(201) Ashburnham of Broomham, baronets

Ashburnham of Broomham

Richard (fl. 1450-60), the younger son of Thomas Ashburnham of Ashburnham, married the daughter and heiress of Sir John Stoneling of Guestling (Sussex) and through this marriage acquired the Broomham estate which remained the property of his descendants for some five hundred years. His son Thomas (c.1460-1523), who served as MP for Winchelsea at least twice in the early 16th century, married Elizabeth Dudley, the aunt of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, who became Lord Protector under King Edward VI and was executed by Queen Mary. This connection with power does not seem to have greatly benefited Ashburnham or his son Thomas (b. c.1483; fl. 1552), who did not hold public office after his father's death. The younger Thomas was succeeded by his eldest son Lawrence Ashburnham (d. 1565), whose marriage to an heiress brought him property in Kent as well as Sussex. Lawrence's only son, Adam Ashburnham (c.1556-97) inherited at the tender age of ten and it is not clear what arrangement was made for his wardship; his widowed mother may have bought this from the Crown. On reaching manhood, Adam quickly took up the role in public life his father and grandfather had eschewed, and he married into another Kentish family of rather higher status, the Twysdens of Royden Hall. His wife may have brought him a significant dowry as it was probably Adam who rebuilt, or began the rebuilding of, Broomham Hall. In another step towards the upper gentry, at least three of his five sons were university educated and two of them also went to Grays Inn; the third becoming a clergyman.

Adam's heir was Lawrence Ashburnham (b. c.1583), who married twice and produced several sons, although it would seem that only the youngest of these, Sir Denny Ashburnham (1629-97) survived to adulthood. Nothing is known of his activities during the Commonwealth years, but he may have benefited by his association with his kinsman John Ashburnham of Ashburnham (c.1602-71), whose daughter he married in about 1650. At the Restoration he was elected MP for Hastings and in 1661 he was advanced to a baronetcy. Apart from one daughter, all his children by his first marriage died fairly young and in 1675 he married a second time, to a kinswoman of his mother. Their eldest son, Sir William Ashburnham (1678-1755), succeeded as 2nd baronet, and had a long career as a Government place-man and MP, no doubt helped by his marriage into the Pelham family in 1701. The profits of office no doubt helped to pay for the partial rebuilding of Broomham Hall, which it seems likely he undertook in the 1740s, after retiring from Parliament. Unfortunately he had no children, and at his death the title passed to his obscure younger brother, Sir Charles Ashburnham (1682-1762), 3rd bt., of whose activities before he came into the title there appears to be no record. Unusually, the estates passed directly to Sir Charles' eldest son, perhaps indicating a degree of estrangement between the brothers.

Sir Charles had three surviving sons, two in the church and one in the army, and the heir was the Rt. Rev. Sir William Ashburnham (1710-97), 4th bt., who had been installed as Bishop of Chichester in 1754 and held the post until his death. Since the Bishop's clerical brother also became a prebendary of Chichester, and his unmarried daughters also lived in the town, for a while the family's centre of gravity moved to the other end of the county. The Bishop's heir, another Sir William Ashburnham (1739-1823), 5th bt., appears to have lived mainly in London, and his sons, who inherited the estate in turn, Sir William Ashburnham (1769-1843), 6th bt. and Rev. Sir John Ashburnham (1770-1854), 7th bt., were also largely non-resident. The family returned to Broomham with Sir John's son, Sir Anchitel Ashburnham (1828-99), who in addition to managing his own estate acted as Land Agent for the Duke of Cleveland's Sussex properties and possibly other estates too. When he died in 1899 Broomham passed to his widow for life, and when she died in 1907 it seems to have been abandoned and have fallen into severe disrepair. According to some accounts there was also a fire at the house, but if so this was not reported in the press. In the mid 1920s, Sir Anchitel Piers Ashburnham-Clement (1861-1935), 9th bt. (he added his wife's surname to his when they inherited her family's urban property in Hastings), who had been living at Agmerherst House on the Ashburnham estate, undertook a radical remodelling of the house and moved back in. He demolished the Georgian wing, heavily restored the Tudor part, and added a large new wing in a similar style. His successors in the mid 20th century let the house, and by the 1960s it had become a school. The estate was broken up and the house sold in 1977, although members of the family continue to live at properties in the area. The title now belongs to Sir James Fleetwood Ashburnham (b. 1979), 13th bt., who lives in London.

Broomham Hall, Guestling, Sussex

In origin, the house is a stone and timber-framed 16th century house which it is thought was progressively extended until by 1662, when it was taxed on 18 hearths, it had assumed a quadrangular form. The hall range and parts of the north and south wings survive as the northern part of the present house, and  have fine moulded chimneystacks. 

