More parrots

A few minutes with Bing and I now know that the parrots of Lumley have a long history, far longer than that of the parakeets of Ham. As they say in films and novels, any resemblances to real life are entirely coincidental.

It seems that they started out as martlets, a heraldic bird looking something like a swallow, then became parrots or popinjays in the early fourteenth century, following an advantageous marriage with a parrot bearing family and settled down to their present parakeet likeness some time after that.

Clearly a proper family as there were a few executions and rehabilitations along the way. Also a clear connection with Scarborough, noticed masonically at reference 3. Their northern residence, now a fancy hotel, is to be found at reference 2.

Most of this information comes from reference 1, the work of a former chemistry teacher from Hamilton, Ontario. A member of the Sewell family, of similar antiquity to the Lumley family, but bearing bees rather than parrots. Possibly a distant relative of the lady who wrote 'Black Beauty', but this connection has yet to be made.

But none of them can match BH's much grander descent from a companion of the conqueror. See, for example, reference 4.

Reference 1: http://www.robertsewell.ca/lumleyarms.html.

Reference 2: https://www.lumleycastle.com/history/.

Reference 3: http://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-lumleys-of-cheam.html.

Reference 4: http://psmv2.blogspot.com/2013/06/snow-on-trollope.html.