21. The Harley Family
Brampton Bryan is a small village in the North West corner of Herefordshire, near the boundary with Shropshire. Much of the village and the castle have been in the estate of the Harley family since the early 14th century.
In 1294 Bryan de Brampton died, and in 1309, his heiress daughter Margaret, then aged 24, married Robert de Harley who was 39. Robert then, sometime later, became the owner of the castle and the Brampton estate.
On the death of his father Richard, Robert became Lord of Harley Manor in 1316.
Robert, son of Robert (above) had a son Brian. In 1403 Brampton castle and estate were held by Brian de Harley.
This branch of the Harley family, had extensive property ownership in London and gave their name to Harley Street.
Later, during the Civil War, the castle at Brampton Bryan was bravely defended by Brilliana Harley who survived the first Royalist siege in 1643, but died in the second siege which destroyed the castle. She said she had a bad cold.
Brilliana was married to another Sir Robert de Harley, who was 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, a statesman and MP. Robert was a dedicated Puritan. His grave is in the churchyard at Brampton castle.
Brilliana’s great grandson was a great bibliophile and his collection of manuscripts was one of the three founding collections of the British Museum. Another part of the village of Harley’s London connection.