Broomham Hall by S.H, Grimm, 1783, Image: British Library Add MS, 5670, f.26

At some point in the early 18th century, perhaps in the 1740s, Sir William Ashburnham (1677-1755) diverted the nearby public road to form a park and built a new nine bay, two storey west front, which is recorded in the drawing of 1783 shown above and the photograph below. Although the new block is shown to the left of the old house in the drawing, this appears to be artist's licence, as the map of 1873 shows a simple square block. It seems likely that Sir William's new range was intended as the first stage of a more general rebuilding of the house, but nothing more was done, and the farm buildings continued to stand immediately adjacent to the old house as Grimm shows. The barn, which is fundamentally 15th century, was indeed remodelled in the early 18th century. Thus the house remained until the early 20th century, when it was apparently abandoned after the death of Sir Anchitel Ashburnham's widow in 1907.  Some sources mention a fire at the house but a photograph of the building in the 1920s shows no evidence of this, and there are no references to a fire in local press reports.

Broomham Hall in the 1920s. Image: Historic England/Nathaniel Lloyd

Broomham Hall on OS 6" map of 1873

Broomham Hall on OS 6" map of 1928

Broomham Hall, as remodelled by C.F. Callow, 1926

Whether there was a fire or not, in 1926 the 18th century range was taken down and the remainder radically remodelled by Charles F. & Clayton Harold Callow of Hastings in 1926 to create the present attractive but irregular building. In the photograph above the left hand two-thirds of the building represent the original house; the half-octagonal tower in the centre and the range to the right of this seem to be new work of the 1920s. Inside, there is one 16th or 17th century overmantel which may be in its original position, and a great deal of 17th century panelling, much of it no doubt imported in the 1920s.

The contents of Broomham were dispersed at sales in 1920 and 1946 and the house and estate was sold in 1977. The house became a school in the late 1950s or early 1960s, and the present owners are Buckswood School, a co-educational independent school founded in Surrey in 1933.

Descent: Sir John Stoneling (fl. early 15th cent.); to daughter, wife of Richard Ashburnham (fl. c.1450-60); to son, Thomas Ashburnham (c.1460-1523); to son, Thomas Ashburnham (b. c.1483; fl. 1552); to son, Lawrence Ashburnham (d. 1565); to son, Adam Ashburnham (c.1556-97); to son, Lawrence Ashburnham (b. c.1583; fl. 1643); to son, Sir Denny Ashburnham (1629-97), 1st bt.; to son, Sir William Ashburnham (1678-1755), 2nd bt.; to brother, Sir Charles Ashburnham (1682-1762), 3rd bt.; to son, Rt. Rev. Sir William Ashburnham (1710-97), 4th bt.; to son, Sir William Ashburnham (1739-1823), 5th bt.; to son, Sir William Ashburnham (1769-1843), 6th bt.; to brother, Rev. Sir John Ashburnham (1770-1854), 7th bt.; to son, Sir Anchitel Ashburnham (1828-99), 8th bt.; to widow (d. 1907); to son, Sir Anchitel Piers Ashburnham-Clement (1861-1935), 9th bt.; to brother, Sir Reginald Ashburnham (1865-1944), 10th bt.; to brother, Sir Fleetwood Ashburnham (1869-1953), 11th bt.; to son, Sir Denny Reginald Ashburnham (1916-99), 12th bt.; who sold 1977; sold 2000 to Buckswood School. The house was let from 1935 until it was sold; in 1949 & 1954 the house was the home of E.G. Mattingley and by 1964 it was a school.

Ashburnham family of Broomham, baronets

Ashburnham, Richard (fl. c.1450-60). Younger son of  Thomas Ashburnham (fl. 1434) and his wife Sarah, daughter and heir of Henry Waunsey. He married [forename unknown], the daughter and heiress of Sir John Stoneling of Broomham (Sussex), and had issue including:
(1) Thomas Ashburnham (c.1460-1523) (q.v.);
(2) John Ashburnham (fl. 1523); mentioned in the will of his brother Thomas; married and had issue.
In right of his wife he inherited the Broomham estate at Guestling (Sussex).
His date of death is unknown.

Ashburnham, Thomas (c.1460-1523). Elder son of Richard Ashburnham (fl. c.1450-60) of Broomham* and his wife, born by 1462. High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, 1499-1500; jurat of Winchelsea, 1508-23 (Mayor 1509-10, 1521-22); MP for Winchelsea, 1510, 1523; JP for Sussex, 1511-23. He married, by 1483, Elizabeth (1458-1523), daughter of John Dudley and aunt of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and had issue:
(1) Thomas Ashburnham (b. c.1483) (q.v.);
(2) Ellen Ashburnham (d. by 1523); married, by 1520, as his first wife, Sir Walter Hendley MP (d. 1550) (who m2, 1527, Margery, daughter of Thomas Pigott of Whaddon (Bucks) and widow of Thomas Cotton of Landwade (Cambs)), and had issue three daughters; died before April 1523;
(3) Anne Ashburnham (fl. 1523); unmarried in 1523.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father.
He died between April and June 1523; his will was proved 27 June 1523. His widow was living when his will was written but apparently died shortly afterwards.
* The History of Parliament says he was the son of Thomas Ashburnham (fl. 1434) of Ashburnham (see Ashburnham of Ashburnham), but this appears to omit a generation.

