England Lord of Guildford
The Lordship of Guildford
Guildford has been Surrey's county town since Saxon times. Henry III spent lavishly on the Norman castle, creating a palace with gardens, a vineyard, and painted glass.
The lordship was held by the Crown. The Earldom was created in 1752 for Frederick North, whose son Lord North served as PM during the American Revolution, losing the colonies.
Lord Guildford Dudley, husband of Lady Jane Grey the 'Nine Days Queen,' was named after the town. His execution in 1554 was one of the Tudor succession's most poignant moments.
The Onslow family, Earls of Onslow, were the most prominent local landowners at Clandon Park, a Palladian mansion tragically gutted by fire in 2015.
Guildford's position on the London-to-Southampton road made it a prosperous coaching town, and its castle ruins remain a prominent landmark.
Guildford and the Peerage
The Earldom (North family, 1752) produced Lord North the PM. The Earl of Onslow at Clandon Park was the most prominent local noble.
View the full Peerage Hierarchy ChartNotable Lords of Guildford
Lord North exclaimed 'Oh God, it is all over!' upon hearing of Yorktown, pacing the room in agitation at the loss of America.
England Noble Surnames
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