The Surprising Link Between an English Castle & The ‘Father of Lakefield’
In 1825, Lakefield’s founder Samuel Strickland made the arduous journey from England to Canada in search of new opportunities and a chance to make history. In 2024, I made the not-quite-as-arduous journey to the Strickland family’s ancestral home in England, in search of a nice day out.
This summer, I visited Sizergh Castle in the Lake District, seat of the Stricklands for over 700 years and still in the family today. Its present owners, Henry and Mary Hornyold-Strickland donated most of the house and grounds to the National Trust in 1950 and the estate now welcomes over 75,000 visitors a year. On an overcast day in June, I was one of those visitors. While my friend and I unfortunately arrived too late to tour the house, we spent a pleasant hour exploring the extensive grounds.
From Sizergh to Lakefield
Sizergh takes its name from the Scandinavian word for ‘summer pasture’ or ‘farm’. It first passed into Strickland hands in 1239 when Sir William de Stirkeland married Elizabeth Deincourt and the estate was thrown in to sweeten the betrothal. The line from Sir William split through the centuries, branching off into the ancestors of Colonel Samuel Strickland - who went on to found Lakefield and establish the first Anglican church in the village, now Christ Church Community Museum (CCCM).
When I spoke to CCCM Chair Patti McAllister about my visit to Sizergh Castle, she helpfully shed some light on the link between the Stricklands of Sizergh and the Stricklands of Lakefield, saying:
“According to Christine Fisher, author of 'The Strickland Family of Suffolk', our Stricklands "believed themselves to be connected in some distant and unknown manner to another and more prestigious Strickland family, one based in Sizergh Castle." Fisher says the split between the two Strickland families was due to the Reformation in the reign of Henry V111 - our Strickland family adopted the new religion whereas the Strickland family of Sizergh Castle remained Catholic.
“The two branches of the Strickland family diverged during the Civil War of the 17th century and supported James II, who was exiled in France. The elder son fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, disappeared, and was presumed dead. The younger son (our Strickland line) became the rightful heir to the family estates. However, the elder brother reappeared after 26 years and successfully claimed his inheritance which dramatically changed the fortunes of his younger brother. The younger brother had ten children, the eldest being Samuel Strickland. Having lost his status, Samuel Strickland moved to London and got a job as a Clerk in a London Dock. Samuel Strickland married and among his children was Thomas Strickland, born in 1758, and father of our Samuel Strickland.”
And there you have it. If that Strickland brother hadn’t returned from the dead, Colonel Sam would’ve eventually inherited the house and Lakefield as we know it wouldn’t exist today (probably).
If you’re interested in finding out more about the Strickland family, 'The Strickland Family of Suffolk' by Christine Fisher is available at Happenstance Books in Lakefield. And be sure to visit the Strickland exhibition at Christ Church Community Museum this summer. Entitled ‘The Stricklands - Second Generation’, this fascinating display explores the lives of Samuel’s 12 children who, like their father, had a profound impact on the development of Lakefield.
Christ Church Community Museum is open daily Monday 1st July - Monday 2nd September, from 1pm to 4pm. To find out more click here or follow CCCM on Facebook.