Who was Lady Jane Grey? How a Black Country tyrant installed his daughter-in-law as Queen for nine days
A television documentary this week revealed actor Jason Watkins' connection to nine-day Queen, Lady Jane Grey. Mark Andrews tells how a ruthless Black Country landowner seized control of the monarchy.
Lady Jane Grey entered the Tower of London as Queen of England. Nine days later she had relinquished the crown and was condemned to death.
The teenage monarch found out the hard way that they didn't call her cousin Bloody Mary for nothing.
The story of the ill-fated nine-day Queen was the subject of a television documentary this week, fronted by Albrighton-born actor Jason Watkins, known for his role in The Crown and detective series McDonald & Dodds. During the Channel 5 programme, it was revealed that Watkins was related to the man who carried out her execution.
But while Lady Jane went-down in history as the infamous short-lived Queen, the reality was she was just the fall girl, a puppet monarch installed by her ruthless and ambitious Black Country father-in-law.
For a brief period during the 16th century, John Dudley was the most powerful man in England. But his failed coup saw him, his son and his unfortunate daughter-in-law all lose their heads.
By the end of the 15th century, Dudley Castle's role as a defensive site had come to an end. Ownership passed to John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley in 1532, but money problems saw him borrow £2,000 from his cousin, John Dudley, with the castle and the manor as security. Sutton struggled to keep up with the payments, and after failing to secure help from Thomas Cromwell, John Dudley seized control.
