Heredity and land ownership

In an attempt to work out who owned what throughout Belchamp Walter's history the concepts of inherited land and titles came under scrutiny. Modern-day notions that land that is owned by a particular family was passed on their genetic successors does not necassarily follow. A similar situation can be viewed regarding titles.

In the context of Belchamp Walter's history the Earls of Essex and Oxford come to relevence. You might think that who held the title "Earl of Essex" may have something to do with who "owned" lands in the region. However, it is well established that the Earls of Oxford are assocaited with the region. The de Vere family are generally accepted as the Demesne Lord at the time of the Domesday survey, the de Veres are Earls of Oxford.

Geofrey de Mandeville II was firsr Earl of Essex and was married to Rohse de Vere and it is recorded that they were given the manor of Belchamp Walter as a wedding gift by Aubrey de Vere. Geofrey de Mandeville II died in 1144 but were did the "ownership" of Belchamp Walter get transferred? Rohses' second marriage was to Payne de Beauchamp of Bedford.

de Beauchamp connection/ownership

The de Beauchamp family are definitely associated with Belchamp Walter as a de Beauchamp married a Fitz Ortho and a de Botetourt.

The presence of a chantry chapel in Belchamp Walter church dedicated to a de Botetourt is a further confusion as it is more likely to have been constructed to memorialise the grandson of the de Botetourt that married into the de Ortho/de Beauchamp family.

On the subject of who had the church of St. Mary's expanded in the 14th century now proves to be an interesting one. The land is almost certainly associated with the de Vere family who founded Colne Priory. The monks of Colne Priory are most probably the origin of the clergy at Belchamp Walter in the early 14th century. Newcourt records that the patrons of the church at Belchamp Walter were the Priory of Earls Colne in 1370.

In 1370 the vicar is recorded as Richard de Okeham, before that John Clerke. Prior to Clerke (Clark in the church information sheet) it is not known who the vicar was but it likely that he was provided by the Priory and Convent of de Colne. It was at this time the Nave of St. Mary's was built, early 14th Century.

It should be noted that the papacy was based at Avignon in 1309 to 1376, so the building of the then Catholic church was under this influence from France