Ashburnham, Thomas (b. c.1483; fl. 1552). Only son of Thomas Ashburnham (d. 1523) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Dudley, born about 1483. Comptroller of Customers for the Chichester district, 1504-14 or later; MP for Winchelsea, 1512, 1515; jurat for Winchelsea, 1515; bailiff of Yarmouth, 1515. He married Bennet, eldest daughter and heiress of John Cromer of Tunstall (Kent) and had issue:
(1) Alice Ashburnham; married Hugh Good;
(2) Anne Ashburnham; married Thomas Bletchingdon of Allington (Kent)
(3) Lawrence Ashburnham (d. 1565) (q.v.);
(4) Elinor Ashburnham; married Hugh Waller;
(5) Katherine Ashburnham;
(6) Thomas Ashburnham;
(7) William Ashburnham;
(8) Jane Ashburnham; married Henry Shoebridge;
(9) John Ashburnham (fl. 1577);
(10) Robert Ashburnham (fl. 1577);
(11) Elizabeth Ashburnham.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1523.
He was living in 1552 but his date of death is unknown.*
*The History of Parliament says he died between 1518 and 1523 and probably before 1521, but his father's will, written in April 1523, makes it clear that he was then living, and he and his son Lawrence are parties to a final concord dated the Quindeme of Easter 1552 [East Sussex RO, FRE/7003-4].

Ashburnham, Lawrence (d. 1565). Eldest son of Thomas Ashburnham (b. c.1483; fl. 1552) and his wife Bennet, daughter of John Cromer of Tunstall (Kent). He married, c.1553, Eve/Eva (d. 1586), daughter of Richard Adams of Sussex, sister and heiress of Stephen Adams of Harrietsham (Kent) and widow of John Levitt (d. 1544) (by whom she had had issue one son and one daughter), and had issue:
(1) Adam Ashburnham (c.1556-97) (q.v.).
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father after 1552.
He died 30 October 1565 and was buried at Guestling; an inquisition post mortem was held 13 March 1567, when the son and heir was aged 10. His widow's will was proved 31 January 1585/6.

Ashburnham, Adam (c.1556-97). Only son of Lawrence Ashburnham (d. 1565) and his wife Eva, daughter of Richard Adams of Sussex and widow of John Levitt, born about 1556. Escheator for Surrey and Sussex, 1587-88; Joint commander of the 'trained band' [militia] in Pevensey Rape, 1584 and Capt. of Hastings Rape, 1588; MP for Winchelsea, 1593; JP for Sussex, 1595-97. He married Elizabeth (b. 1563), elder daughter of Roger Twysden of Royden Hall (Kent) and had issue:
(1) Elizabeth Ashburnham (c.1582-1622), born about 1582; died unmarried, 1622; will proved 12 June 1622;
(2) Lawrence Ashburnham (b. c.1583; fl. 1643) (q.v.);
(3) John Ashburnham (b. c.1584; fl. 1622), born about 1584; educated at St Alban Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1598) and Grays Inn (admitted 1602); living in 1622 but probably died before 1643 as he is not mentioned in his brother Charles' will;
(4) Roger Ashburnham (fl. 1622); living in 1622 but probably died before 1643 as he is not mentioned in his brother Charles' will;
(5) Charles Ashburnham (d. 1647); lived in the close of Lichfield Cathedral and owned the Cock Inn, Lichfield; died unmarried; will proved in the PCC, 29 December 1647;
(6) Rev. Edward Ashburnham (1589-1647), baptised 15 January 1589/90 at St Giles Cripplegate, London; educated at St. Alban Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1602; BA 1606; MA 1611); vicar of Tonbridge (Kent), 1617-47; rector of Guestling, 1632-47 and prebendary of Chichester, 1641-47; suffered sequestration of his property following the Royalist rebellion in Kent of 1643 which he was accused of encouraging; married, 1639, Anne, widow of I. Hutchinson; died before 29 October 1647; administration of goods granted 1647.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1565 and came of age in 1576.
He died 5 June 1597; his will was proved 4 February 1598 and an inquisition post mortem was held 39 Elizabeth I. His widow was living in 1597.

Ashburnham, Lawrence (b. c.1583; fl. 1643). Eldest son of Adam Ashburnham (d. 1597) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Roger Twisden of Royden Hall (Kent), born about 1583. Educated at St. Alban Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1598) and Grays Inn (admitted 1602). He married 1st, 3 September 1610 at Hurstpierpoint (Sussex), Sibyl Goring (1590-1616) and 2nd, 10 February 1617/8 at All Hallows, London Wall, London, Bridget (b. 1589), eldest daughter of Sir George Fleetwood of The Vache, Chalfont St Giles (Bucks) and had issue including:
(1.1) Anne Ashburnham (1612-87), baptised 13 August 1612; married, 25 August 1631, William Michelborne (1601-56) and had issue seven sons and five daughters; buried at Horsted Keynes (Sussex), 26 March 1687;
(1.2) George Ashburnham (b. & d. 1613), baptised 31 October 1613; died in infancy and was buried at Guestling, 2 December 1613;
(1.3) Dorothy Ashburnham (1615-17), baptised 20 August 1615; died in infancy and was buried at Guestling, 26 March 1617;
(2.1) Roger Ashburnham (b. 1625), baptised 6 May 1625 at Chalfont St. Giles; probably died young;
(2.2) John Ashburnham (b. 1627?); said to have been born in 1627; perhaps died young;
(2.3) Sir Denny Ashburnham (1629-97), 1st bt. (q.v.);
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1597.
He was living in 1643, and his death may have gone unrecorded amid the turmoil of the Civil War. His first wife was buried at Guestling, 20 February 1616/7. His second wife's date of death is also unknown.

