Thomas Fane

Who was Thomas Fane?

Thomas Fane was an English landowner and High Sheriff. He is not to be confused with his brother, also Thomas Fane, who was the MP for Dover.

Fane was born at Badsel Manor, Tudely, Kent, the son of George Fane of Badsell in Tudeley and his wife Joan Waller, daughter of William Waller of Groombridge. The family lived on estates bought in the 14th century from the ransomed monies received for capturing King John II of France at the battle of Poitiers 1356. Sir John Fane or Ivon Vane as he was also known, had captured King John on the battlefield and he received a share of the huge ransomed monies, which took the French people eight years to raise. His descendants both the Fane and the Vane families still retain a golden gauntlet on their crests which was awarded at the battle of Poitiers in 1356.

After education at Maidstone Grammar School Fane who was a committed Protestant was convicted of treason in 1554 for his involvement in Wyatt's rebellion and he was sentenced to death. After four months of imprisonment in the Tower of London he was pardoned by Queen Mary on account of his youth and on the condition that he took the Oath of Loyalty.