SYON HOUSE
The official West London residence of the Dukes of Northumberland.
Initially a Brigdettine monastery, Syon House came into the possession of the crown with the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Was later granted to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, but confiscated following his conviction for treason and subsequent attainder in 1552.
Lease of estate, including Syon House, acquired by John Dudley, following the execution of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, in Jun 1553
Jane Grey brought to Syon House, and offered crown of England in Jul 1553, following death of Edward VI.
Francis Knollys later granted position of steward and bailiff of the manor.
Later comes into possession of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, through marriage to Dorothy Devereux.
KEY EVENTS
03 Mar 1415 - Foundation Charter of Sion Abbey (only house in England of the Brigdettine Order).
04 May 1535 - Execution of Richard Reynolds, a Brigdettine monk of Sion Abbey, for refusing the Oath of Supremacy to Henry VIII, following his arrest the previous month and imprisonment in the Tower of London. Reynolds was hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, with his body parts later hung at different parts of London, including at the gates of Sion Abbey.
25 Nov 1539 - Dissolution of Sion Abbey, medieval monastery and expulsion of royal order, on 'Dissolution of the Monasteries; property came in possession of the Crown.
20 Jul 1540 - John Gates, lawyer and "King's Servant" is appointed as "keeper of the house and site of Sion monastery, bailiff of the lordship and manor of Isleworth and of all the lands of Sion in Middlesex and keeper of the woods there",
[Gates is a later supporter of JOHN DUDLEY, including through the succession crisis, and is executed alongside him on Tower Hill on 22 Aug 1553]
14 Nov 1541 - Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII and Queen of England, moved to Syon under arrest, following her confession to having sexual liaisons with other men; was stripped of her 'Queenship' 8 days later, and in Jan 1542, condemned to death by an Act on Attainder.
Reported that she was imprisoned during this time, but still "treated like a Queen".
10 Feb 1542 - Catherine Howard leaves Syon, and is taken to the Tower of London; she is executed by beheading three days later.
14 Feb 1547 - Henry VIII's coffin stops overnight at Syon House, on its way to Windsor Castle for burial (funeral takes place on 16 Feb 1547). As buildings had fallen into disrepair, chapel had to be renovated prior to receiving this coffin.
Reports that Henry's body 'exploded' overnight, bursting the coffin open, whilst it was resting in the chapel at Syon.
23 Jul 1547 - Patent granted EDWARD SEYMOUR ""the house and site of the dissolved monastery of Sion, Middlesex, the church, steeple, and churchyard, the lordships and manors of Sion and Isleworth . . . the grange called le Dayrey and all the demesne lands of Sion." Was granted the rest of the estate later in the year.
Seymour responsible for major reconstruction and renovation of Syon and its gardens, changing it from derelict monastery to modern palatial mansion. Family known to have resided here, including daughter ANNE SEYMOUR.
Sep 1547 - Mary Seymour, newborn infant of THOMAS SEYMOUR and recently deceased KATHERINE PARR sent to his brother's family at Syon House; ANNE STANHOPE takes on financial responsibility for child, before baby is moved to Grimsthorpe, under care of Katherine Willoughby.
Oct 1549 - EDWARD SEYMOUR's first fall from power and imprisonment at the Tower of London; Syon House is initially confiscated but later restored to him in 1551.
22 Jan 1552 - EDWARD SEYMOUR executed for treason and all property and titles confiscated by Act of Attainder.
Sir Thomas Wroth is sent to Syon House on the day of his execution to report on the ages of his sons, daughters and servants (wife ANNE STANHOPE remained imprisoned in the Tower of London).
07 Jun 1552 - Sir Thomas Wroth is granted a 21 year lease on Syon House; however, he later reliquinshes these rights.
26 Jun 1553 - Patent issued granting JOHN DUDLEY ownership of Syon House and some of the surrounding lands.
06 Jul 1553 - Death of EDWARD VI; JOHN DUDLEY starts to implement Edward's 'Devise for the Succession' i.e, plan to place JANE GREY on throne as queen. Important figures start to gather at Syon House, including members of the Dudley family.
09 Jul 1553 - JANE GREY is summoned to Syon House from Chelsea Manor, where she is informed of Edward VI's "devices for the succession" and formally offered the crown of England by Privy Council present, to which she 'reluctantly' accepts. Reportedly informed of this in the 'Long Gallery'.
10 Jul 1553 - JANE GREY, GUILDFORD DUDLEY, JANE GUILDFORD and others leave Syon House for Tower of London; Jane is proclaimed Queen of England following arrival at the tower.
