Robert Harling

Robert Harling

Sir Robert Harling (died 9 September 1435) was an early member of the landed gentry, soldier and political strongman. The Norfolk villages of East Harling, West Harling, Harling Market and Larling were greatly under his control. Harling was a knight of the Shire, a Lord of the Manor and comptroller of the house of Edward IV. He married Jane Gonville, whose father established what was to become Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He died on the feast of Gregory, fighting under John, Duke of Bedford during the Hundred Years' War. Bedford died less than a week thereafter. He is buried in the East Harling Church and his coat of arms is a main feature of the church.

His daughter, Anne, married William Chamberlain (d.1462), a soldier, and later Sir Robert Wingfield (Member of Parliament for Herts, comptroller of the House of Edward IV.