The sale of Belchamp Hall and Manor

This page is about the sale of Belchamp Hall in 1611 by John Wentworth to John Raymond.

The hall at this time was an Elizabethan manor house and stood on the site of the current Georgian, Queen Anne style, hall that was built in 1720.

Belchamp Hall and manor "came to" Sir Roger Wentworth in 1539. His grandson John sold the hall to John Raymond in 1611. The Wentworth family were "well connected" in the local area and owned many estates of which Belchamp Walter was only one.

There are many clues to the destiny of the Wentworth family and there are many memorials to be found in local churches around Belchamp Walter. During the period leading up to the sale in 1611 there were many political "maneuvers" connected to the general history of the country.

The involvement of the Wentworth family, the Rich Family and Lord and Lady Maltravers is key to some of these transactions. Both the Sir Hugh Rich and Maltravers were residents of Gosfield Hall, Essex. Lord Rich of Leez was Lord Chancellor in the reign of Edward VI and Lady Maltravers became Mistress of Gosfield and she was a Lady due to her second marriage to Lord Maltravers.

Richard Rich was instrumental in and a benficiary of the Dissolution of the monastries under Herny VIII (1536 - 1541)

Lord Maltravers