Edmund Colles

Gules, a cheveron argent barry of nine pelletée and gules between three lion's heads erased or held public office throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Origins The eldest son of William Colles (1495–1558) and his second wife Margaret Hitch (1495–1572), he received a legal education in London at the Inner Temple, being admitted a member in 1553.

Landholdings In 1558 he inherited his father's holdings, to which he started adding, in 1564 gaining Colles Place which he claimed had belonged to his ancestors. In 1583 he settled the tenure of the manor of Leigh on his eldest son William on the occasion of his marriage to Mary Palmer (granddaughter of William Paget, 1st Baron Paget). By 1585 he had bought part of the demesne lands of Leigh and held the rest as a tenant of the Crown. In 1590 he obtained the whole manor and advowson of Leigh and in 1605 added the rest of the demesne lands together with the manor of Castle Leigh.