Lyttelton family

Branches of the Littleton/Lyttelton family

Sir Thomas Littleton (c. 1407–1481), the distinguished judge and writer, ancestor of three branches of the family

The Littleton/Lyttelton family had its origins in South Lyttleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire. With the marriage of Elizabeth Littleton, sole daughter and heiress of Thomas de Littleton, Lord of Frankley, to Thomas Westcote, esquire, two of their sons, Sir Thomas and Edmund, took the surname Lyttleton or Littleton while two others, Nicholas and Guy, retained the surname of Westcote; Nicholas Westcote later married Agnes Vernon, the daughter and heiress of Edmund Vernon, and was ancestor of the Westcotes of Staffordshire, while Guy married the daughter of one Greenevill of Gloucestershire, and was ancestor of the Westcotes of Devon and Somerset.^[2]

Edmund Littleton died unmarried. Sir Thomas Littleton (c. 1407–1481), became a distinguished judge and legal writer, referred to as 'one of the great law luminaries of his country, and is immortalized by one work alone, his celebrated Treatise on Tenures.^[3] He was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1464,^[4] and inherited the Frankley estates from his mother. He was survived by three sons, William, Richard and Thomas, from whom originated three lines of Littleton/Lyttelton landed gentry in the West Midlands, all of which acquired baronetcies in the 17th century:

• Thomas, the third son, is recorded as Thomas Litleton of Speechly and incumbent of Spetchley, Worcestershire. His descendant Adam Littleton received the Littleton Baronetcy, of Stoke Milburgh, in 1642.

Remains of Pillaton Old Hall. The original moated manor house became ruinous, but the Gatehouse and Chapel were restored in the 1880s.

• Richard, the second son, married the heiress of Pillaton Hall in Staffordshire. His descendant Edward Littleton received the Littleton Baronetcy, of Pillaton Hall, in 1627. The title became extinct in 1812 on the death of the 4th Baronet. The lands then passed to a nephew, Edward John Walhouse, who adopted the surname of Littleton and was created Baron Hatherton in 1835.

Hagley Hall, rebuilt between 1754 and 1760 in Neo-Palladian style. Most owners of Hagley Hall are buried at the adjacent parish church of St John the Baptist.

• William (1450–1507), the eldest son, inherited the lands at Frankley, and was knighted after the Battle of Stoke (1487), one of the last major engagements of the Wars of the Roses. He was succeeded by his son^[5] John Littleton (c. 1500–1533), who was succeeded by his son^[6] John Lyttelton (1520–1590). He was made constable of Dudley Castle and keeper of the old and new parks there in 1553. In 1565 he bought the manor of Hagley from John St. Leger.^[7] Together with Frankley and Upper Arley, which he inherited, this formed the core of the Lyttelton family estate. He was knighted by Elizabeth I at Kenilworth in 1566. He was succeeded by his son Gilbert (c.1570–1599), the High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1584, who was the father of John († 1601) and Humphrey († 1606). Humphrey was executed for his part in the Gunpowder Plot. John Lyttelton served as a Member of Parliament but was concerned in the rebellion of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex in 1601. He was tried for high treason, but was reprieved from execution. His estates in Frankley, Halesowen, Hagley and Upper Arley were forfeited to the Crown, but were restored to his widow Meriel (daughter of Sir Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellor of England) on the accession of James I. She survived him 28 years and cleared the estates of debt, bringing up her children as Anglicans. The eldest son, Thomas Lyttelton (1593–1650) received the Lyttelton Baronetcy, of Frankley in the County of Worcester, in the Baronetage of England, in 1618.

The Lytteltons of Frankley and Hagley

Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Baron and 1st Viscount Cobham (1675–1749)

Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 1st Baronet of Frankley (1593–1650), devoted much time to developing his estates in Frankley, Halesowen, Hagley and Upper Arley, and later represented Worcestershire in the House of Commons. His son, the 2nd Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for Lichfield. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the 3rd Baronet, who represented Bewdley in Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the 4th Baronet. He was Member of Parliament for Worcester and Camelford.

