File BL/O/R/1 - Feoffment by Sir Thomas Wodehous to Edmund Wode, chaplain, of his manor in the village of Westoftys which he held conjointly with Sir Roger Townshend and others by deed (11 Aug 1490) of feoffment of John Wake and others. Endorsed: seisin given in presence of John Olyner, Henry Rolffe, William Rak, William Arne, John Sharman, William Purdy, William Mannyng, Thomas Walman, Thomas Clerk, Richard Mannyng, John Clerk, John Potter.

Kimberley Hall and estates in surrounding parishes have been in the hands of the Wodehouse family since at least the early fifteenth century. In 1873 the estate of the Earl of Kimberley in Norfolk was 10,800 acres, making him one of the greatest landowners in the county.

The Family

The family have played an important role in local and national affairs. Members include:

John Wodehouse, esquire of the body to Henry V 1413-1422, Chamberlain of the Exchequer 1415.

Edward Wodehouse, knighted at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

Thomas Wodehouse, created a Knight of the Bath at the marriage of Prince Arthur in 1501.

Roger Wodehouse, knighted by Edward VI in 1548.

Thomas Wodehouse, MP, knighted at the Battle of Musselburgh in 1547.

Roger Wodehouse, MP, knighted in 1578.

Philip Wodehouse (d 1623), MP, first Baronet.

Thomas Wodehouse (d 1658), MP for Thetford 1640-1653, High Sheriff of Norfolk 1624.

Philip Wodehouse (1608-1681), MP for Norfolk 1654-1658 and for Thetford in the Restoration Parliament.

John Wodehouse (1669-1754), MP for Norfolk and Recorder of Thetford.

Armine Wodehouse (1714-1777), MP for Norfolk 1737-1768, Colonel of East Norfolk Militia. Sir Armine Wodehouse was the fifth Baronet.

John Wodehouse (1741-1834), Recorder of Falmouth, MP for Norfolk 1784-1797, elevated to the peerage as the first Baron Wodehouse in 1797.

John Wodehouse (1771-1846), second Baron, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.

John Wodehouse (1826-1902), Envoy Extraordinary at St Petersburg 1856-1858, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1864-1866, served in Gladstone's ministries as Secretary of State for India, the Colonies and Foreign Affairs. Succeeded his grandfather as third Baron Wodehouse in 1846 and raised to the Earldom of Kimberley in 1866.

John, second Earl of Kimberley (1848-1932).

John, third Earl of Kimberley (1883-1941).

John, fourth Earl of Kimberley (b 1924).

Sir Roger Townshend, Knight 1484; Sir John Townshend, Knight at Cadiz 1596, Sir Horatio 1st Viscount Townshend created Baron Townshend of Lynn Regis 1661, Charles 2nd Viscount Townshend Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk 1709, 3rd Viscount Townshend appointed Lord of the Bedchamber 1723, George 1st Marquess Townshend Lord lieutenant of Ireland, High Steward of Tamworth, Yarmouth and Norwich 1767-1772, George 2nd Marquess Townshend created Earl of Leicester 1784, George Ferrers 3rd Marquess Townshend 1778-1858, John 4th Marquess Townshend 1798-1825, John James Dudley Stuart 6th Marquess Townshend Mayor of King's Lynn 1928. At Raynham Hall.