JOHN DUDLEY starts to gather mercenary forces as Mary Tudor has made her own claim for the throne, and is gathering support in her strongholds of Norfolk and Suffolk.
20 Jul 1553 - Arrest of JOHN DUDLEY at Cambridge, following proclamation of MARY I the previous day; he is transported back to London, and is imprisoned in St Thomas' Tower, Tower of London.
Wife JANE GUILDFORD initially refused to be able to leave the Tower; however she is soon released but does not appear to return back to Syon House.
22 Aug 1553 - Execution of JOHN DUDLEY; titles and lands are confiscated, and Syon House is returned to the ownership of the 'Crown'.
08 Oct 1553 - George Tyrell, one of MARY I's gentleman ushers, is made Keeper of Syon, for yearly wage of £40; surrendered the post 4 years later.
Nov 1556-Nov 1558 - Bridgettine community returned from exile and formed small community at Syon House, under Abbess Catherine Palmer, with grants given to restore the monastery.
However, on death of MARY I and ascension of ELIZABETH I, restored monastic houses were immediately dissolved.
27 May 1560 - FRANCIS KNOLLYS and CATHERINE CAREY granted for life in survivorship "the keepership of Syon House and of the woods there". Francis is made steward and bailiff of the manor.
Also receive lease on 'Dairy House Farm' and other lands in Isleworth on Michaelmas 1560.
1577-1584 - Series of transfer of legal rights between FRANCIS KNOLLYS and fourth son Robert Knollys, regarding possession of offices and legal rights; by 30 Dec 1584, rights remain with Robert and his wife.
Feb 1587 - Robert Knollys mortgaged rights to Syon to John Stanhope on 02 Feb, but mortgage was not redeemed, and was bought out by ROBERT DEVEREUX (15 Feb), who later took out joint mortgage with Thomas Crompton [long time acquaintance and Comptroller of Elizabeth I's finances] (Jul 1587).
04 Mar 1588 - ROBERT DEVEREUX and Thomas Crompton sell their interests in Syon House to Sir John Perrott.
Sep 1592 - Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, is arrested and taken to Tower of London, where he is convicted of treason, and subject to Act of Attainder, with all property confiscated (including Syon House).
Mar 1593 - Thomas Perrot is restored by Act of Parliament, and able to claim his inheritance, including Syon House.
Feb 1594 - Death of Thomas Perrot; property passes to wife DOROTHY DEVEREUX and their daughter Penelope, including the lease to Syon House.
Late 1594 - Marriage of DOROTHY DEVEREUX, widow of Sir Thomas Perrot to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland; lease of Syon House appears to have immediately been transferred to the Earl, with the couple beginning to reside there soon after marriage, being the second principal residence for the Percys, next to Petworth House.
1602 - Henry Percy given lease of Syon House; receives grant from ELIZABETH I for repairs.
05 Jul 1604 - Syon House formally gifted to Henry Percy, from King James I; ownership remains within Percy family, with Syon House being formally recognised as official London residence of Earls (and later Dukes) of Northumberland.
04 Nov 1605 - Thomas Percy, kinsman of Henry Percy, and known conspirator of the 'Gunpowder Plot' visits Syon House.
Antonia Fraser deduces intent was to discover if Henry Percy had heard about the 'Monteagle Letter', an anonymous letter sent warning Lord Monteagle to stay away from Parliament on 05 Nov. Thomas Percy then visits Essex House, before dining with co-conspirators,
The planned Plot is foiled, and having run from authorities, Thomas Percy is killed, alongside ringleader Robert Catesby, by gunfire on 08 Nov at Holbeche House, Staffordshire.
Nov 1605 -Henry Percy is arrested on suspicion of misprision (having prior knowledge of the plot). There was no evidence to convict him of misprision, but authorities were also unable to prove that he would be present at parliament. He was therefore sent to the Tower of London 'at the King's Pleasure' and given hefty fines. DOROTHY DEVEREUX and children make Syon House their primary residence.
03 Aug 1619 - DOROTHY DEVEREUX dies at Syon House, whilst husband Henry Percy remains imprisoned in Tower of London; her body is taken by river to Petworth, Sussex for burial.
Jul 1621 - Henry Percy is released from the Tower of London; he initially goes to Arundel House {previously Seymour House) to recover, and then onto Syon House for 10 days. He then retires to Petworth House, initially ordered, and later by choice. He occasionally visits Syon during the rest of his lifetime..
05 Nov 1632 - Death of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland at Petworth House; Syon House passes to son and heir Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland. House remains within Percy family.
