Background
Gorges was born Wraxall, Somerset, the son of Sir Edward Gorges.
Duke of Norfolk Elizabethan courtier
Gorges was born Wraxall, Somerset, the son of Sir Edward Gorges.
Thomas"s mother was either Mary Newton or Mary Poyntz (sister of Nicholas Poyntz (d1557), who were married to Sir Edward in succession. In 1573, Thomas Gorges acquired the manor of Langford, now Longford Castle, in Wiltshire. Gorges was governor of Hurst Castle when, during the Spanish Armada, one of the Spanish ships was driven aground there.
Lady Gorges asked the Queen if she could have the wreck, and the request was granted - the ship was one of the Spanish treasure ships laden with silver.
He was knighted at Beddington in 1586. 5s. p.a. He was the uncle of Arthur Gorges, the poet and translator.
The castle had a round tower in each corner, and a park, fruit garden and kitchen garden. Their children were
1.
Elizabeth Gorges (married, firstly, Sir Hugh Smythe of Long Ashton, Somerset and then colonial entrepreneur Sir Ferdinando Gorges, 28 September 1629, Wraxall, Somerset, England)
2.
Francis Gorges
3. Frances Gorges (married Thomas Tyringham, circa 1610, Little Langford, Wiltshire, England)
4. Edward Gorges (1st Baron Gorges of Dundalk)
5.
Theobald Gorges
6. Bridget Gorges (married Robert Phelips)
7.
Robert Gorges
Each side of the elaborate canopy above the tomb displays two cuboctahedra and an icosahedron. The monument as a whole is crowned by a celestial globe with a dodecahedron on top. lieutenant features stone polyhedra in Leonardo"s style.