Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset

Charles Seymour,
Charles Seymour, the 6th Duke of Somerset acquired the Manor or Lordship of Weeting in the County of Norfolk and all those 800 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 60 acres of pastures, 1000 acres of furze and heath grounds, common pasture and liberty of foldcourse for 1600 sheep; and other properties, both in the village and elsewhere, following the death of Hildebrand Allington in February 1723.



Hildebrand, Baron Allington of Killard, had no living children, but left sveral gifts of money in his will. It appears that the estate was sold to provide the cash required - but further research will be required to confirm this.

After the Duke died (at the age of 87) in 1748 it transpired that there were multiple claims to his property in Weeting. Daniel, Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, Henry Earl of Thomond and Sir William Wyndham Bart thought they had bought the estate. The Duke had also given the property to his daughters, Frances Marchioness Granby and Charlotte Countess Aylesford as part of their marriage settlements. Sorting out the claims and counter claims took so long that Algernon, the 7th Duke, had also died before anything has been resolved. Eventually an Act of Parliament was passed in 1762 that resolved that the estate be divided into two… one part to Charles Manners aka Lord Roos, eldest surviving son of Frances Marchioness Granby the other [ including Weeting] to Charlotte Countess Aylesford for her life then to Daniel Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, William Lord Mansfield and their heirs.

You can read about other notable characters from the village's past in the book "Weeting Worthies". Copies are available from the group - please visit our sales page.