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

1611 Drawing by Nicholas Charles, Lancaster Herald, of seal of John de Botetourt, Lord of Mendlesham, appended to Barons' Letter 1301 (A Exemplar). John de Botetourt (d. 1324), Lord of Mendlesham, was in 1305 created by writ Baron Botetourt. Legend: Sigill(um) Johannis de Boutourt ("seal of John de Boutourt"); arms as drawn: A cinquefoil pierced, each leaf charged with a saltire engrailed.[1] Alternative or later arms were: Or, a saltire engrailed sable