1584-533: The reign of Henry VIII . Starting around 1540, a range of new buildings were erected within the older castle walls by him. The architect was William Sharington and the buildings are thus usually referred to as the Sharington Range. According to Historic England, the Sharrington Range represents "one of the earliest known examples of the influence of the Italian Renaissance on the secular architecture of
1628-496: The slighting at the end of the civil war, only the north side of the castle and parts of two of the drum towers remain. A little to the east of the keep is the main gatehouse. Like the keep, it was subject to slighting at the end of the Civil War. Some elements of Paganell's Norman castle remain in the structure, but it mainly dates from the rebuilding carried out after 1262 by the de Somery family. A double gateway with two portcullises
1672-504: The son of a wealthy merchant. During the First English Civil War , the castle was held by a Royalist garrison commanded by Colonel Thomas Leveson, a local Catholic who was later one of only 25 former Royalists listed by Parliament in 1651 as subject to 'perpetual banishment and confiscation.'. It was besieged by Parliamentary forces in 1644 and finally surrendered to forces led by Sir William Brereton on 13 May 1646. The castle
1716-418: Was actually summoned to Parliament as "Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi", whereby he is held to have become Baron Dudley. The title is sometimes referred to as Baron Sutton of Dudley . The peerage was created by writ , which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. It is in fact arguable that the title arose even earlier, as his ancestor John Sutton (died 1359) had a writ of summons to
1760-454: Was constructed at this time. Under the Suttons, a barbican was added to the outside of the gatehouse so that the whole structure was sometimes called the 'Triple Gate'. Originally, the gatehouse was connected to the keep by a thick curtain wall. When built, the gatehouse had three floors with the machinery for operating the portcullises on the first floor and a guardroom on the second floor. Above
1804-423: Was extensively quarried during the Industrial Revolution . Despite being situated on the edge of Dudley town centre, historically, the castle was situated within the borders of Sedgley –which was part of neighbouring Staffordshire rather than Worcestershire as shown by the maps of Christopher Saxton drawn in 1579 and John Speed in 1610. The borders were changed to include the castle and its grounds within
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1848-463: Was inherited by the Baron's nephew, Ferdinando Dudley Lea, 11th Baron Dudley . He was the son of Frances, sister of the tenth Baron, and her husband William Lea. However, on Ferdinando's death in 1757 the peerage fell into abeyance between his sisters. The title remained in abeyance for 159 years. In 1869, Bernard Burke, who researched some of the co-heirs of the title during the period of abeyance, wrote of
1892-534: Was partly demolished to prevent it from being used again and the present ruined appearance of the keep results from this decision. However, some habitable buildings remained and were subsequently used occasionally by the Earls of Dudley , although by this time they preferred to reside at Himley Hall , approximately four miles away, when in the Midlands. A stable block was constructed on the site at some point before 1700. This
1936-456: Was the final building to be constructed in the castle. The bulk of the remaining habitable parts of the castle was destroyed by fire in 1750. However, in the nineteenth century, the site found a new use as a 'Romantic Ruin' and a certain amount of tidying up of the site was carried out by the Earls of Dudley. Battlements on one of the remaining towers were reconstructed and two cannons captured during
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