| Abstrakt: |
Previous studies have shown that the Lancashire gentry differed from elsewhere, notably their relative poverty and somewhat limited horizons. This paper explores the extent to which the Shuttleworth family of Asterley conform to this view, examining changing fortunes in terms of their strategies for attaining and maintaining parish and then wider gentry status, including land management, marriage alliances and educational attainment. Four generations of the family successfully expanded their estates and enhanced their status between 1537 and the 1660s. When an expected inheritance failed to materialise due to litigation in Sweden, the fifth generation had to sell to settle debts. The paper identifies areas for further research about the Lancashire gentry, in particular educational standards and younger sons’ involvement in international trade. |
