Today I have been to visit Stonyhurst College to help photograph the portraits they have there of the Shireburn family. Sir Richard Shireburne (or Sherburne, as they spelt it then) purchased Leagram deer park in 1563, soon after it was 'disparked' and so he was an influential person in the subsequent development of the area.
Sir Richard was a rascally fellow, having had 3 wives in succession, and fathering several children both in and out of wedlock. He was also a known Catholic who managed to serve a total of 4 monarchs of varyious religious allegiance. His portrait appears wise and serene: so he was a clever man too!
Sir Richard began the improvements to the original medieval Stonyhurst manor which eventually became the grand house it is today, and he built the old Hodder Bridge nearby. He also founded a long line of Richard Shireburnes who ran the estate until Sir Nicholas Shireburne took it on in 1690. He and his wealthy wife Catherine carried out expensive renovations of the house and gardens, but sadly they had no heir and eventually Stonyhurst and the deer park at Leagram was passed to their distant relations the Weld family of Lulworth. It was the Welds who gave Stonyhurst to the college that runs the place today: it's open to the public during the summer school holidays and the house and gardens are well worth a visit. The Weld family still own the estate that once included the deer park, and reside at Leagram Hall: they are supporting the Leap in the Park project.
Sir Richard and some of his descendants will appear in our soon to be published report - so look out for his portrait! Thanks to Graham Cooper for arranging the visit and the photography today.
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