Baron Widdrington

William Widdrington, 4th Baron Widdrington.

Baron Widdrington, of Blankney in the County of Lincoln, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 2 November 1643 for Sir William Widdrington, 1st Baronet. He had already been created a baronet, of Widdrington in the County of Northumberland, in the Baronetage of England on 9 July 1642. The title was forfeited following the attainder of the fourth Baron in 1716. The Widdringtons were an ancient Northumbrian family who gave their name to the village, near Morpeth, Northumberland. In the 17th century the family were strongly Royalist. As a consequence of the attainder of the fourth Baron, the Widdrington estates were sequestered and sold by the Crown. Of their three great houses no traces now remain. Widdrington Castle was demolished in 1862 (although the site is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument). Stella Hall, Blaydon on Tyne similarly was demolished in 1954 and Blankney Hall, Lincolnshire suffered a similar fate in 1960. The family paintings passed to the Cook/Widdrington family of Newton Hall, which were auctioned by Christie’s in 2010.

Edward Widdrington, cousin of the first Baron, was created a baronet in both 1635 and 1642 (see Widdrington baronets).

Barons Widdrington (1643)

Other Widdringtons

References