Sir John Lyttelton (1520-1590)

Sir John Lyttelton (c.1520-15 February 1590) was the son of Sir John Lyttelton (d.1532) of Frankley and his wife Elizabeth daughter and coheir of Sir Gilbert Talbot. He was of age in 1541. [I. H. Jeayes (ed.), "Charters and muniments of the Lyttelton family" (1893), no. 436. ] He was made constable of Dudley Castle and keeper of the old and new parks there in 1553. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth in 1566. He was a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches, a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Worcestershire.

He purchased the manor of Halesowen (formerly of Halesowen Abbey) from Lord Robert Dudley afterwards Earl of Leicester in 1558. ['Halesowen: Introduction, borough and manors', "Victoria County History, Worcestershire": 3 (1913), pp. 136-146. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43100&strquery=Halesowen manor] . Date accessed: 27 March 2008; Jeayes, nos. 440-1. ] He bought the manor of Hagley from John St. Leger in 1565. ['Parishes: Hagley', "VCH Worcs" (1913), pp. 130-136. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43099] Date accessed: 27 March 2008.] These together with Frankley and Upper Arley (which he inherited) were the core of the family estate. Save that Upper Arley devolved away from the male line, this has remained in the hands of the family ever since, though parts were sold off in the 20th century.

References

*"Burkes Peerage and Baronetage" (1939), s.v. Cobham, Viscount