Sir Henry Neville

Sir Henry Neville was the courtier and diplomatist born in the respectable family of Neville of Billingbear in Berkshire.

Inheriting the old Archbishop's Palace at Mayfield, Neville came into possession of an iron foundry, the famous Mayfield Furnace. In 1592 he gained a five year monopoly for the export of cast iron cannon, becoming in meantime the largest gun producer in the country. After his trading monopoly expired, Neville neverthless sold Mayfield and devoted himself to a career on the court performing various functions. In 1599 he was knighted and appointed as Ambassador to France. According to some suggestions, Neville was the „true“author of Shakespeare's plays, but this idea has found little support in academic circles.