page_title: Grafton Manor
section_title: Talbot family
hierarchical_section_title: Grafton Manor / Occupants and Lords of the Manor / Talbot family
caption_attribution_description: English: A portrait of John Talbot of Grafton said to be by Cornelius Johnson.
context_page_description: Grafton Manor was established before the Norman Conquest. Grafton means "settlement at or near the wood" and may indicate a role in woodland management within a larger estate, for instance.
  For a time, in the reign of Henry II to Edward I, it was subject to forest law as part of the Forest of Feckenham.
  The Lords of the Manor were influential figures in mediaeval and early modern Worcestershire, with a number becoming High Sheriffs or Members of Parliament for Worcestershire. A few were also national figures, especially the Talbots and Earls of Shrewsbury. Grafton was connected with Catholic worship in the County after the Reformation.
  The house is now a listed building in the modern Civil parish of Dodford with Grafton in the Bromsgrove District of Worcestershire.
context_section_description: Grafton and Upton Warren were given to a branch of the Talbot family close to the Earls of Shrewsbury. Sir Gilbert Talbot held them until he died in 1517; he also held a position as Keeper of Feckenham Forest. The manor passed to his sons Gilbert (died 1542) and then John (died 1549). John's son John (died 1555) held the estate next, after which it passed to the latter's son,  John (died 1611), who became a famous recusant and was suspected of involvement in the Gunpowder Plot as his daughter Gertrude was married to Robert Wintour, one of the plotters.
  In 1618, George Talbot succeeded to the title Earl of Shrewsbury.  The Earls of Shrewsbury had or acquired other country residences, including Barlow Woodseats Hall (sold in the mid-1600s), Heythrop Park (developed as the family’s main seat in the early 1700s) and Alveton Lodge (rebuilt as the family seat in the 1800s).
  John Talbot, 10th Earl of Shrewsbury played a role in the English Civil Wars. His son, Francis Talbot was active in the war in Worcestershire, on its Committee of Safety. Nevertheless, the presence of prominent Catholics such as the Talbots in the military affairs of Worcestershire created disquiet and resentment within the county. In 1646-7, bands of Clubmen formed in the west of Worcestershire, with the intention of driving away any armed forces from their lands, to resist despoliation and requisitioning. Their proclamation stated that they would not obey any Papist or Papist Recusant, "nor ought [they] … be trusted in any office of state, justice, or judicature".
  In the third war, Francis Talbot joined King Charles II's mostly Scottish troops at the Battle of Worcester. He raised a troop of horse, which proved vital in helping Charles II escape the city when he was defeated by Cromwell's New Model Army. His father John is said to have accompanied Charles during his escape. 
  After the restoration, Francis died as the result of a duel at Barn Elms with the Duke of Buckingham over his wife, Anna Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury. Samuel Pepys related that:
  from the whole house the discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of Buckingham, Holmes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord of Shrewsbury, Sir John Talbot, and one Bernard Howard, on the other side: and all about my Lady Shrewsbury, who is a whore, and is at this time, and hath for a great while been, a whore to the Duke of Buckingham. And so her husband challenged him, and they met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes, and there fought: and my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast through the shoulder: and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his armes; and Jenkins killed upon the place, and the rest all, in a little measure, wounded. This will make the world think that the King hath good councillors about him, when the Duke of Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellow of no more sobriety than to fight about a whore. 
  
  ... The whole House full of nothing but the talk of this business; and it is said that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared, that he may die too; and that may make it much the worse for the Duke of Buckingham: and I shall not be much sorry for it, that we may have some sober man come in his room to assist in the Government.
  He was succeeded by Charles Talbot, 12th Earl of Shrewsbury, who served several English monarchs and was created Duke of Shrewsbury in 1694. He built Heythrop Park, which became the family’s main residence. The dukedom became extinct at his death in 1718, and his successors as owners of Grafton reverted to the title of Earl of Shrewsbury.
  When the earldom and property passed to Henry Chetwynd-Talbot, 18th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1860, Ingestre Hall and other properties became part of the estate.
  It is unclear how much use was made of Grafton by the Talbot family at that time. The estates and titles to the Manors of Grafton and Upton Warren stayed with the Earls of Shrewsbury until the early 20th century, who owned other properties including Alton Towers, which, like Grafton, was sold. The Earls also owned Heythrop Park 
caption: A portrait of Sir John Talbot (died 1611) said to be by Cornelius Johnson
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