Ashburnham, Sir Denny (1629-97), 1st bt. Eldest son of Lawrence Ashburnham (b. c.1583) and his wife Bridget, daughter of Sir George Fleetwood of The Vatch (Bucks), baptised 16 April 1629 at St Peter-le-Poer, London. MP for Hastings, 1660-79, 1685-87. He was too closely associated with the regime of King James II to be trusted after the 1688 revolution, and he retired from politics at that point. Commissioner of Excise, 1665-68, 1688-89; Victualler of the Navy, 1671, 1673-77; JP for Sussex, 1660 and DL, 1670; Mayor of Hastings, 1685. Created a baronet, 15 May 1661. He married 1st, c.1650, his distant cousin, Frances (1632-c.1673), daughter of John Ashburnham of Ashburnham, and 2nd, after 14 September 1675, Ann (d. 1729), daughter of Sir David Watkins (d. 1657), kt. of Covent Garden, Westminster (Middx), and had issue including:
(1.1) John Ashburnham (b. c.1652); educated at St Mary Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1669) and Middle Temple (admitted 1668/9); died unmarried;
(1.2) Denny Ashburnham; died in infancy
(1.3) Denny Ashburnham (d. 1689); died young and was buried 18 April 1689;
(1.4) Laurence Ashburnham; died young;
(1.5) Anne Ashburnham; died young and was buried at Guestling, 16 October 1675;
(1.6) Bridget Ashburnham (d. 1726); married, 14 February 1698 at Guestling, Rev. Robert Bradshaw (d. 1736), rector of Guestling, who won £10,000 in a state lottery; buried at Guestling, 14 February 1726;
(2.1) Sir William Ashburnham (1678-1756), 2nd bt. (q.v.);
(2.2) Fleetwood Ashburnham (b. & d. 1679), baptised April 1679; died in infancy and was buried at Guestling, 20 December 1679;
(2.3) Honor Ashburnham (1681-1751), baptised at Putney, 28 March 1681; died unmarried and was buried at Guestling, 26 June 1751;
(2.4) Sir Charles Ashburnham (1682-1762), 3rd bt. (q.v.).
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father.
He was buried 11 December 1697; his will was proved in the PCC, 23 December 1697. His first wife died about 1673. His widow was buried 21 December 1729 at Guestling.

Ashburnham, Sir William (1678-1755), 2nd bt. Elder son of Sir Denny Ashburnham, kt. & 1st bt., and his second wife Ann, daughter of Sir David Watkins, baptised 1 April 1678 at St Olave, Hart St., London. He succeeded his father as 2nd baronet, December 1697. Chamberlain of the Exchequer, 1710-55; Commissioner for the Alienation Office, 1717-55; Receiver of Fines, 1735-55; MP for Hastings 1710-13, 1722-41 and for Seaford, 1715-17. Freeman of Seaford, 1715. He married, 7 June 1701, Margaret (d. 1742), daughter of Sir Nicholas Pelham of Catsfield Place (Sussex), but had no issue.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1697 and came of age in 1699. He created a park around the house and rebuilt the west wing.
He died 7 November 1755 and was buried at Guestling. His wife was buried at Guestling, 26 March 1742.

Ashburnham, Sir Charles (1682-1762), 3rd bt. Second son of Sir Denny Ashburnham, kt. & 1st bt., and his second wife Ann, daughter of Sir David Watkins, baptised 11 August 1682. He succeeded his brother as 3rd baronet, 7 November 1755. He married, 31 March 1705 at Portsea (Hants)*, Mary Dymar and had issue including:
(1) Anne Ashburnham, born probably Jan-Mar 1705/6; died young;
(2) Denny Ashburnham (b. 1707), baptised 2 February 1706/7; died in infancy and was buried 4 February 1706/7;
(3) Rt. Rev. Sir William Ashburnham (1710-97), 4th bt. (q.v.);
(4) Bridget Ashburnham (b. 1713), baptised 23 June 1713; married Francis Deare of Chichester.
(5) John Ashburnham (1721-1808), baptised 15 May 1721; an officer in the army; married Frances Stopford and had issue; buried at St George's, Hanover Square, London, 11 January 1808;
(6) Rev. Charles Ashburnham (1723-1800), baptised 6 March 1722/3; educated at Charterhouse and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (matriculated 1745; BA 1747; MA 1756); ordained priest, 1748; vicar of Cowfold, West Firle & Bedingham, 1755-1800 and Cuckfield (Sussex) (where he built a new vicarage in 1780-81), 1761-1800; chaplain to Bishop of Chichester, 1761; Canon Residentiary and Precentor of Chichester Cathedral, 1774-1800; married, 7 April 1761 at Cowfold (Sussex), Anne Pierce (c.1743-1825) and had issue; died 16 December and was buried in Chichester Cathedral, 23 December 1800; will proved in the PCC, 24 April 1807.
He inherited the title but not the estate from his elder brother in 1756.
He died 3 October 1762 and was buried in Chichester Cathedral, 6 October 1762. His wife's date of death is unknown.
* I believe this to be his marriage, but there is a possibility of confusion with another Charles Ashburnham (b. 1685), who was the illegitimate son of Ann Trevor and (a different) Denny Ashburnham. Mary Dymar's parentage has not been traced.

