Boston Castle

Image: © Richard Croft Taken: 2 Dec 2009

Boston Castle was built as a shooting lodge by Thomas 3rd Earl of Effingham in 1776 The Earl had liberal ideals and approved of the American Colonists’ rights for independence. As deputy Earl Marshall of England and a commissioned officer in the army, he was expected to fight for King George III against the rebelious American colonists. When a controversial tax on tea was levied on the colonists by the British, they protested by dumping 342 chests of tea into the harbour at Griffin’s Wharf, known as the Boston Tea Party, which ultimately triggered the American War of Independence Rather than fight in a war which he considered to be unjust, the Earl resigned his commission. In an impassioned speech in the House of Lords, the Earl spoke of the injustice of the proposed taxation to be levied upon tea, stating that Britain had no right to exercise this power. So strong was his opposition to the events in the Americas that he decided to name his new shooting lodge Boston Castle. The castle was the scene of many parties but “tea that obnoxious beverage” was barred http://www.fobcap.org.uk/

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