Belchamp Walter in the 15th Century

In the 15th Century Belchamp Walter had a manor house that was likely to have been of Tudor construction. Munt cottage was extended, Henry V was king in 1413 and Henry VIII was born.

The country was being shaped by struggles for the crown and the battles between the houses of Lancaster and York were resulting in the reigns of Henry V, Henry VI (1422), Edward IV (1461), Henry VI (1470), Edward IV (1471), Richard III (1483) and Henry VII (1487).

Philippa Helion wife of Sir Thomas Montgomery, Esq. of Faulkbourne Hall transferred the Manor of Belchamp Walter to Sir Roger Wentworth.

It is not known who lived in the manor house in this century or even if the Manor house existed. The Wentworths had plans for the development of the area surrounding the manor house.

Sir William Fynderne "made his home" in Essex early in the Century. Possibly having lands in Belchamp Walter.

The marriage between Sir Robert Swyborne and Joanna Botetourt - their daughter Margret married Nicholas Berners (Barneys) linking Finchingfield and Little Horkesley.

Thomas Wright reports:

The "she" - in this case, was Joan Gernon/Swynborne and Sir Robert is Sir Robert Swinburne.

Richard III and the murder of the Princes in the tower

Thomas More and William Shakespeare both say that James Tyrell was the person responsible for the two Princes in the Tower

Richard III also gained the forfeited lands of the Lancastrian John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford, in East Anglia, around 1462. Thus making him the richest and most powerful noble in England. If Richard had "commissioned" James Tyrrell to murder the Princes in the Tower he could have also honoured the family with the lands once owned by the de Vere's.