Feudal barony of Cardinham

The Feudal barony of Cardinham (or Honour of Cardinham) was one of the three feudal baronies in Cornwall which existed during the mediaeval era. Its caput was at Cardinham Castle, Cornwall.

Descent

The manor of Cardinham (or Care Dynham [1]) is not mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and may thus have acquired its name from its later holders the de Dynham (or Dinham) family which took its name from Dinan in Brittany.[2] The de Cardinham family may thus have been a branch of the de Dynham family of Hartland in Devon to whom the barony later passed from Isolda de Cardinham, for reason unknown. This was the opinion of Leland (died 1552) who writing of Robert de Cardinan as founder of Tywardreath Priory, called him quidam ex Dinamiis ("a certain (man) from the Dinam (family)")[3] Moreover, Lysons (1814) pointed out a further factor giving this opinion validity in that the arms of the two families were similar. Cardinan was later quartered by their descendants the Prideaux family of Prideaux Place, Cornwall, as Sable, three lozenges in fesse ermine, whilst the arms of Dynham were Gules, four lozenges in fesse ermine.[4] It was suggested to Lysons (1814) by Mr Austen, of Place-House, in Fowey, that the Castle was named by its builder, possibly a member of the Dynham family who had inherited the property by marriage to the FitzWilliam heiress, Car - Dinham.[5]

SIGILL(UM) ROBERTI DE CARDINAN ("seal of Robert de Cardinan") showing an eagle displayed. Appendant to a grant c. 1190–1200 of his mill of Cardinam to the Priory of Tywardreath
Arms of Dynham: Gules, four fusils in fess ermine

Sources

References

  1. Per writs of summons to parliament addressed to John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham (c. 1434–1501), summoned by Kings Edward IV and Henry VII to attend parliaments from 28 February 1467 to 16 January 1497, the writs being addressed to Johanni Dynham de Care Dynham(GEC Complete Peerage, vol.IV, p.379)
  2. GEC Complete Peerage, vol.IV, p.369
  3. Quoted in Lysons, Magna Britannia, Vol.3: Cornwall, 1814, Extinct peers and baronial families
  4. Quoted in Lysons, Magna Britannia, Vol.3: Cornwall, 1814, Extinct peers and baronial families, note 4
  5. Quoted in Lysons, Magna Britannia, Vol.3: Cornwall, 1814, Extinct peers and baronial families, note 5
  6. Sanders, p.110
  7. Sanders, p.110, note 2
  8. Sanders, p.110, note 4
  9. Sanders, p.110, note 3
  10. Lysons stated in error Richard II
  11. General history: Extinct peers and baronial families', Lysons, Magna Britannia: volume 3: Cornwall (1814), pp. LXXVIII-LXXXIX
  12. Sanders, p.110, note 4
  13. Sanders, p.110, note 6
  14. In the Hundred Rolls, Vol.1, pp.56-7, per Sanders, p.110, note 7
  15. GEC Complete Peerage, vol.IV, p.382 & note b
  16. Sanders, p.110, note 7
  17. GEC Complete Peerage, vol.IV, p.379