Ashburnham, Rt. Rev. Sir William (1710-97), 4th bt. Eldest son of Sir Charles Ashburnham (1682-1762), 3rd bt. and his wife Mary, baptised at Westbourne (Sussex), 9 January 1709/10. Educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (matriculated 1728; BA 1732/3; MA 1734; DD 1749); Fellow of Corpus Christi College, 1733-35. Ordained deacon, 1733 and priest, 1734; rector of Gamston (Notts) and Cromwell (Notts), 1735-41; Chaplain to Chelsea Hospital, 1737; Chaplain in Ordinary to the King; Vicar of Bexhill (Sussex), 1742-97; rector of Guestling, 1743-97; Dean of Chichester, 1742-54; Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's Cathedral, 1743/53-97; Bishop of Chichester, 1754-97. He succeeded his father as 4th baronet, 3 October 1762. He married, 9 November 1736 at Guestling, Margaret (1712-80), daughter of Thomas Pelham of Lewes and had issue:
(1) Sir William Ashburnham (1739-1823), 5th bt. (q.v.);
(2) John Ashburnham (d. 1768); died unmarried;
(3) Harriet Ashburnham (d. 1742); died in infancy; commemorated by a monument in Chichester Cathedral;
(4) Margaret Ashburnham (d. 1823); lived in Chichester; died unmarried and was buried at Guestling, 5 February 1823; will proved 6 March 1823;
(5) Frances Ashburnham (d. 1825); inherited her father's house in Great George St., London in 1797 but later lived at Tonbridge (Kent); died unmarried and was buried at Guestling, 14 March 1825; will proved 10 May 1825;
(6) Catherine Ashburnham (d. 1805); married, 26 July 1799 at Rumboldswyke (Sussex), Lt. Alexander Fitzgerald of 35th Foot, but had no issue; died 1805 while her husband was in the East Indies, and is commemorated by a monument in Chichester Cathedral; administration of goods with will annexed granted, 15 January 1805.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his uncle in 1756 and the title from his father in 1762.
He died 4 September 1797; his will was proved 5 October 1797. His wife died 29 August 1780.

Ashburnham, Sir William (1739-1823), 5th bt. Only surviving son of Rt. Rev. Sir William Ashburnham (1710-97), 4th bt., born 5 March 1738/9 and baptised at St Anne, Soho, 29 March 1739. Educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (matriculated 1758). MP for Hastings, 1761-74; Deputy Keeper of the Great Wardrobe, 1765-82; High Sheriff of Sussex, 1802-03. He succeeded his father as 5th baronet, 4 September 1797. He married, 12 April 1766 at St Clement Danes, London, Alice (d. 1777), daughter of Rev. Francis Woodgate, vicar of Mountfield (Sussex) and had issue including:
(1) Sir William Ashburnham (1769-1843), 6th bt. (q.v.);
(2) Rev. Sir John Ashburnham (1770-1854), 7th bt. (q.v.);
(3) Rev. Denny Ashburnham (1773-1843), born 29 May 1773; educated at Westminster and Clare College, Cambridge (admitted 1799, BA 1804; MA 1828); ordained priest, 1820; vicar of Ditchling (Sussex), 1820-43 and rector of Catsfield (Sussex), 1823-43; married 1st, 20 February 1802, Nancy (d. 1818), only child of Joseph Dickson of Calcutta (India) and widow of T.F. Bancroft; married 2nd, 6 May 1819 at St George the Martyr, Queen Square, London, Mary (1800-c.1820), daughter of Robert Hill and had issue one daughter; married 3rd, 10 July 1823, Harriet (1806-90), daughter of William Luckie, and had issue one daughter; died 2 March 1843; buried 10 March 1843 at Kensal Green Cemetery;
(4) George William Ashburnham (1774-1851), born 12/29 August 1774 and baptised 14 February 1775; left an annuity in his brother William's will in terms which imply he was not to be trusted with money; married, 9 February 1825 at Hastings (Sussex), Hannah Glazier (d. 1844) and had issue five sons and two daughters; died 13 January 1851; administration of goods granted to his son, 12 September 1865 (effects under £200);
(5) Alice Ashburnham (1777-1859), born 10 January and baptised 13 January 1777; married, 3 December 1804 at Tonbridge (Kent), James Eldridge West (c.1784-1851) of Postern Park, Tonbridge and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 22 December 1859.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1797.
He died 21 August 1823; his will was proved 4 February 1824. His wife died in childbirth, 10 January 1777.

