![Oil painting on panel, John Dutton of Dutton (d. 1608/9) previouslyy called ?Sir Piers Dutton of Dutton and Called Sir John Egerton,English School, inscribed top right: A o 1597 A portrait, shown wearing a slashed grey doublet. A coat of arms on the left : IEVON DROYT AVOYRE [?]](http://warburtonwebsite.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/JohnDutton.jpg)
I visited the Lodge yesterday and saw the painting for myself, and now understand the history of the Lodge better. I also obtained an email address for the National Trust’s curator for SW England and I have sent him my thoughts. I will pass on his comments if and when I get them.
Also many thanks to those of you who have contacted me with their comments.
The following Warburton Coat of Arms comes from the Cheshire heraldry site and is included in the section concerning the visitations of 1613, which makes it contemporary with the picture.
The similarity between the two Coats of Arms is striking. The Saracen’s head is a particularly Warburton feature though it records the exploits of Geoffrey de Dutton, father of the first Dutton of Warburton to be styled as ‘de Warburton’ following the establishment of his abode there. The three cormorants in the middle top are also a specifically Warburton symbol. The Warburton motto is ‘Je voil droyt avoyre’ which appears to be the one in the picture.
During my visit to the Lodge I learned that it was built in the 1630s by John ‘Crump’ (i.e. hunchback) Dutton as a grandstand to watch, and more importantly gamble on deer coursing. Apparently the deer was used as a lure to race two dogs (a bit like the artificial rabbit in greyhound racing), and the bets were on which dog would reach a certain point, marked by a ditch, first. The deer was normally recaptured and ‘reused’ though sometimes there was a kill.
This means the picture precedes the construction of the Lodge by over 30 years. Also the attribution to John Dutton of Dutton was not the first that was made, so it is clearly not well documented. It must have arrived at the lodge sometime after it was painted, possibly by someone who married into the Dutton family.
If the portrait isn’t John Dutton of Dutton who might it be? The date of 1597 may be significant. This link is to the History of Parliament entry for Judge Sir Peter Warburton who was born around 1540 (2 years after John Dutton) and died in 1621. His grandfather was a minor son of the Warburtons of Arley Hall near Northwich. This son never married so Peter’s father was illegitimate. However, in 1597 Judge Peter requested permission to use the Warburton Coat of Arms. I assume it was granted as Judge Peter’s third wife was the daughter of his namesake, Peter of Arley Hall. It is possible that the portrait was made to commemorate the granting of the arms. I don’t believe it is common for arms to be included in portraits, so its presence must have some significance.
I don’t know if there are other portraits of Judge Peter for comparison, but he was involved in a couple of significant trials, Sir Walter Raleigh and the gunpowder plot. If any pictures of these trials were made he might figure in them.
When judge Peter died he left a daughter, Dame Elizabeth Stanley, and 3 granddaughters. If the picture passed to his descendants, and one of them subsequently married into the Dutton family they would no longer be a Warburton, so the significance of the portrait may well have been lost.
I hope evidence will emerge that will confirm my theory, but I can’t think of a better interpretation of the known facts.
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