In 1708, the 4th Baronet married Christian Temple, daughter of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet of Stowe. In 1718, her brother was created Baron Cobham, of Cobham in the County of Kent, and Viscount Cobham, with special remainder (in default of his own heirs male) to his sister Christian and her heirs male and in default of them to the heirs male of Christian. This latter remainder took effect in 1889 when her descendant Charles Lyttelton, 5th Baron Lyttelton succeeded as 8th Viscount Cobham.

St John the Baptist Church, Hagley

Interior of St John the Baptist Church, Hagley, with the Garter banners of the 1st Viscount Chandos and the 10th Viscount Cobham

. In 1751, the 4th Baronet was succeeded by his eldest son, the 5th Baronet, who was a prominent politician. In 1755 he was created Baron Lyttelton, of Frankley in the County of Worcester, in the Peerage of Great Britain. He was succeeded in his titles by his son, the 2nd Baron, who briefly represented Bewdley in the House of Commons.

The 2nd Baron had no legitimate issue and on his death in 1779, the Lyttelton barony (created in 1755) became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the Lyttelton baronetcy (created in 1618) by his uncle, the 7th Baronet. He also represented Bewdley in Parliament and served as Governor of South Carolina and of Jamaica. In 1776, three years before he succeeded in the baronetcy, he was created Baron Westcote, of Balamere in the County of Longford, in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1794 he was further created Baron Lyttelton, of Frankley in the County of Worcester, in the Peerage of Great Britain. His eldest son, who later succeeded as the 2nd Baron, also sat as Member of Parliament for Bewdley. His half-brother, the 3rd Baron, represented Worcestershire in the House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. His son, the 4th Baron, was briefly Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in 1846 under Sir Robert Peel and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son, the 5th Baron, who had previously represented East Worcestershire in Parliament as a Liberal.

In 1889 he also succeeded his distant relative, the late 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, as 8th Viscount Cobham. His son, the 9th Viscount Cobham, was Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire from 1923 to 1949. He was succeeded by his son, the 10th Viscount. He served as Governor-General of New Zealand from 1957 to 1962 and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1964 and also served as Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. His nephew, Oliver Lyttelton, was made Viscount Chandos, of Aldershot in the County of Southampton, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1954 and a Knight of the Garter in 1970. The 3rd Viscount Chandos was given a life peerage as Baron Lyttelton of Aldershot, of Aldershot in the County of Hampshire, in 2000.

Frankley/Hagley branch

The coat of arms of the Barons Lyttelton (second creation).

Baronets (1618)

George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton (1709–1773)

Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham (1909–1977) in 1958 with Neil Durden-Smith

Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos (1893–1972)

• Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 1st Baronet (1593–1650)
• Sir Henry Lyttelton, 2nd Baronet (1624–1693)
• Sir Charles Lyttelton, 3rd Baronet (1628–1716)
• Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 4th Baronet (1686–1751)
• Sir George Lyttelton, 5th Baronet (1709–1773, created Baron Lyttelton in 1756)

Other notable members

A 19th-century portrait of Lady Sarah Spencer, wife of the 3rd Baron Lyttelton, painted by John Jackson

Humphrey Lyttelton (1921–2008), jazz musician and broadcaster

• Charles Lyttelton (1714–1768), Bishop of Carlisle; third son of the 4th Baronet
• Spencer Lyttelton (1818–1882), marshal of the ceremonies to the Royal Household; son of the 3rd Baron
• William Henry Lyttelton (1820–1884), Canon of Gloucester; son of the 3rd Baron. He married Emily Pepys (1833–1877), the child diarist.
• Lucy Lyttelton (1841–1925), married Lord Frederick Cavendish and later became an advocate of women's education; daughter of the 4th Baron Lyttelton. Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge was named after her in 1965.
• George Lyttelton (1847–1913), civil servant, private secretary to William Ewart Gladstone and sportsman; son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton
• Arthur Lyttelton (1852–1903), Bishop of Southampton and sportsman; son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton
• General Sir Neville Lyttelton GCB, GCVO, PC (1845–1931); son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton
• Robert Lyttelton (1854–1939), noted cricketer; son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton
• Edward Lyttelton (1855–1942), priest, Headmaster of Eton College and sportsman; son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton
• Alfred Lyttelton (1857–1913), lawyer and sportsman; son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton. He married Dame Edith Balfour GBE (1865–1948), the novelist and spiritualist, and was the father of the 1st Viscount Chandos
• Charles Frederick Lyttelton (1887–1931), priest and cricketer; son of the 8th Viscount Cobham
• Lucy Masterman, née Lyttelton (1884–1977), politician and wife of Charles Masterman; daughter of Sir Neville Lyttelton
• George William Lyttelton (1883–1962), teacher and sportsman, co-author of the Lyttelton/Hart-Davis Letters; second son of the 5th Baron Lyttelton
• Humphrey Lyttelton (1921–2008), jazz musician and broadcaster; son of George William Lyttelton
• Viola Lyttelton (1912–1987), married the 5th Duke of Westminster; daughter of the 9th Viscount Cobham

