The history of Belchamp Walter

The period post Conquest, with the Doomsday Survey, started the major documentation of historical events. The recorded history of Belchamp Walter pretty much starts with Conquest as the inhabitants played significant roles in the countries history. De Vere was installed by William in Essex and the Botetourts came over with the Norman invasion. The lands and Manor were under the control of the De Veres.

The English Civil leds to the removal of most of the memorials to earlier "monarchists" (Botetourts). Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Stratford was beheaded by Cromwell in 1641. This is in stark contrast to the involvement of Sir William Harris in the Spanish Amarda (1588) and knighted by James 1 in 1603. This seems pretty "royalist" to me! Defending Elizabeth 1 from the Spanish, only to have a son-in-law "go over to the dark-side" and be complict in beheading those that followed the King.

Again, this is documented in the church, the Reverend John Wright 1650. Charles 1 was executed 1649. Then William R______ in 1679 was the patron (and appointee) of the Reverend John Bate, presumably a puritan. Turbulent times indeed! and we think Brexit is bad.

The Village Name

I have also seem Parish registers with the name Walter Belchamp, changed by hand to Belchamp Walter.

I have doubts on the association with Walter de Tey - I have seen court records from the 1700's with the manor names of Water Belchamp alias Belchamp William

As the Lamarch Church history the Advowson mentions the de Beauchamps of Bedford. Belchamp Walter was rewarded as a territorial gift by King Steven. Walter and Richard de Beauchamp were mentioned in this transaction. There seems little difference between Walter de Beauchamp and Walter Belchamp.

After the Civil War

A bulk of my research is from what I see in the church. The chantry chapel is the most obvious example of this.

Background to this page

Having seen this page found by those making an Internet search I have decided to add a bit more context.