Oxborough – Oxburgh Hall (Queen Mary and Sir Henry Bedingfield)

I like an old document… And this is one where Queen Mary is referring to the appointment of Sir Henry Bedingfield to the role of the Lieutenantship of the Tower of London in October 1555. This would have been a tricky time to hold such a role, there was much political intrigue and willingness to overthrow the Monarch and it’s hard to see how the role wouldn’t have involved creating enemies and being in charge of methods of torture.

One of Henry’s relatives, of the same name (1586-1657), found himself in a different role in the Tower of London in 1647, when he was arrested and imprisoned there. All turned out well for him in the end, he was released and ultimately his loyalty to the Crown saw him rewarded financially. Always good to back the right horse…..