Noel family, Earls of Gainsborough

The Noel family was established in Staffordshire in the Middle Ages: Andrew Noel (d. 1563), third son of James Noel of Hidcote (Staffordshire) acquired property in Rutland and Leicestershire and founded the branch of the Noel family from which the Earls of Gainsborough descended. Estates in other counties (mainly Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent and Middlesex) were subsequently acquired through purchase, inheritance and marriage.

The family’s principal seat was Exton Hall (Rutland). After Exton Hall was severely damaged by fire in 1810 Barham Court near Maidstone (Kent) became the main residence until the sale of the Kent estate in 1845-46 but a new house at Exton was completed in the early 1850s. Campden House in Chipping Campden (Gloucestershire), inherited from Baptist Hicks, Viscount Campden (d. 1629), was destroyed in the Civil War while Campden House (Kensington) was sold in 1708. The family of Gerard Noel Edwards, who inherited the Noel family estates in 1798 and took the surname Noel, had resided at Welham Grove in Welham (Leicestershire) but this was sold by 1840.

Andrew Noel (d. 1563) acquired Old Dalby (Leicestershire, sold 1617) and Brooke (Rutland). His grandson Sir Edward Noel (d. 1643) bought the former Harington family estate of Ridlington (Rutland) and was created Baron Noel in 1617. He married a co-heir of Baptist Hicks (Viscount Campden, d. 1629), through whom came the property in Rutland (Exton and Whitwell), Gloucestershire (Chipping Campden), Middlesex (Hampstead, sold 1707) and Campden House (Kensington, sold 1708), and succeeded his father-in-law as 2nd Viscount Campden.

Valle Crucis (Denbighshire) was acquired through the marriage of the 3rd Viscount Campden (1612-82) and Hester, daughter of the 2nd Baron Wotton, but was sold in 1663 to Sir John Wynn, 5th Bt. The fourth Viscount Campden (1641-89, created Earl of Gainsborough in 1682) married in 1661 Elizabeth Wriothesley, elder daughter of the fourth Earl of Southampton, through whom came the Titchfield (Hampshire) estate, but on the 2nd Earl of Gainsborough’s death in 1690 this estate passed to his daughters (who married respectively the 1st Duke of Portland and the 2nd Duke of Beaufort). The Rutland and Gloucestershire estates, with the earldom of Gainsborough, however, were inherited by the second Earl’s cousin Baptist Noel of North Luffenham and Cottesmore (both Rutland).

Property at Walcot (Northamptonshire), Castle Bytham (Lincolnshire) and Kinnoulton (Nottinghamshire) was inherited by the 6th Earl of Gainsborough from a cousin, Thomas Noel of Walcot (d. 1788). On the 6th Earl’s death in 1798 his estates were divided, the Walcot properties passing to CH Neville, who took the name Noel, and the Rutland and Gloucestershire estates passing to Gerard Noel Edwards (1759-1838), later Sir GN Noel, 2nd Bt, son of GA Edwards (d. 1773) of Welham Grove (Leicestershire) by Jane Noel (d1811), sister of the 5th and 6th Earls.

GN Edwards had inherited from his father various properties in Leicestershire (Welham, etc), London and Middlesex (Islington, Kensington, etc), Kent (Dartford, etc) and Ireland, but these were all sold between 1805 and 1840. GN Edwards had married in 1780 Diana, daughter of Charles Middleton (1726-1813), 1st Baron Barham, who succeeded her father in the barony and the Barham Court estate near Maidstone (Kent). On her death in 1823 she was in turn succeeded in the Barham Court estate and peerage title by her son Charles Noel (d. 1866), who inherited the Rutland (Exton, etc) and Gloucestershire (Chipping Campden) estates of his father in 1838 and was created Earl of Gainsborough in 1841. The remaining Kent property was, however, sold by 1845-46.

Sir Edward Noel (d. 1643) married Julian, daughter and co-heir of Sir Baptist Hicks (d. 1629), Viscount Campden, and succeeded to the viscounty of Campden and a portion of his father-in-law’s estates. The 3rd Viscount Campden (1612-82) married Hester Wotton, daughter of the 2nd Baron Wotton.

The 4th Viscount Campden (1641-89, created Earl of Gainsborough in 1682) married Elizabeth Wriothesley, elder daughter of the 4th Earl of Southampton. Jane Noel (d. 1811), sister of the 5th and 6th Earls of Gainsborough, married Gerard Anne Edwards of Welham Grove (Leicestershire) and had issue Gerard Noel Edwards (1759-1838). He married in 1780 Diana Middleton (1762-1823), suo jure Baroness Barham), daughter of Charles Middleton (1726-1813), created 1st Baronet of Barham Court (Kent) in 1781 and 1st Baron Barham in 1805.

GN Edwards assumed the surname Noel in 1798 on inheriting the 6th Earl of Gainsborough’s Rutland and Gloucestershire estates (although not the Earl’s honours, which were extinguished); and he later inherited his father-in-law’s baronetcy. His eldest son John Noel (1781-1866) succeeded to the estates of his mother and father, to his mother’s barony and his father’s baronetcy, and was created Viscount Campden and Earl of Gainsborough in 1841.