Bletchingley, Surrey is in Surrey.
In or before 1515 Richard "The Great Black Knight of the North" Cholmeley was born to Roger Cholmley [aged 54] and Catherine Constable [aged 16] at Bletchingley, Surrey [Map]. He married after 22nd June 1549 his fourth cousin once removed Catherine Clifford Baroness Scrope Bolton, daughter of Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland and Margaret Percy Baroness Clifford, and had issue.
In 1542 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1547 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was elected MP Bletchingley.
On 7th April 1547 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch came into the possession of Bletchingley, Surrey [Map]. Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England [aged 31] had formerly owned it.
Diary of Edward VI. 24th May 1551. An earthquake was at Croidon [Map] and Blechingliee [Map], and in the most part of Surrey, but no harme was donne.
In March 1553 Maurice Berkeley [aged 47] was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1597 John Trevor [aged 34] was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1604 and 1614 John Trevor [aged 41] was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1625 Thomas Gresham [aged 78] was elected MP Bletchingley.
John Evelyn's Diary. 6th November 1643. Lying by the way from Wotton, Surrey [Map] at Sir Ralph Whitfield's, at Blechingley [Map] (whither both my brothers had conducted me), I arrived at London on the 7th, and two days after took boat at the Tower-wharf, which carried me as far as Sittingbourne, Kent [Map], though not without danger, I being only in a pair of oars, exposed to a hideous storm: but it pleased God that we got in before the peril was considerable. From thence, I went by post to Dover, Kent [Map], accompanied with one Mr. Thicknesse, a very dear friend of mine.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Diary of Isabella Twysden 1645. My nan went with my Servt whitfield into the contry to blechinly [Map] July 17.
In 1677 Robert Clayton [aged 48] purchased the manor of Bletchingley by which he gained control of the two seats for MP Bletchingley.
John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd July 1677. I sealed the deeds of sale of the manor of Blechingley [Map] to Sir Robert Clayton [aged 48], for payment of Lord Peterborough's [aged 55] debts, according to the trust of the Act of Parliament.
In 1685 Ambrose Browne [aged 25] was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1727 Orlando Bridgeman 2nd Baronet [aged 48] was elected MP Calne and MP Bletchingley. He chose to sit for the latter.
In 1745 William Clayton [aged 27] was elected MP Bletchingley which seat he held until 1761.
In February 1789 Benjamin Hobhouse 1st Baronet [aged 32] was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1805 Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne 1st Baron Colborne [aged 25] was elected MP Bletchingley which seat he held until 1806.
John Evelyn's Diary. 13th July 1700. I went to Harden, which was originally a barren warren bought by Sir Robert Clayton [aged 71], who built there a pretty house, and made such alteration by planting not only an infinite store of the best fruit; but so changed the natural situation of the hill, valleys, and solitary mountains about it, that it rather represented some foreign country, which would produce spontaneously pines, firs, cypress, yew, holly, and juniper; they were come to their perfect growth, with walks, mazes, etc., among them, and were preserved with the utmost care, so that I who had seen it some years before in its naked and barren condition, was in admiration of it. The land was bought of Sir John Evelyn, of Godstone, and was thus improved for pleasure and retirement by the vast charge and industry of this opulent citizen. He and his lady received us with great civility. The tombs in the church at Croydon of Archbishops Grindal, Whitgift, and other Archbishops, are fine and venerable; but none comparable to that of the late Archbishop Sheldon, which, being all of white marble, and of a stately ordinance and carvings, far surpassed the rest, and I judge could not cost less than £700 or £800.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 5th September 1559. The v day of September was bered at [Bletchingley] ser Thomas Karden knyght, with a standard and .... of armes and a cot of armes, a helmet, targat, .... with the mantylls and crest, and a iij [3] dosen of skochyons of armes, the wyche he had mony goodly offeses in ....
Henry Machyn's Diary. 23rd February 1560. The xxiij day of Feybruary was cared from (Black) frers over the water to Parys garden, and ther was a hors-lytter rede to care her to Blechyng-led, [my] lade Carden, the wyff of ser Thomas Carden, to be bered.