De Shurland Lodge History

CHAPTER TWO The name of the Lodge - A Historical Retrospect The choice of the name De Shurland as the name of the Lodge was indeed a happy inspiration on the part of our founders, for there we have a name which revives memories of past glories and one which seems to breathe the very history and tradition of the Island. It is a name deeply respected through the ages, one which became nearly forgotten and then, by the imagination of our “Grand Originals” has been revived to shine again in Sheppey annals.

De Shurland seems first to have come into prominence when Hoestan the Dane, after defeating a small fleet of Alfred the Great’s, landed in Sheppey with the men from his three hundred ships, sacked Minster Abbey and, to secure himself from reprisals, fortified the place which later became known as De Shurland, and built a powerful fort at Queenborough. His triumph was quite short-lived, for when he attempted an invasion of the mainland, our great Saxon King eventually defeated him, routing his forces and putting them to flight with great slaughter at the battle of Farnham.

Hoestan was obliged to come to terms with Alfred, became a Christian and was allowed to retain possession of Sheppey, after which he seems to have settled to more peaceful ways.

De Shurland Castle later became the family seat of one of William the Conqueror’s followers whose family name was De Shurland, the first of a long line of this family, whose services were constantly recognised by their sovereigns by appointment to various high offices. In AD 1225, for instance, Sir Geoffrey De Shurland was appointed High Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports, a very considerable distinction in those days. He was succeeded by his son Robert, probably even more distinguished and celebrated than his eminent father. It is Sir 7