Thomas Holte
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Holte, 1st Baronet (c. 1571–14 December 1654) was the original owner of Aston Hall
(a Jacobean
country house in Birmingham
), the man after whom the Holte End stand of Villa Park is named, and the possessor of quite a legendary temper.
He was born the son of Edward and Dorothy Holte of the Manor House, Duddeston, Warwickshire. The Holtes were a wealthy, land-owning family of some importance in Warwickshire
. Their ancestors had owned land in the area several hundred years and it had been considerably added to with the acquisition of monastic land during the Reformation
. The Holtes served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
, Justices of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenants for the county. They had influential friends and relatives both locally and in London
. His father died when Thomas was only 21, and as his successor Thomas did much to further the family fortunes.
In 1599 he himself served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
. He received a knighthood in 1603 from James I
as the King made his way from Scotland
to London
to claim his throne. In 1612 Sir Thomas was able to buy the title of baronet (James I sold these new titles in order to raise money to quell trouble in Ireland). Sir Thomas now outranked all the local families and felt a grander home should be built to reflect both his wealth and status. The result of this desire was Aston Hall which he started building in 1618 and moved into in 1631.
He married as his first wife Grace, daughter and co-heiress of William Bradbourne of Hough, Derbyshire, with whom he had fifteen children. Sir Thomas made use of his connections to secure his second son, Edward, a position in King Charles I's household. Whilst in London
, Edward met and married Elizabeth King, daughter of John King, the incumbent Bishop of London
. Unfortunately, Sir Thomas did not give his permission for the marriage, and never forgave his son for proceeding with the wedding regardless. Edward was entirely cut out from his inheritance, and despite pleas from the King himself, Sir Thomas never allowed reconciliation. After the death of the eldest son George in 1641, Edward was Sir Thomas' only remaining son. Sir Thomas re-married in short order Anne, the youngest daughter of Sir Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall, and made great efforts to raise another son, so that Edward could be permanently cut out of the estate. Edward died on military service in 1643, having never returned to the family fold despite his several attempts. It was rumoured Sir Thomas locked up a daughter because she refused to marry her father's choice of husband. The story goes that she starved to death.
Sir Thomas' second wife was able to give him another son, but the boy did not survive past childhood, in common with nine of the children from Sir Thomas' first marriage. During his last days he was finally persuaded to leave Aston Hall and all his estates to Edwards's son Robert, his grandson, who would inherit the baronetcy. Sir Thomas was buried in Aston Church, survived only by his wife and daughter Grace.
Aston Hall
Aston Hall is a municipally owned Jacobean-style mansion in Aston, Birmingham, England. Washington Irving used it as the model for Bracebridge Hall in his stories in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon.-History:...
(a Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
country house in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
), the man after whom the Holte End stand of Villa Park is named, and the possessor of quite a legendary temper.
He was born the son of Edward and Dorothy Holte of the Manor House, Duddeston, Warwickshire. The Holtes were a wealthy, land-owning family of some importance in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. Their ancestors had owned land in the area several hundred years and it had been considerably added to with the acquisition of monastic land during the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. The Holtes served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
High Sheriff of Warwickshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
, Justices of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenants for the county. They had influential friends and relatives both locally and in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His father died when Thomas was only 21, and as his successor Thomas did much to further the family fortunes.
In 1599 he himself served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire
High Sheriff of Warwickshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. He received a knighthood in 1603 from James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
as the King made his way from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to claim his throne. In 1612 Sir Thomas was able to buy the title of baronet (James I sold these new titles in order to raise money to quell trouble in Ireland). Sir Thomas now outranked all the local families and felt a grander home should be built to reflect both his wealth and status. The result of this desire was Aston Hall which he started building in 1618 and moved into in 1631.
He married as his first wife Grace, daughter and co-heiress of William Bradbourne of Hough, Derbyshire, with whom he had fifteen children. Sir Thomas made use of his connections to secure his second son, Edward, a position in King Charles I's household. Whilst in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Edward met and married Elizabeth King, daughter of John King, the incumbent Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
. Unfortunately, Sir Thomas did not give his permission for the marriage, and never forgave his son for proceeding with the wedding regardless. Edward was entirely cut out from his inheritance, and despite pleas from the King himself, Sir Thomas never allowed reconciliation. After the death of the eldest son George in 1641, Edward was Sir Thomas' only remaining son. Sir Thomas re-married in short order Anne, the youngest daughter of Sir Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall, and made great efforts to raise another son, so that Edward could be permanently cut out of the estate. Edward died on military service in 1643, having never returned to the family fold despite his several attempts. It was rumoured Sir Thomas locked up a daughter because she refused to marry her father's choice of husband. The story goes that she starved to death.
Sir Thomas' second wife was able to give him another son, but the boy did not survive past childhood, in common with nine of the children from Sir Thomas' first marriage. During his last days he was finally persuaded to leave Aston Hall and all his estates to Edwards's son Robert, his grandson, who would inherit the baronetcy. Sir Thomas was buried in Aston Church, survived only by his wife and daughter Grace.