A giant of a man by all accounts, John Talbot's effigy measures 6 foot 5 inches.
The Talbot family held lands in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, John had received lands from his father Philip Talbot. Beaumont's claim to the castle was by right of his wife Alice Comyn.
In 1309, Beaumont had been granted vast sways of land in Lincolnshire by Edward II and in 1321 he had had also been granted a licence to crenellate Whitwick Castle.
Henricus de Bello Monte, Consanguineus Regis ... mansum ... Whitewyk, Leicestr.
(Licence for Henry de Bello Monte to crenellate his dwelling-place of Whitewyk, co. Leicester.)
On hearing this, Talbot raised a small army and forced Beaumont out of the castle and then razed the castle to the ground. Whitwick Castle was in ruins by the mid 15th century, and by 1800 only the foundations and the north wall were still visible.
Of Sir John Talbot's life there is very little to read, he died in 1365.
Of Beaumont's life there more, he went on to fight in a number of battles and lead an army to invade Scotland with Edward Balliol. He died in 1340.