James Ackland, of Amroth Castle

Major James Ackland purchased Amroth Castle from a female heir to the estate in 1754. The wife of James Ackland was Frances Hancorne, and, as the Plaque in St Mary’s Church, Tenby attests, Frances Ackland was the daughter of Thomas Hancorne of Penrice Castle.

Colonel Ackland acquired Amroth in 1790. Mrs T Allen (nee Ackland) - (Investigating this link CJB) - told Charles Egerton Allen that Amroth was purchased by Maj. Ackland with the money that his wife had inherited from Francis Philipps of Waungron. She died in 1825 (In 1808 the Castle was occupied by Captain John Ackland) leaving the estate to her nephew, a Col Northey (?) who sold it to the Rev Thomas Shrapnel Biddulph. Biddulph was a descendant of the Elliots. He was a prebendary of Brecon and a magistrate for Pembroke and Carmarthen. The second son of the reverand became General Sir Michael Anthony Shrapnel Biddulph GCB etc who held various royal appointments. ; He apparently entertained Lord Nelson at Amroth while he was on his way to Carew Castle where Sir William and Lady Hamilton were living. There is said to be a large plaque in his (Nelson’s) honour in the ceiling of a room in Amroth Castle.