The title Baron Cobham has been created numerous times in the Peerage of England; often multiple creations have been extant simultaneously, especially in the fourteenth century. The earliest creation was in 1313 for Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham, lord of the manors of Cobham and of Cooling, both in the county of Kent. The de Cobham family died out in the male line in 1408, with the death of the 3rd Baron Cobham, but the title continued via a female line to the Brooke family, which originated at the estate of "la Brook" near Ilchester in Somerset, and which later resided at Holditch in the parish of Thorncombe and at Weycroft in the parish of Axminster, both in Devon, both fortifiedmanor houses. Following their inheritance, the Brooke family resided at Cobham Hall and Cooling Castle in Kent. Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham, was attainted in 1603, when the peerage became abeyant instead of becoming extinct. In 1916, the attainder was removed and the abeyance terminated in favor of the fifteenth baron. The twelfth to fourteenth barons never actually held the title. This creation became abeyant again in 1951. The second creation was in 1324, when Sir Ralph de Cobham was summoned to parliament as Baron Cobham. The history of this creation is unknown following the death of the 2nd baron in or after 1378. The third creation was in 1326, when Sir Stephen de Cobham of Rundale, in the parish of Shorne in Kent was summoned to parliament, again as Baron Cobham. Sir Stephen de Cobham was a cousin of Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Cobham. This creation became abeyant no later than 1429. The fourth creation was in 1342, when Reginald de Cobham was summoned to parliament. However, this creation became extinct on the death of the second baron in 1403. The fifth creation was in 1645, when John Brooke was created Baron Cobham, but this title became extinct upon his death in 1660. There was a sixth creation in 1714, in the Peerage of Great Britain, for Sir Richard Temple, 4th Baronet. Since he had no children, there was a seventh creation for him in 1718, when he was created Baron Cobham again and Viscount Cobham, and the latter two titles are extant. He was grandson of Sir Peter Temple, 2nd Baronet and his wife Christian, daughter of Sir John Leveson and his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Sondes and his wife Margaret, daughter of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham.
Barons Cobham (of (Cobham, in) Kent); First Creation (1313)
On the death of the 16th Baron Cobham in 1951 the title again fell into abeyancy; the senior co-heir to the barony is Simon Rhys Shaw, a writer and great-nephew of the last Baron.
The arms of Cobham of Cobham and Cooling, both in Kent, Barons Cobham "of Kent" are Gules, on a chevron or three lions rampant sable. The arms of Brooke, Baron Cobham "of Kent" are Gules, on a chevron argent a lion rampant sable crowned or.
