Walter Chetwynd
Encyclopedia
Walter Chetwynd FRS (1 May 1633 – 21 March 1691), of Ingestre Hall
, was an antiquary and politician.
He was the only child of Walter Chetwynd (1598–1669), the eldest son of Walter Chetwynd (died 1638), who built Ingestre Hall. He was admitted to the Middle Temple
in 1657, but returned his native Staffordshire and occupied various local offices. In 1674, he was elected as Member of Parliament
for Stafford
, but lost his seat in the second election of 1679. During the Popish Plot
, he supported Titus Oates
, but in 1682, he was providing information on the Staffordshire activities of the Duke of Monmouth
. He regained Stafford
in 1685. His attitude the Glorious Revolution
was cautious, reporting the passage through Staffordshire of troops hostile to James II
and did not sit in the Convention Parliament, but was elected for Staffordshire
in 1690, greeting William III
on his arrival at Lichfield in 1690.
Chetwynd was also significant as a historian of his native county, building on the work of Sampson Erdeswicke
. He began work on this subject in the 1660s and worked on it for the rest of his life. In doing this, he was following on the work of William Dugdale
on Warwickshire
. His writing of 'A Short Account of Staffordshire' began in 1679, but by 1688, he had only covered Pirehill Hundred in the northwest of the county. This remained unpublished until the early 20th century, when William Salt Archaeological Society published it in two of their volumes in 1909 and 1914.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1678, but took little part in its activities. He probably knew Christopher Wren
, who was probably the architect of his new church at Ingestre
, started in 1673 and completed in 1676. This interests were widespread, including numismatics
, literature, theology, mathematics, but above all antiquities and natural history. Thus he gave hospitality and help to Robert Plot
while he wrote his Natural History of Staffordshire from 1679. He was a hospitable and convivial man.
Ingestre Hall
Ingestre Hall is a 17th century Jacobean mansion situated at Ingestre, near Stafford, Staffordshire, England, which is now in use as a Residential Arts and Conference Centre. It is a Grade II* listed building.Ingestre is mentioned in the Domesday Book...
, was an antiquary and politician.
He was the only child of Walter Chetwynd (1598–1669), the eldest son of Walter Chetwynd (died 1638), who built Ingestre Hall. He was admitted to the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1657, but returned his native Staffordshire and occupied various local offices. In 1674, he was elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Stafford
Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stafford is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. The sitting MP is the Conservative Jeremy Lefroy....
, but lost his seat in the second election of 1679. During the Popish Plot
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
, he supported Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
, but in 1682, he was providing information on the Staffordshire activities of the Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
. He regained Stafford
Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stafford is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. The sitting MP is the Conservative Jeremy Lefroy....
in 1685. His attitude the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
was cautious, reporting the passage through Staffordshire of troops hostile to James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and did not sit in the Convention Parliament, but was elected for Staffordshire
Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Staffordshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
in 1690, greeting William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
on his arrival at Lichfield in 1690.
Chetwynd was also significant as a historian of his native county, building on the work of Sampson Erdeswicke
Sampson Erdeswicke
Sampson Erdeswicke was an English antiquarian.-Life:He was born at Sandon in Staffordshire, and entered Brasenose College, Oxford, as a gentleman-commoner in 1553...
. He began work on this subject in the 1660s and worked on it for the rest of his life. In doing this, he was following on the work of William Dugdale
William Dugdale
Sir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
on Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. His writing of 'A Short Account of Staffordshire' began in 1679, but by 1688, he had only covered Pirehill Hundred in the northwest of the county. This remained unpublished until the early 20th century, when William Salt Archaeological Society published it in two of their volumes in 1909 and 1914.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1678, but took little part in its activities. He probably knew Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
, who was probably the architect of his new church at Ingestre
Ingestre
Ingestre is a village and former civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It is four miles to the north-east of the county town of Stafford.Ingestre Hall is a local landmark....
, started in 1673 and completed in 1676. This interests were widespread, including numismatics
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
, literature, theology, mathematics, but above all antiquities and natural history. Thus he gave hospitality and help to Robert Plot
Robert Plot
Robert Plot was an English naturalist, first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum....
while he wrote his Natural History of Staffordshire from 1679. He was a hospitable and convivial man.