Early Origins

The earliest records suggest that the first Stradling came over from Switzerland in the latter part of the 13th century, in the train of Sir Otto de Grandison, who himself was in the train of Edward I, returning from his crusade to take up the English crown.

It is thought that Sir John Stradling and his son Peter came from Strattligen, near Thun, on the north-west shore of Lake Thun. Sir Otto came from Grandison on the western end of Lake Neuchatel and was known to be close to the Stradling family - a sister of his was married to a Stradling. Another fact to support this close family relationship is the comparison of the coats of arms which are so similar as to suggest a blood relation.

Even back in England, Sir Otto chose Sir Peter Stradling to be his deputy in Ireland when sent off on other duties for Edward I.

Sir John, Peter's father, was found marrying before 1290 and settling in Warwickshire. He died before Maud, his wife, and the large estate went to the heir of the next marriage - the second of three husbands! Sir Peter therefore had to find his own future. The last record of Sir John is postumously, when his debt of 200L was paid to his bankers, from Lucca, by Edward I in recognition of the good service he had given.

Sir Peter is first found in the records in charge of Neath Castle, Glamorgan. It was in Glamorgan that he found an heiress, Joan de Hawey, to marry and from he acquired estates in Glamorgan based around what is now called St Donat's Castle. He also acquired estates in Somerset and Dorset.

The old Welsh name for St Donats is Saint Dunwyd, thought to have been the person to have brought Christianity back again to Wales after the disasterous years of Viking invasions.

St Donats is on the south coast of Wales, over looking the Bristol Channel, near to Nash Point. Once set in vast park lands, it has beautiful views for miles around and over to Somerset on clear days where other lands were held by the family.