Sir Edward Broughton

In an unmarked grave in the north transept of Westminster Abbey lies Sir Edward Broughton, keeper of the Gatehouse Prison in Westminster, and his wife Mary. This prison was just outside the Abbey and housed City of Westminster prisoners and State prisoners. He came from Marchwiel in co.Denbigh in north Wales and his first wife was Alice Honeywood. During the Commonwealth period he was imprisoned in the Gatehouse for being a Royalist. The Keeper at that time was Aquila Wykes II. In 1660, after Wykes death, Edward married his widow Mary (daughter of William Knightley, and sister of Sir Robert Knightley, sheriff of Surrey) and became Keeper. Broughton was mortally wounded at the battle of Lowestoft on 3 June 1665 when fighting the Dutch and was brought back to Westminster to die. He was buried on 26 June. His widow then became Keeper but was later removed for extortion and ill usage of prisoners. She was buried with him on 19 March 1695. Three sons were baptised at St Margaret's church, Westminster: Edward (died unmarried in 1738), Richard and John but the latter two died in infancy.

Three others who were killed in the same battle, James, Earl of Marlborough, Charles, Viscount Muskerry and the Earl of Falmouth, are also buried in the Abbey.