Ashburnham, Sir William (1769-1843), 6th bt. Eldest son of Sir William Ashburnham (1739-1823), 5th bt. and his wife Alice, daughter of Rev. Francis Woodgate of Mountfield (Sussex), born 21 June 1769. He succeeded his father as 6th baronet, 21 August 1823. He married, 7 July 1825 at Seal (Kent), Juliana (c.1791-1865), daughter of Rev. William Humphrey, rector of Seal and vicar of Kemsing (Kent), but had no issue.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1823.
He died 23 March 1843; his will was proved 15 March 1844. His widow died 22 February 1865; her will proved 28 March 1865 (effects under £18,000).

Ashburnham, Rev. Sir John (1770-1854), 7th bt. Second son of Sir William Ashburnham (1739-1823), 5th bt. and his wife Alice, daughter of Rev. Francis Woodgate of Mountfield (Sussex), born 26 December 1770 in Scotland Yard, Westminster (Middx) and baptised 7 February 1771. Ordained, 1793. Educated at Clare College, Cambridge as a mature student (admitted 1801; matriculated 1810; BD 1815). Rector of Guestling, 1795-1854; vicar of Cocking (Sussex), 1796-98; vicar of Pevensey, 1816-54; Chancellor and Prebendary of Chichester Cathedral, 1796-1854. He succeeded his brother as 7th baronet, 23 March 1843. He married 1st, 4 July 1804, Fanny (d. 1838), fourth daughter of William Foster of Hollington (Sussex), and 2nd, 11 August 1840 at St Martin-in-the-Fields (Middx), Anne (c.1792-1873), daughter of Thomas Harman, and had issue:
(1.1) John Piers Ashburnham (1821-39), born 28 March 1821; died unmarried, 8 June and was buried at Guestling, 21 June 1839;
(1.2) Fanny Alice Ashburnham (1824-93), born 6 January 1824; lived at 12 Warrior Gardens in Hastings; died unmarried, 12 December 1893; will proved 9 January 1894 (effects £2,896); 
(1.3) Honor Ashburnham (1825-91), born 16 December 1825; "an invalid for a long period" who lived with her sister in Hastings; died unmarried, 6 May 1891; will proved 22 May 1891 (effects £1,306); 
(1.4) Sir Anchitel Ashburnham (1828-99), 8th bt. (q.v.);
(1.5) Lawrence Ashburnham (1829-69), born 19 November 1829; died unmarried, 12 December and was buried at Guestling, 17 December 1869;
(1.6) Major-General Sir Cromer Ashburnham (1831-1917), kt., born 13 September 1831; an officer in the 60th Rifles from 1855-86 (retired as Maj-Gen.) serving in the Indian Mutiny campaign, 1857-58 (medal and clasp); Afghanistan campaign, 1878-80 (medal and clasp; commanded 2nd Battn); 1st Boer War, South Africa, 1881 (commanded 3rd Battn); Egypt and Sudan campaigns, 1882-84 (commanded brigade; Governor of Suakin, 1884); aide de camp to Queen Victoria, 1881; Colonel commanding King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1907; awarded Order of Mejdidie (3rd class) and appointed KCB, 1882; lived in London; Fellow of Royal Geographical Society, 1897-1917; married, 26 July 1864, Urith Amelia (d. 1928), third daughter of Capt. George Bohun Martin CB RN of East Bridgford (Notts) and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 25 February 1917; will proved 13 April 1917 (estate £1,775).
He inherited the Broomham estate from his elder brother in 1843.
He died 1 September and was buried at Guestling, 9 September 1854. His first wife died 11 April 1838. His widow died in 1873.

