Charlton

The Charltons were a Shropshire knightly family holding Charlton near Wellington, who rose through royal service and a Welsh inheritance. John Charlton entered the royal household under Edward I and became a knight and chamberlain to Edward II.

In 1309 he married Hawys Gadarn, heiress of the marcher lordship of Powys; through her he gained Welshpool and built Powis Castle between 1310 and 1315. In 1313 he was summoned to Parliament as the first Baron Charlton, commonly called Lord of Powis.

He joined the Earl of Lancaster's rising against the Despensers in 1321 and was pardoned the next year. In 1337 Edward III made him Chief Justiciar of Ireland, while his brother Thomas became Irish Lord Chancellor. John died in 1353; his line held the barony until the fifth baron's death in 1421, when the title fell into abeyance.