Lygon family, Earls Beauchamp

The Lygon family was established at Madresfield (Worcestershire) in the mid-15th century. Thomas Lygon married Anne, second daughter of the second Baron Beauchamp of Powick (d. 1503), acquiring through her the Beauchamp Court property in Worcestershire (in Powick, near Madresfield) and land in Gloucestershire (subsequently sold). (For other Beauchamp property see Greville, Earls Brooke) Property in Warwickshire (Hall End in Polesworth, etc) was acquired through the marriage of William Lygon to Margaret, daughter of Thomas Corbyn of Hall End and Kingswinford (Staffordshire) in 1688. Margaret Lygon, daughter of William and Margaret and heir to the Worcestershire and Warwickshire estates, married in 1713 Reginald Pyndar of Kempley (Gloucestershire) and Duffield (Derbyshire). Their son Reginald Pyndar (d. 1788) succeeded to the Lygon estates on his mother’s death in 1736 and took the name of Lygon.

The Worcestershire and Gloucestershire estates (both with adjacent properties in Herefordshire) were extended in the 19th century, notably by William Lygon (1747-1816), who was created Earl Beauchamp in 1815. The Derbyshire estate, however, was disposed of by 1800, except for the Duffield tithes, and the Hall End estate was sold in the late 19th century. Thomas Pindar (d. 1813) of Brumby (Lincolnshire) bequeathed his estate to the Hon John Lygon, who changed his name to Pyndar and succeeded his brother as 3rd Earl Beauchamp in 1823.

Estates in 1883: Worcs 10,624 acres, Lincs 2,878 acres, Gloucs 2,429 acres, Warwicks 959 acres, Herefs 744 acres, total 17,634 acres worth £24,941 a year.