The Botetourt Story

There is no doubt that there is the remains of a significant chantry chapel to the Botetourt's in the parish church of St. Mary Belchamp Walter. The reason that it is there is not known for certain. Much of the recorded history does not explain the full story.

My investigation into the origins of the chapel started with a statement that I found in the church's information sheet. The sheet identifies the chapel and assigns the Botetourt name to it and earlier editions of the sheet actually claim that Sir John was an underlord of the de Vere's and he occupied the manor. The problem with this is there are two Sir John de Botetourts and it is most likely that they were unknown to the de Vere family.

It is now my contention that the chantry is to the 2nd Lord Botetourt or to Thomas de Botetourt who is recorded as a resident of Belchamp Walter. He was the owner of the manor of Mary Hall over the years 1270 until 1276. The hall that is currently situated at Mary Hall is a later building.

Heraldry

The heraldry seen on the chantry arch leaves no doubt that the memorial is to a Botetourt. The Botetourt arms are quite clear. The arms of fitz Otto are also identifiable and de Beachamp less so. Peter Rushbrook did a very good analysis of the coats of arms seen on the monument.

These coats of arms agree with the Inquisitions Post Mortem that have been found relating to Botetourt, Fitz Otto (alternative spelling Othes/Otho) and de Beauchamp. The colours on the coats of arms could only have been guessed. Most noteable is the blue and silver or blue and gold as seen of the Otho arms.

Earlier versions of the village's history refer to the chantry to be a dedication to de Vere, whose coat of arms are much different. The dedication to de Vere can be seen in Kelly's Directorys as late as 1902. This was also repeated by Worley in 1915

Deep research found - a Baron's Letter of 1301 that references Botetourt:

The later arms can be seen on the memorial in St. Mary's church Belchamp Walter.

The 1301 Barons' Letter was written by 7 earls and 96 Barons and addressed to Pope Boniface VIII

The Barons' Letter of 1301 was written by 103 English, Scottish, Norman and Welsh, earls and barons loyal to King Edward I. The letter was addressed to Pope Boniface VIII as a repudiation of his claim of feudal overlordship of Scotland (expressed in the Bull Scimus Fili), and as a defence of the rights of King Edward I of England as overlord of Scotland. The letter survives in two copies, known as A and B, both held in the National Archives at Kew under the reference E 26. Historically they were held amongst the documents in the Exchequer, Treasury of the Receipt department.

John Botetourt is recorded in The People of Medieval Scotland. Sometime between 1300 and 1302 Sir John de Botetourt travelled from St. Briavel's Castle to Lochmaben and Dumfries, Scotland.

John de Botitehourte and William le Rous

The manor of Wottone is mentioned in an IPM and in relation to the William le Rous and the coat of arms found on the tower of St. Mary's Belchamp Walter.

The spelling of Botetourt is a variation but it looks like there was an exchange of land at Wottone. Lynchelad.