Ashburnham, Sir Anchitel (1828-99), 8th bt. Eldest son of Rev. Sir John Ashburnham (1770-1854), 7th bt., and his first wife Fanny, daughter of William Foster of Hollington (Sussex), born 8 February 1828. JP for Sussex. He succeeded his father as 8th baronet, 1 September 1854, and in 1856 was found by the House of Lords Privileges Committee to be one of the co-heirs to the abeyant barony of Grandison (which has been in abeyance since 1375). Land agent for the Battle Abbey and Normanhurst estates (Sussex). He married, 7 June 1859 at East Bridgford (Notts), Isabella (d. 1907), eldest daughter of Capt. George Bohun Martin CB RN of East Bridgford, and had issue:
(1) Isabella Ashburnham (1860-1938), born 5 April 1860; married, 12 January 1881 at Guestling, Herbert Curteis (1849-1919) of Windmill Hill Place (Sussex) and had issue five children; died 1 September 1938;
(2) Sir Anchitel Piers Ashburnham (later Ashburnham-Clement) (1861-1935), 9th bt. (q.v.);
(3) Maud Ashburnham (1863-1952), born 22 November 1863; died unmarried, 16 April 1952;
(4) Sir Reginald Ashburnham (1865-1944), 10th bt. (q.v.);
(5) Sir Fleetwood Ashburnham (1869-1953), 11th bt. (q.v.);
(6) Lawrence Ashburnham (1870-1944), born 21 May 1870; emigrated to Canada; married, 26 April 1904, Rosalie Winifred, only daughter of Talbot Barnard of The Hoo, Kempston (Beds) and had issue a daughter, Doreen Ashburnham (c.1905-96) who was awarded the Albert Medal (later the George Cross) for fighting off a cougar that attacked her and a younger boy on Vancouver Island in 1916; he died at Santa Cruz, California (USA), 7 October 1944;
(7) Piers Ashburnham (1871-1946), born 1 June 1871; died unmarried, 6 August 1946;
(8) Bridget Ashburnham (1876-1969), born 14 March 1876; married, 1921, as his second wife, Ronald Cloke (d. 1954), a keeper on the Broomham estate, but had no issue; died 25 June 1969; will proved 27 August 1969 (estate £808).
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1854.
He died 2 December 1899; will proved 30 April 1899 (effects £2,057). His widow died at Broomham Park, 4 January 1907; her will was proved 11 March 1907 (effects £196).

"Sir Anchitel Ashburnham-Clement,
a great Sussex supporter"
© Tom Webster/Daily Mail

Ashburnham (later Ashburnham-Clement), Sir Anchitel Piers (1861-1935), 9th bt. Eldest son of Sir Anchitel Ashburnham (1828-99), 8th bt., and his wife Isabella, daughter of Capt. George Bohun Martin CB RN, born 22 August 1861. He succeeded his father as 9th baronet, 2 December 1899 and he and his wife changed their name to Ashburnham-Clement in the same year. JP for Sussex; Chairman of Rye Petty Sessions; Chairman of Hastings Employment Committee; President of Sussex County Cricket Club and a keen cricket enthusiast. He married, 4 December 1895, Elizabeth Ellen (d. 1935), daughter of George Burry Clement of Silverhill, St. Leonards-on-Sea but had no issue.
He inherited the Broomham estate from his father in 1899, and was responsible for remodelling it (possibly after a fire) in the 1920s. At the time of his death it was said that he had lived at Agmerherst House, Ashburnham for much of his married life and returned to Broomham only after the restoration, and it seems that the house at Broomham lay unoccupied after his mother's death in 1907 until 1926. His wife inherited her family's urban property in Hastings.
He died 5 August 1935; his will was proved 27 September 1935 (estate £46,094). His wife died 28 April 1935; her will was proved 19 August 1935 (estate £92,178).

Ashburnham, Sir Reginald (1865-1944), 10th bt. Second son of Sir Anchitel Ashburnham (1828-99), 8th bt., and his wife Isabella, daughter of Capt. George Bohun Martin CB RN, born 26 August 1865. As a young man he lived in South Africa where he fought in the army as a Captain during the Mashonaland Campaign and Boer War, 1899-1900; returned to farm on his brother's estate by 1901. He succeeded his brother as 10th baronet, 5 August 1935. He married, 10 September 1921 at St Thomas, Portman Square, London, Mildred (1863-1942), daughter of Rev. Burrell Hayley, rector of Catsfield (Sussex) and widow of Walter Cheesman (c.1845-1916) of Hill House, Crowhurst (Sussex), but had no issue.
He lived at Place Farm, Icklesham, and inherited the title from his elder brother in 1935.
He died 29 January 1944 and his will was proved 3 April 1944 (estate £496). His wife died 11 April 1942; her will was proved 11 September 1942 (estate £8,132).

Ashburnham, Sir Fleetwood (1869-1953), 11th bt. Third son of Sir Anchitel Ashburnham (1828-99), 8th bt., and his wife Isabella, daughter of Capt. George Bohun Martin CB RN, born 2 March 1869. Educated at Blackheath. Land agent. He succeeded his elder brother as 11th baronet, 29 January 1944. He married, 30 July 1908, Elfrida (d. 1953), daughter of James Kirkley JP of Cleadon Park (Co. Durham) and had issue:
(1) Anchitel Fleetwood Ashburnham (1911-40), born 26 May 1911; educated at Stowe; Lt. in the Royal Sussex Regt.; served in WW2 as temporary Major in Royal Army Service Corps, 1939-40; married, 28 December 1938, Kathleen Margery (b. c.1910), daughter of Lt-Col. Frederic Wilfred Bagnall Willett DSO of Cudwell, Scaynes Hill (Sussex) but had no issue; died on active service in Palestine, 20 December 1940 and was buried at Ramleh War Cemetery (Israel);
(2) Sir Denny Reginald Ashburnham (1916-99), 12th bt. (q.v.);
(3) Piers Wilfrid Ashburnham (b. & d. 1918), born 27 May 1918 and died the following day;
(4) Honor Elfrida Ashburnham (1920-2004), born 23 April 1920; worked as a bus conductress in Leamington during WW2; married, 31 March 1951, Ernest James Boorman (1916-2002), son of Frederick Boorman of Court Lodge, Udimore (Sussex), but had no issue; died 17 May 2004 and was buried at Guestling; her will was proved 31 August 2004.
He inherited the title from his elder brother in 1944.
He died 5 March 1953 and was buried at Guestling. His widow died 19 October 1953; administration of her goods was granted 9 December 1953 (estate £364).

