Belchamp Walter - The Botetourt Years
13?? - 1391
The presence of the elaborate arch to what is thought to be a chantry Chapel dedicated to the Botetourt family would suggest that the family is one that had a significant place in the village's history.
There are conflicting records relating to the Botetourt family and the church guide wrongly attributes the chantry to Sir John de Botetourt, First Baron Botetourt. There is much information to be found on this first John de Botetourt and it would appear that he would have been far too busy to have been in Belchamp Walter when he was alive. The first John Botetourt is thought to have lived from 1265 until 1324.
My current thought is that the chantry was built for Sir John de Botetourt, 2nd Lord Botetourt. This Sir john was the only son of Thomas de Botetourt who is thought to have lived in Mary Hall at around the year 1300. Thomas' son was a knight who fought along-side Sir Robert Swynbourne in the Hundred Years War and at the Battle of Crecy (26 August 1346).
Sir Robert Swynbourne was married to Joyce Botetourt, daughter of the 2nd Lord. The manor of Belchamp Walter then passed to the Swynbourne family from 1391-1431.
The First Lord Botetourt
Village history has the chantry chapel dedicated to the 1st Lord de Botetourt. While this Sir John definitely had connecctions to the village of Belchamp Walter during his lifetime (1265-1324), he was not likely to have spent any time there. He was far too busy with Edward I's exploits in Scotland
The Advowsen
The dates are taken from Newcourt's Repertorium. According to Newcourt the Advowsen for the manor and church was held by Botetourt prior to 1392.
Belchamp Walter prior to the Botetourt Years
While the connection of the Botetourt family started at the end of the 13th century the marriages of other local families may have created a confusion on who actually was the "holder" of the region at this time.
The best that I can find that relates to this time period has been deduced from Thomas Wright's History and Topography of Essex (1831/36). Wright is not easy to follow and tends to wright descriptions with multiple family names in a single sentance. I have attempted to transcribe the section in his book for the Hundred of Hinkford