Netherby is set in the debatable lands, which were neither England nor Scotland and were under no jurisdiction; so became a haven for criminals. It was not until the reign of James 1st that the French Ambassador drew the existing border. In the 16th century the Grahams provided a protection service for people’s cattle and goods. They were paid for this and four hundred years later Al Capone did the same in Chicago, USA!
Netherby Hall was a Roman camp and riding school two thousand years ago. The sea came up to Netherby Hall and boat rings were found in 1500. After the Romans left, the whole kingdom descended into the dark ages - few places have been darker than our district. Our family descend from Richard Graham (1583-1653). He was a court favourite of James 1st becoming Master of the Horse to the Duke of Buckingham and being entrusted to run errands all over Europe - one of his errands was to arrange the wedding between the King of Spain’s daughter and King Charles 1st. Walter Scott, the poet, was a friend of James Graham (1761-1824) and the poem Young Lochinvar was written at Netherby in 1802. His son, also James Graham, was a leading politician under Robert Peel. He served on the first reform act 1832 and was Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty. Netherby was originally a very large landed estate but large parts of the estate were sold just before and after the First World War, but we have retained what was left after the sale. |