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The Castle, its estate and the planned village were developed from around 1150ad by the Hansard family, later referred to as the "Handsome Hansards". Their ancient estate of about 1100 acres is one of the townships of the parish of Heighington, whose village is about 2 miles north of Walworth Castle. In ancient charters, Walworth is called Waleberge, an Anglo-Saxon name meaning a settlement of the Welsh, or Old British people who were driven westward by the pressure of Anglo-Saxon settlement. Tradition says that Malcom King of Scotland, wasted the village on his march down the river Tees. |
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The Black Death, a bubonic plague brought by brown rats in the summer of 1349, killed off between one third and one half of the population of England. The administration of the bishopric broke down. Fields were left unploughed and unsown. Successive waves of the plague and Scottish raids hindered recovery. After the Black Death the manor of Walworth appears in the hands of others. |
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In 1367 Ralph Neville held the manor of Walworth. |
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Robert Hansard, ninth Lord of the Manor reclaimed Walworth Castle on behalf of his own 14 year old son, Richard. |
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Sir Richard Hansard tenth Lord of the Manor laid the foundations for a recovery of wealth for Walworth Castle. |
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Richard Hansard eleventh Lord of the Manor son of Sir Richard Hansard died in 1466, the estate passed to his grandson Richard thirteenth in line. |
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Richard Hansard thirteenth Lord of the Manor was only 9 years old when taking control of Walworth Castle and its estate. Richard held Walworth for many years but died in 1508. |
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