Brocket Hall early held variously of Hatfield Manor and the Bishop of Ely. Sir Matthew Lamb's son was Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne and he was often visited at Brocket Hall by the Prince Regent, who had a liaison with Lady Melbourne. The next owner was William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, who was Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister from 1835–41, when she regularly visited. His wife, Lady Caroline, infamously had an affair with Lord Byron causing Lord Melbourne much embarrassment. For one of his birthdays she held a state banquet in the Saloon, at which she had herself served from a large
Peniston Lamb (1770–1805) Peniston Lamb (1770–1805) The Honourable Peniston Lamb (3 May 1770 – 24 January 1805) was a British politician. Lamb was the eldest son of Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Ralph Milbanke, 5th Baronet. Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Frederick Lamb, 3rd Viscount Melbourne and the Hon. George Lamb were his younger brothers. Due to their mother's numerous love affairs, only Peniston is likely to have been Lord Melbourne's son. Lamb was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport in 1793, and held the seat until 1796. He was elected as MP for Hertfordshire