Furthering the family business
It was Roger Onslow (1498-1538) who took the decision to move from Shrewsbury to London to further his family’s interests in the wool trade. Roger had two clever sons, Fulke and Richard, and the move to London allowed them to begin careers in politics.
The Black Speaker
Fulke eventually became Clerk to the House of Commons but it was Richard (1528-71) who raised the family from respectability to renown. Often called the Black Speaker, Richard became Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was also the link between his family and Surrey by marrying Catherine Hardinge and setting up home at her seat, Knoll near Cranleigh.
The Red Fox of Surrey
During the time of the Black Speaker, Clandon Park had been described as a hunting lodge, but by the time his grandson, another Richard, bought the 1,000 acre estate in 1641 it was an impressive Jacobean house.