Wansted House, Essex, Wanstead, Redbridge, Home Counties, England, British Isles

On 19th July 1584 Robert Dudley (age 3) died at Wansted House, Essex. He was buried in the Beauchamp Chapel [Map]. The inscription:

Here resteth the Body af the Noble Impe Robert of Dudley , Baron of Denbigh , Sonne of Robert Erle of Leicester ; Nephew and Heir unto Ambrose Erle of Warwicke Brethren both sons of the mightie Prince John late Duke of Northumberland ; that was Cousin and Heir to Sir John Gray , Viscount Lisle , Cousin and Heir to Sir Thomas Falbot . Viscount Lisle . Ne- phew and Heir to the Lady Margaret Countess of Shrewsbury , the eldest Daughter and Coheir of the noble Earl of Warwick , Sir Richard Beauchamp , here interred. A Child of greate Parentage but of farr greater hope and towardness , taken from this transitory unto the eve everlasting Life in his tender Age , at Wanstead in Essex , on Sundaye the 19th of July , in the year of our Lord God 1584 - being the 26th yeare of the happy Reigne of the most virtuous and godly Princis Queene Eliza- bethe , and in this Place layed up among his noble Auncestors in assured hope of the general Resurrection.

Robert Dudley: In 1581 he was born to Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex.

On 26th December 1605 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire (age 42) and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 42) were married at Wansted House, Essex during a service conducted by Archbishop William Laud (age 32) (future). The marriage was regarded as uncanonical and resulted in the disgrace of both parties, who were banished from King James I's court circles. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 62). They were third cousins.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 19th April 1667. Set us down, so my wife and I into the garden, a fine moonshine evening, and there talking, and among other things she tells me that she finds by W. Hewer (age 25) that my people do observe my minding my pleasure more than usual, which I confess, and am ashamed of, and so from this day take upon me to leave it till Whit-Sunday. While we were sitting in the garden comes Mrs. Turner (age 44) to advise about her son, the Captain, when I did give her the best advice I could, to look out for some land employment for him, a peace being at hand, when few ships will be employed and very many, and these old Captains, to be provided for. Then to other talk, and among the rest about Sir W. Pen's (age 45) being to buy Wansted House, Essex of Sir Robert Brookes (age 30), but has put him off again, and left him the other day to pay for a dinner at a tavern, which she says our parishioner, Mrs. Hollworthy, talks of; and I dare be hanged if ever he could mean to buy that great house, that knows not how to furnish one that is not the tenth part so big.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 1st May 1667. Sir W. Pen (age 46) did give me an account this afternoon of his design of buying Sir Robert Brooke's (age 30) fine house at Wansted; which I so wondered at, and did give him reasons against it, which he allowed of: and told me that he did intend to pull down the house and build a less, and that he should get £1500 by the old house, and I know not what fooleries. But I will never believe he ever intended to buy it, for my part; though he troubled Mr. Gawden to go and look upon it, and advise him in it.

On 7th October 1813 William Richard Arthur Pole Tylney Long Wellesley 5th Earl Mornington was born to William Pole Tylney Long Wellesley 4th Earl Mornington (age 25) and Catherine "The Wiltshire Heiress" Tylney Long (age 24) at Wansted House, Essex.