Robert Streatfeild

He therefore grew up at the height of Henry VIII’s reign when Anne Boleyn was living at nearby Hever Castle.

The Weald was the centre of the medieval iron industry, which seems to have been the economic base of both the village as a whole and the Streatfeild family.

He laid the foundation for the family’s involvement in the iron industry in which his grandson, Richard, made his fortune.

[2] Robert married a daughter of Richard Rivers, steward of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, possibly called Joan.

Most records only talk of her as the sister of Sir John Rivers,[3] who was Lord Mayor of London in 1573.

St Mary's Church, Chiddingstone where Robert Streatfeild and many of his descendants were buried - there are many Streatfeild memorials in the church