SETTLEMENTS AND DEEDS RELATING TO THE DUKE OF LEEDS' ESTATES

Biography or history

These papers are concerned with the estates of the Dukes of Leeds from the period of the 4th Duke to that of the llth Duke. A large proportion of the records relate to the various marriage settlements and trusts established during the period 1743 - 1966.

A large amount of the Duke of Leeds' Yorkshire property was inherited by Edward Osborne (great grandfather of Thomas, 1st Duke of Leeds) on the death of the London merchant William Hewett, Osborne's employer and father-in-law. Sir Edward Osborne, grandson of Edward, acquired additional Yorkshire estates in 1619 following the disposal of Parsloes in Essex.

The next major acquisition of property took place when Thomas, 4th Duke of Leeds, married in 1740. On his marriage to Mary Godolphin, Thomas brought into the Osborne family estates in Cornwall, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, the latter by virtue of Mary's grandmother being Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.

Godolphin House was included with the Cornish estates. Built cl475, sections of the house were demolished in 1805 with the house being finally sold in 1921. The majority of records relating to Osborne property in Cornwall have been transferred to the County Record Office in Truro.

The Cambridgeshire Gog Magog estates were sold in 1885 by the 9th Duke when he found the maintenance of both his Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire estates too much for his resources.

Hornby Castle came into the Osborne's possession as a result of the 5th Duke's first marriage to Amelia D'Arcy, sole heiress of Robert, 4th Earl of Holderness, in 1773. The marriage was dissolved in 1779 and both the 5th Duke and Amelia remarried but Amelia's only male heirs were from her first carriage and so on her death in 17S4 George William Frederick, the 6th Duke, inherited the D'Arcy titles and lands. Hornby Castle was part of this inheritance and became one of the major residences of the Osborne family. The 6th Duke preferred the Castle to Kiveton and in 1811 demolished the latter and moved his household to Hornby Castle. In 1927 the llth Duke succeeded to the title and demolished the east wing of the Castle before selling it c1930.

Access and usage

Access

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Related material

See also the National Archives, the British Museum and Cornwall Record Office.

Related records in our catalogue