Arms: Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Argent, on a Fess Sable, three Rowels of six-points Or, pierced Gules, in the dexter chief point an Ermine Spot (Grimston); 2nd, Sable, a Fess dancettée, between two Leopard’s Faces Or (Luckyn); 3rd, Argent, three Bugle Horns Sable, stringed Gules (Forrester) Crest: A Stag’s Head erased proper, attired Or. Supporters: Dexter: A stag reguardant proper, attired Or; Sinister: A Griffin reguardant Or.
The ruins of Old Gorhambury House, the ramshackle medieval family seat in England from the 1670s until the family built the new Gorhambury HouseThe "new" Gorhambury House was built by Viscount Grimston in 1777–84
Grimston was a Tory politician and held minor office in the first two governments of the Earl of Derby. His son, the third Earl, represented St Albans in Parliament as a Conservative. His grandson, the sixth Earl (who succeeded his elder brother) was nominated to the traditionally safe seat of St Albans for the party. As of 2017[update] the titles are held by his son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 1973.
The titles of Viscount Grimston and Baron Dunboyne had been created in 1719 in the Peerage of Ireland for William Grimston, Member of Parliament for St Albans.[2] Born William Luckyn, he was the great-nephew of Sir Samuel Grimston, 3rd Baronet, of Bradfield (a title which became extinct upon his death in 1700), whose surname he assumed on succeeding to his estates. In 1737 he also succeeded his elder brother as fifth Baronet of Little Waltham (see below). He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He also represented St Albans in the House of Commons. His son, the third Viscount, was Member of Parliament for St Albans and Hertfordshire. In 1790 he was created Baron Verulam, of Gorhambury in the County of Hertford, in the Peerage of Great Britain.[3] He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned fourth Viscount, who was created Earl of Verulam in 1815.
The Luckyn Baronetcy, of Little Waltham in the County of Essex, was created in the Baronetage of England in 1629 for William Luckyn. The second Baronet represented Harwich in Parliament. The fourth Baronet was succeeded by his younger brother, the aforementioned William Grimston, 1st Viscount Grimston.
Lord Verulam thus holds titles in England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
Another member of the Grimston family was Robert Grimston, 1st Baron Grimston of Westbury. He was the son of Reverend Canon the Hon. Robert Grimston, third son of the second Earl of Verulam.
The heir apparent is the present holder's son James Walter Grimston, Viscount Grimston (b. 1978)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, the Hon. John Innes Archie Grimston (b. 2010).
