Lot Essay
The arms are those of Barrett-Lennard impaling those of Pratt, as borne by Thomas, Lord Dacre, born in 1717. In 1739 he married Anna Maria, sister of Charles, Earl Camden, daughter of Sir John Pratt, Lord Chief Justice. Lord Dacre described by Horace Walpole as "a worthy conscientious, unpractised in speaking". He remodeled Belhus, the family Tudor mansion in Essex and converted it into a "strawberry hill" gothic castle. For the grounds, he employed "Capability" Brown.
Lord and Lady Dacre had only one child, a daughter, Anne Barbara, born in 1740 who died of fever at the age of nine. Lord Dacre however had two illegitimate children by a woman named FitzThomas, namely a son Thomas born in 1762 and a daughter Barbara born in 1766. Under their father's will, the children assumed the names of Barrett-Lennard and Thomas succeeded to the estates. They were brought up at Belhus by Lady Dacre as if they had been her one.
Lord Dacre died in 1786. It was said "he was very like Charles I in the face. A very elegant scholar, and the best company in the world, when in good health and spirits, but he was peevish at times, from bad health; he was a remarkably good Herald and Antiquary." [Complete Peerage]
Lord and Lady Dacre had only one child, a daughter, Anne Barbara, born in 1740 who died of fever at the age of nine. Lord Dacre however had two illegitimate children by a woman named FitzThomas, namely a son Thomas born in 1762 and a daughter Barbara born in 1766. Under their father's will, the children assumed the names of Barrett-Lennard and Thomas succeeded to the estates. They were brought up at Belhus by Lady Dacre as if they had been her one.
Lord Dacre died in 1786. It was said "he was very like Charles I in the face. A very elegant scholar, and the best company in the world, when in good health and spirits, but he was peevish at times, from bad health; he was a remarkably good Herald and Antiquary." [Complete Peerage]