Introduction
John Cobham, 3rd Baron Cobham (c. 1355–January 1408), lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was the son of John Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham, and Joan Beauchamp, John Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp of Somerset. He was given a licence to crenellate by Richard II in 1381 and built Cooling Castle at the family seat in Cowling or Cooling, Kent.
Around 1332, Sir John married Margaret Courtenay, daughter of Hugh Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon. She died on 2 August 1385 or 95. In 1398 Sir John was exiled to Guernsey. Henry IV restored the estate and Sir John died in Cooling, 1408.He was buried at Greyfriars, London, though his brass is near his wife in the church of St Mary Magdalene, Cobham.
Rochester Bridge
Sir John and Sir Robert Knolles (or Knollys), paid for the building of the new, stone Rochester Bridge across the River Medway. This route had been essential for traffic between London and Dover (the port for France and hence continental Europe) since Roman times.