Castles in My Family - Bletsoe Castle

 

 Bletsoe Castle was built by John Pateshull, who got permission to fortify an existing manor house on the east side of Bletsoe in 1327. Pateshull had owned the manor of Bletsoe since 1313, but after his mother passed away in 1324, he inherited more land, which allowed him to get the permission he needed to fortify the property.

In 1421, the house was inherited by Margaret Beauchamp, who married Sir Oliver St John. After his death in 1437, she married John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, and they had a daughter, Margaret Beaufort. Margaret, who was born in the house on May 31st, was later known as the Countess of Richmond and Derby. Although there's some debate about whether she was born in 1441 or 1443, Margaret Beaufort went on to become the mother of Henry VII of England.