Difference between revisions of "Talk:Wollaton Hall"

Latest revision as of 13:39, 17 August 2010

This looks like a good image, can we use it? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wollaton_Hall_from_Morriss_Seats_of_Noblemen_and_Gentlemen_(1880).JPG

Lord Allendale and Baron Middleton[edit]

According to Wikipedia, Wollaton Hall was built in the 1580s for Sir Francis Willoughby, whose descendants would become in 1711 "Barons of Middleton", the parliamentary representatives for Nottinghamshire and Newark. Evidently, in the Temeraire canon, the Lords of Allendale took the building at some point in history.

Something worth noting is that the Willoughby family already had many estates, including "Middleton Hall". Another thing is when he died, he left behind a debt that his son was forced to pay, although he kept Wollaton Hall, which he inherited. It could be that in the Temeraire canon, Percival Willoughby sold Wollaton Hall to pay his debts, and the building was then purchased by one of the Lords of Allendale. Alternatively, since it says on this wiki page that the rank of "Earl Of Allendale" was created in 1529, it could be that it was commissioned by a later Earl/Lord (although, since the name Wollaton is also the name of the town it was built in, it could be a completely different building. In other words, it wasn't a randomly thought of name, although it might have also come from properties owned by Francis Willoughby).

The only other thing which is odd is that the only town of Allendale, from which I assume the Earl/Lordship comes from, is in Northumberland, not Nottinghamshire. However, the title of Baron Middleton was seated in Wollaton, and represented Nottinghamshire (or something like that; the paragraph is confusing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Middleton)). It could be that the Lords of Allendale later moved from Northumberland to a fancier estate in Nottinghamshire, or that Allendale was a town in Nottingham that later grew to encompass Wollaton aswell (although, as a friend pointed out, it could be a nod to the minstrel "Allan a'Dayle" of Robin Hood folklore).

What position Lord Allendale holds in Parliament then is questionable. If the Willougbys represent Nottinghamshire, then perhaps Wollaton/Allendale is a separate area (or perhaps Nottingham is divided into two representative areas, as it was divided into in 1832).

I may have misunderstood some things here though. Thoughts?

Something else the wiki pages mention is that the Willoughby family produced a high amount of explorers. With that sort of attitude, I wonder if Laurence's ill-fated comrade Willoughby is in fact a relative.

The date of Lord Allendale's creation comes from Throne of Jade. Laurence says, "[M]y father is eleventh Earl of Allendale, and his creation dates from 1529.” It is quite possible that your theory about them purchasing a fancier house is correct. George Laurence does mention sending the family to Northumbria in Victory of Eagles--so it's clear they have estates there as well. -- Strangerface 19:20, 16 August 2010 (PDT)

Cool. Then (presumably) that means the Earldom of Allendale began in Northumbria, and then one of the Lords purchased Wollaton Hall from the Willoughbys (I don't think they would have commissioned it; why build an estate so far away from your seat? Purchasing it seems more likely, and then later moving there out of preference (or perhaps a younger son lived at Wollaton, and when his brother died, he inherited the title, but remained at Wollaton). I'll add that to the relevant pages.

Northumbria[edit]

Citing George Laurence's mention of Northumbria. Not much, but it's there on page 155 of the US edition of Victory of Eagles.

"Ought I send Elizabeth and Mother and the children away, to Northumbria perhaps?"

Laurence counsels that it wouldn't be any safer. But I assume when he mentions Northumbria, there is a certain destination in mind, not just vaguely "away to the North"? -- Strangerface 06:39, 17 August 2010 (PDT)