Bulmer (family) - Bulmer of Wilton

Bulmer of Wilton

A later branch of the Bulmer family had its seat at Wilton Castle, Wilton, in present day Redcar and Cleveland.

Sir Ralph Bulmer was Lord of the Manor of Wilton, in 1310, and was granted a royal licence to crenellate his manor house there in 1330.

Sir William Bulmer (1465–1531) of Wilton was High Sheriff of Durham 1503-1516 and High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1517. His son Sir John Bulmer (1481–1537) and his wife Margaret Stafford, were heavily involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace of October 1536 led by Robert Aske and in Bigod's Rebellion, the uprising of January 1537 led by her nephew Sir Francis Bigod of Settrington. Both Bulmer and Lady Bulmer were convicted of High Treason and were executed on 25 May 1537, he by hanging at Tyburn and she by burning at the stake at Smithfield, London. Their estates were forfeited but were later recovered by their son Ralph.

William Bulmer (1492–1546) brother of John, married Elizabeth Elmeden, heiress of Embleton near Sedgfield, Co Durham and thereby acquired estates at Embleton, Tursdale, Claxton and Fishburn. Much land was sold by Sir Bertram Bulmer (1579–1638) and that remaining was sequestered in 1644 when his son, William Bulmer was declared a delinquent for opposition to Parliament during the Civil War. The estate was eventually restored to his brother Anthony and sold by him.

Wilton Castle was slighted following the Civil War and was thereafter uninhabitable. It was demolished and rebuilt by a new owner in the early 19th century.