The only account we have of this Fulk, is the following humane action: when Owen Glyndwr carried his arms into these borders, on purpose to meet Percy, earl of Northumberland at Shrewsbury, several in this manor joined with that potent rebel; but Fitz-Gwarine, by solicitations to Henry IV. procured for them a general pardon. His son and successor was the ninth and last Fulk Fitz-Gwarine: he died in his minority, and the male line of this noble and distinguished race, closes; though the title of Fitz-Gwarine, or Fitz-Warine was assumed for a few generations afterwards.
Elizabeth, only sister and heiress to Fulk the 9th, was married to one Richard Haukford, who dying, left all his possessions to his only daughter Thomasine, who married sir William Bourchier, brother to Henry, first earl of Essex. The title of lord Fitz-Warine was given to sir William in consequence of his marriage. John, third in descent from him, exchanged Whittington with Henry VIII. for other landed property. This John was the first earl of Bath, and his posterity preserved the title of Fitz-Warine till the race became extinct, which took place at the death of Henry, fifth earl of Bath.
And here it may not be improper to take a general view of this illustrious and warlike race, that flourished through such a number of reigns, and retained their estates, titles, honours, acquisitions, and privileges, until nearly their final termination of the race.—In whatever light war is considered in the present day, no period of history ever discountenanced it; to be skilled in arms has been always considered the highest and most honourable acquisition, that an individual could attain to, in all ages and amongst all nations, though it must be confessed this is chiefly to be accounted for from the slow progress of civilization, as the encouragement of war must necessarily decrease in proportion to the extension of humanity; and it must be allowed by all, that amidst the myriads of beings who have distinguished themselves herein, the Fitz-Gwarines deserve an eminent rank, not so much for their petty and incessant skirmishes with the Welsh, as for the readiness with which they fought for their king, in divers engagements and campaigns, greatly to their honour and the glory of the English arms.
But though war has been the prevailing accomplishment throughout sacred and prophane history, yet with what ecstasy do we contemplate that portion of time which providence has allotted us: free from the intolerable recounters produced by the broils and dissentions of those turbulent, inflexible, and ambitious barons, who so disturbed England during the reigns of the Normans and Plantagenets; and likewise delivered from the well known calamities of intestine commotions, so productive of civil wars; the evils of which can be better conceived than described. On the subject of war I have said more than my limits will allow to say of any thing else concerning this family; but, who can help admiring that loftiness of sentiment and nobleness of soul, which shone in so conspicuous a degree upon the whole race. Their fidelity to the government, and their readiness to serve it, are convincing proofs of the advantages England derived from them, during the long course of time in which they lived; flourishing with fewer restraints than are commonly attendant on men in such elevated stations.
That religion was held in great veneration by this race, is very conspicuous from the number of public and private edifices built by them, and devoted to pious uses: almost all the churches and abbies in this neighbourhood were founded by some of the family, and though the latter are not now in existence, yet the churches will preserve the memory of their establishers till time shall be no more.
I have stated that this castle passed into the hands of Henry VIII.; we hear nothing further concerning it till the following reign, when the king presented the place in question to Henry Grey, duke of Suffolk, who forfeited it in consequence of the conviction of several crimes imputed to him. This took place in the reign of Mary, and shortly after it was by that queen granted to Fitz-Alan, last earl of Arundel: he mortgaged it to a number of London citizens, who obtained the place in default of payment from him. William Albany chief man among the number was, by the joint consent and approbation of the rest, put in sole possession of it. By the marriage of his great grand daughter with Thomas Lloyd, of Aston, esq. Whittington passed into the hands of the worthy family who enjoy it at the present time.
Having given some account of the possessors of Whittington castle, I think it my duty to attempt laying before the reader, a short account of this structure, and proceed to shew, that it must have underwent fortification soon after its original establishment: placed on the border of Wales, it must have been alternately in the hands of the Welsh and Saxons; for the latter of whom it formed a key of great utility in their attacks open the former, and consequently so useful an inlet, must have been strongly defended. Indeed its founder could not have chosen a place in which nature contributed more to its security; finding the innumerable springs of water so advantageously situated for his designs, he converted it to the best purpose, and surrounded the castle with several moats and intrenchments, still discernable. The annexed plan of the castle [32] gives the reader a better idea of the exact situations of the trenches and other out-works, than can be expressed by words.
The keep was the place of last resort in times of great danger, and was in consequence defended with the utmost precaution. In the present case, it was fortified with five round towers, each forty feet in diameter, an hundred in height, and the walls twelve in thickness. I have not been able to discover what time the keep fell into a state of delapidation, but undoubtedly for a great number of years, as an aged mulbery is growing in it.
About the year 1760, the eastern tower fell into the moat after a severe frost, and some years afterwards, one of the northern towers and the western wall were taken down to repair the roads leading from Whittington to Halston bridge. The northern tower that now remains was undermined for the same purpose. In 1809, a smaller tower, used many years as a pidgeon house, was taken down to repair the exterior gateway, which is still inhabited.
The keep is now used as a garden, at an even depth under which is a pavement of free-stone; at the north corner is a well, which was discovered and opened in 1809, when there was found the handle of the bucket, a pair of large iron fetters for the legs, a large jug, the remains of stags’ heads and swords; and upon removing some rubbish about the same time, there appeared a curious carved stone head, and likewise some highly gilt glass bottles.