Some people who have shaped Staunton Harold's history and landscape

Sir Robert Shirley, 4th Baronet (1629-1656)

An ardent Royalist during the Civil War and Commonwealth. Opposed to Cromwell and to Puritan theology and worship, he founded the Chapel of the Holy Trinity in 1653 as an act of defiance. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London where he died at the age of 27, leaving instructions and funds for the completion of the chapel.

Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers (1650-1717)

Son of the 4th Baronet. He rebuilt the north front of the Hall and created elaborate formal gardens. He was created Baron Ferrers in 1677 by Charles II, and Earl Ferrers in 1711 by Queen Anne. He had 27 children from 2 wives.

Lawrence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (1720-1760)

A grandson of the 1st Earl and the black sheep of the family. He was bad tempered, often drunk and beat his wife. He threatened to kill her and they were officially separated. They had no children. He kept a mistress, Margaret Clifford, with whom he had four daughters.

In January 1760 he fatally shot his steward John Johnson from Lount, and was tried by the House of Lords. He was found guilty of murder and publicly hanged at Tyburn, the last Peer to be executed in England.

Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (1722-1778)

A younger brother of the 4th Earl, he was unexpectedly called back from his successful naval career when he inherited the title. He was largely responsible for the Hall and grounds as they appear now, demolishing many of the oldest buildings. He swept away the 1st Earl's formal gardens and naturalised the landscape in the fashion of the day.

He was an architect, astronomer, patron of the arts and a friend of many of the influential artists and scientists in the Midlands.