Ashburnham, Sir Denny Reginald (1916-99), 12th bt. Second but oldest surviving son of Sir Fleetwood Ashburnham (1869-1953), 11th bt. and his wife Elfrida, daughter of James Kirkley of Cleadon Park (Co. Durham), born 24 March 1916. Educated at Pangbourne Naval College; Capt. in South Staffordshire Regt. He succeeded his father as 12th baronet, 5 March 1953. He married, 22 June 1946, Mary Frances (1923-2021), daughter of Maj. Robert Pascoe Mair of Nicholls, Udimore (Sussex), and had issue:
(1) Frances Ashburnham (b. 1947), born 11 September 1947; married, Apr-Jun 1973, Robert Charles Taylor of Summerhayes, Pett (Sussex) and had issue one son and one daughter; now living;
(2) Honor Rosemary Ashburnham (1949-2017), born 19 July 1949; married 1st, Apr-Jun 1974 (div.), John Philip Merricks (b. 1948), farmer, of The Manor, Icklesham (Sussex), and 2nd, Apr-Jun 1981, Frank Arthur Cooke (b. 1945) of Broomhill Farm, Camber (Sussex) and had issue one son and two daughters; died 12 August 2017;
(3) John Anchitel Fleetwood Ashburnham (1951-81) (q.v.).
He appears to have inherited the Broomham estate from his uncle in 1935 but let the house and sold the estate in 1977.
He died 21 June 1999. His widow died aged 97 on 5 July 2021.

Ashburnham, John Anchitel Fleetwood (1951-81). Only son of Sir Denny Reginald Ashburnham (1916-99), 12th bt., and his wife Mary Frances, daughter of Maj. Robert Pascoe Mair of Nicholls, Udimore (Sussex), born 25 June 1951. Educated at Shiplake College, Henley. He married, Oct-Dec 1975, Corinne Amanda (b. 1953), daughter of D.W.J. O'Brien of The Grey House, Hooe Common, Battle (Sussex) and had issue:
(1) Sir James Fleetwood Ashburnham (b. 1979), 13th bt. (q.v.);
(2) Henrietta Mary Ashburnham (b. 1981), born 1 October 1981.
He died in the lifetime of his father, 1 April 1981 and was buried at Guestling. His widow married 2nd, Jan-Mar 1982, John Philip Merricks (b. 1948), farmer, of The Manor, Icklesham (Sussex), and had further issue; living in 2003.

Ashburnham, Sir James Fleetwood (b. 1979), 13th bt. Only son of John Anchitel Fleetwood Ashburnham (1951-81) and his wife Corinne, daughter of D.W.J. O'Brien of Hooe Common, Battle (Sussex), born 17 December 1979. Educated at Sherborne School and Kings College, London (BA). He succeeded his grandfather as 13th baronet, 21 June 1999. A keen amateur cyclist. He married, 2011, Yasmin, younger daughter of Jurgen Effertz of Antalya (Turkey) and had issue:
(1) Levent John Ashburnham (b. 2013), born 12 April 2013, who is heir to the baronetcy.
Now living.

Sources

Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 2003, pp. 153-55; W.B. Bannerman (ed), The visitations of the county of Sussex, 1906, p. 17; J. Farrant (ed.), Sussex depicted: views and descriptions, 1600-1800, Sussex Record Society 2001, p. 238; N. Antram & Sir N. Pevsner, The buildings of England: Sussex - East, 2013, p. 469.

Location of archives

Ashburnham family of Broomham, baronets: deeds, maps, plans, estate papers and accounts, family and legal papers and photographs, 1438-1976 [East Sussex Record Office, Acc. 5056, 5088, 5257, 11006]; family and legal papers, 18th-19th cents [Kent History & Library Centre, U1050]

Coat of arms

Gules, a fesse between six mullets argent.

Can you help?

Here are a few notes about information and images which would help to improve the account above. If you can help with any of these or with other additions or corrections, please use the contact form in the sidebar to get in touch.

• Any further information about the earliest generations of this family taken from deeds or wills will be gratefully received.
• Can you confirm that Sir Charles Ashburnham, 3rd bt. did marry Mary Dymar, or give any details about her parentage? Do you know anything about Sir Charles' career before he inherited the title from his brother in 1755?
• Is there any truth in the story that there was a fire at Broomham that precipitated the remodelling of 1926?

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published on 31 December 2015 and was updated 5 January 2016, 8 September and 24 October 2017, and 7 September 2021. I am grateful to Terry Bowers for correcting an error.