Holme Lacy - Holme Lacy House and Its Estate

Holme Lacy House and Its Estate

Holme Lacy was for some centuries in the ancient family of Scudamore, one of whom attended William the Conqueror in his expedition to England; Philip Scudamore, a descendant, settled here in the 14th century, and his descendant John Scudamore esq. was created a baronet in 1620, and in 1628 Baron Dromore and Viscount Scudamore, of Sligo.

Holme Lacy continued to be the principal seat of the family till the year 1716, when on the death of James the 3rd and last Viscount Scudamore in that year, the estate vested in Frances (1711-1750, childbed), his only daughter and heiress. Frances Scudamore married Henry Somerset 3rd Duke of Beaufort in 1729 who in 1730 assumed the name and arms of Scudamore. Frances was divorced in 1744. There were no children of the marriage.

Frances then married as her second husband Charles Fitzroy esq. He thereupon assumed the name and arms of Scudamore, and had by her an only daughter and heiress, Frances (1750-1820), wife of Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk to whom the property then in part descended, and, together with other valuable estates in this county, and Gloucestershire, was added to the princely domain of the Howards.

The Duke and Duchess died without surviving children and after extensive litigation the Holme Lacy estate devolved upon Capt. Sir Edwyn Francis Stanhope bart. R. N. who assumed the name and arms of Scudamore, and died leaving several sons, of whom the eldest, Henry Edwyn Chandos, succeeded in 1883 as 9th Earl of Chesterfield. (Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire - edited)

The mansion of Holme Lacy built by Viscount Scudamore remained, until 1909, the family seat of the Earls of Chesterfield.