Urian Brereton

Sir Urian Brereton was a Groom of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII. Whilst in this role his older brother William Brereton, also a Groom of the Privy Chamber, was executed along with others for high treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn. Many historians are now of the opinion that these executions were politically motivated. Apart from William, Urian had another brother in royal service who was a royal chaplain.

In 1526 he was appointed Ranger of Delamere Forest and Escheator of Cheshire receiving the bulk of William's Cheshire estates—amounting to over 200 acres—from the king. In 1538 he was appointed Sheriff of Flint,

Brereton was also involved in trying to negotiate the betrothal of Prince Edward to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots as part of the Treaty of Greenwich. Following the breakdown of that agreement, Henry VIII wanted retribution and in May 1544, he sent an army to Scotland which included the Burning of Leith. It was during this time that Brereton was knighted by the Earl of Hertford for valour. In 1550 he became the Escheator of Flint.

Brereton was responsible for the construction of Handforth Hall, where he died on 19 March 1577. He was buried in St Mary's Church, Cheadle, and great-grandfather of Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet.