Thomas DACRE
(2nd B. Gillesland/ 1st B. Greystoke)
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Born: 25 Nov 1467, Gillesland, Cumberland, England Died: 24 Oct 1525, on the Borders Buried: Lanercost, England Notes: Knight of the Garter. Father: Humphrey DACRE (1º B. Dacre of the North) Mother: Mabel PARR (B. Dacre of the North) Married: Elizabeth GREYSTOKE (B. Greystoke of Greystoke) ABT 1487/8 Children: |
.jpg) Detail of the tomb of Thomas Dacre Lanercost Priory Cumbria, England |
1. Mabel DACRE (B. Scrope of Bolton)
2. William DACRE (3º B. Gillesland/ 2º B. Greystoke)
3. Anne DACRE (B. Conyers of Hornby)
5. Jane DACRE
6. Humphrey DACRE
Associated with: ¿?
Children:
Born in 1467 and fought at the side of Henry Tudor, subsequently Henry VII, who defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Having fought on the winning side, Thomas Dacre, by then deputy warden of the West March, later becoming warden (1509), was subsequently knighted in the Order of the Bath (1503). In 1513 Thomas, Lord Dacre played an important role at the battle of Flodden where the English, under Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey (later 2nd Duke of Norfolk) inflicted a catastrophic defeat upon the Scottish nation.
A distinguished soldier and a man of considerable power, he was made Knight of the Garter in 1518. Earlier in 1488, he had eloped with Elizabeth de Greystoke, heiress to the entire Greystoke and Fitzwilliam Baronies including, among other properties the Manor of Henderskelfe, now Castle Howard, near York.
Dacre lived in great style at Naworth Castle and it is likely the beasts were made to commemorate a special but unknown event. Likely candidates are Dacre’s attainment of the Order of the Garter, the victory at Flodden in 1513 or his or his son’s acknowledged legal right to the Greystoke possesions in 1516, or simply they could have been made for a royal visit.
Thomas Dacre was awarded lands around Lanercost, and with that new wealth was able to extend Naworth. He built the whole of the south and east wings including the 100ft Great Hall, and what is now known as Lord William’s Tower. Fine tombs are located in the old church of Lanercost, including that of Roland de Vaux, nephew of the priory's founder. Thomas Dacre was also Warden of The West March for Henry VIII, and provided loyal service to the crown until his death in 1525.
Dacre estates covered great tracks of the north of England- including 70,000 acres of the Barony of Gilsland, lands in Cumberland including Greystoke and Dacre, 20,000 acres around Morpeth and 30,000 acres in Yorkshire.
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