Allerton Castle

1066

William Mauleverer

1100-05

Benedictine Priory Established

1414-1544

Lands owned by King's College, Cambridge

1544

Lands sold back to Mauleverers. Mid-16 century house rebuilt.

1713

Richard Mauleverer died leaving no heir. Richard Arundel inherited estate.

1720

John Vardy commissioned to design new house for Richard Arundel.

1758

Estate passed to 4th Viscount Galway (cousin by marriage).

1786

Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York (brother of King George III)

1789

Colonel Thomas Thornton "one of the greatest sportsmen of his day" changed the name to Thornville Royal (by permission of the then Duke of York) and it became a famous sporting and wildlife park. The house was described as an elegant new built mansion!

1805

Estate bought by the 17th Baron Stourton

1807

Catholic chapel added.

1848-54

Present house built by the Lord Mowbray, Segrave & Stourton

War Years

M.O.D. took over the estate. It became the headquarters of the No. 6 Bomber Group, Royal Canadian Air Force.  Signatures and notes written by servicemen on the walls of an outhouse survive to this day.

1946

The family returned to the estate.

1965

Death of Lord Mowbray, Segrave & Stourton. The titles passed to his son, the estates to his grandson, aged 12. Trustees ran the estate until he was 30 years old.

1966

The castle was leased to a convalescent trust.

1983

Dr. Gerald Arthur Rolph purchased the castle with 1.5 hectares of land. The building was in a state of disrepair, needing substantial structural and roof repairs.

1984

A further 42 hectares of land were purchased from the estate. Dr. Rolph formed a Foundation under English Charity Deed No. 517743 to preserve the castle as part of English World heritage.

2005

A fire devastated 30% of the Castle including the Dining Room, State Bedroom and Private apartments. Restoration of the Dining Room and State Bedroom are nearing full completion.