Penistone Lamb

 Penistone Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne

The Funerary Hatchment* of Peniston Lamb hangs on the South side of the Chancel. He was born in 1748, the son of Sir Matthew Lamb who had married Charlotte, daughter and heiress of Thomas Coke of Melbourne, and so inherited Melbourne Hall.

His father died when Peniston was 20 years old, leaving him with a huge fortune. He married Elizabeth Milbanke, daughter of Sir Ralph Milbanke of Hainaby Hall in North Yorkshire. They had a son, Peniston and then seem to have gone their separate ways, Peniston indulging his passion for horses and gambling and Elizabeth having a series of affairs with prominent figures of the day. She had another 6 children, but it was said that none of them were fathered by Peniston. First William (see William Lamb), probably fathered by Lord Egremont, then Frederic (see Frederic Lamb) possibly son of Frederic, Duke of York, then George (see George Lamb) almost certainly son of George, Duke of York, later King George IV. She then had 2 daughters, Emily and Harriett, also of dubious parentage.

Peniston Lamb, 1st Lord Melbourne

In 1770 Peniston was created Lord Melbourne of Kilmore, an Irish title which was raised to Viscount in 1781. He was made a Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales in 1784. In 1815 he was made Viscount Melbourne, an English title. 

The daughter Harriett, died in 1803 of tuberculosis when she was 14, followed by the son Peniston in 1805, also of tuberculosis, at the age of 33. This was a great blow to his father. Lady Melbourne died in 1818 and Lord Melbourne in 1828.

*A Funerary Hatchment is a large, diamond shaped, wooden or canvas frame, edged in black, showing the heraldic achievement of an important person. (The word hatchment is a corruption of word achievement.) On the frame will be the heraldic shield of the deceased, showing all their family connections and their motto. These became popular from the 16th to 19th centuries and would first be hung over the main door of the person’s hall or house, and then, after 12 months, moved to the church of burial.