New Zealand

Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand, named after the Worcestershire estate of the Lyttelton family

The 4th Baron Lyttelton (1817–1876) was chairman of the Canterbury Association and did much to develop Christchurch, New Zealand. Hagley Park, the largest urban open space in Christchurch, was named after Lord Lyttelton's country estate in Worcestershire. The first newspaper established by the Canterbury Association in Canterbury, New Zealand, was named Lyttelton Times.

The settlement of Lyttelton, New Zealand was named after the family, from which Lyttelton district took its name. A railway line in New Zealand was named Lyttelton Line, and a port Lyttelton Harbour. Lord Lyttelton's descendant, the 10th Viscount Cobham, KG, GCMG, GCVO, TD, PC, DL (1909–1977) was the ninth Governor-General of New Zealand and also had a successful cricketing career.

Cricket

The Lyttelton XI on 26 August 1867.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Lytteltons were a notable cricketing family. The 4th and the 5th Barons Lyttelton, the latter's brothers (GWS Lyttelton, AT Lyttelton, RH Lyttelton, E Lyttelton, Hon. A Lyttelton), his sons (JC Lyttelton, CF Lyttelton) and his grandson (CJ Lyttelton) all played first-class cricket, and in the case of the Hon. A Lyttelton, Test cricket. On 26 August 1867, the Lyttelton XI, a cricket team composed of eleven members of the Lyttelton family, played a match against Bromsgrove School at Hagley Park in Worcestershire and won by ten wickets.

Pillaton/Hatherton branch

Penkridge parish church today. Much of its external appearance seems to be the result of alterations in Perpendicular style.

Arms of Sir Edward Littleton (died 1558).

Effigy of Sir Edward Littleton (died 1629): part of a double monument in the north nave aisle of St Michael's church, Penkridge, Staffordshire.

Edward Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton

This branch of the Littleton/Lyttelton family is descended from Richard, the second son of Sir Thomas Littleton (c. 1407–1481), justice and author.^[10] He married Alice Winesbury or Wynnesbury, heiress of Pillaton Hall, near Penkridge in Staffordshire. Their eldest son, Edward Littleton († 1558), inherited Alice's lands and acquired lands on Cannock Chase. He was appointed Constable of Stafford Castle for life and was High Sheriff of Staffordshire on three occasions. He was the first of the line to be knighted. His descendant Edward Littleton received the Littleton Baronetcy, of Pillaton Hall, in 1627.

The title became extinct in 1812 on the death of the 4th Baronet, who had moved the seat of the family to Teddesley Hall and whose heir was a nephew, Edward John Walhouse. The latter inherited both the Littleton lands and the Walhouse lands, and adopted the surname of Littleton. A prominent politician, he was created Baron Hatherton, of Hatherton in the County of Stafford,^[11] in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1835. The peerage is currently held by Edward Charles Littleton, 8th Baron Hatherton (b. 1950).

The family vault is beneath the altar area of St.Michael and All Saints Church, Penkridge, Staffordshire.

Stoke Milburgh branch

This branch of the Littleton/Lyttelton family is descended from Thomas Littleton, third son of Sir Thomas Littleton (c. 1407–1481), justice and author.^[13] He is recorded as Thomas Litleton of Speechly and incumbent of Spetchley, Worcestershire. His descendant Adam Littleton received the Littleton Baronetcy, of Stoke Milburgh, in 1642. This title became extinct in 1709 upon the death of the 3rd Baronet, a former Speaker of the House of Commons.