Ridgewell

RIDGWELL . The parish of Ridgwell * is bounded eastward by Tilbury , by Stambourn on the south , and westward extends to Birdbrook . It is five miles from Clare , in Suffolk , and fifty - two miles from London . The village is small , and the population of the whole parish inconsiderable ; yet , in 1318 , it had a weekly market on Tuesdays , and an annual fair , commencing on the eve of St. Lawrence's day ; from which circumstance it has been supposed that for- merly it was a place of greater importance than at present . It consists of a small number of houses , on either side of the road to Cambridge ; and there is a dissenting meeting - house . The river Colne has its source in this parish ; and a fine spring of water rises at the east end of the church . In the time of Edward the Confessor , the lordship belonged to a freeman named Godwin . After the Conquest , it became part of the large possessions of Eustace , earl of Boulogne ; and was holden of the honour named from that noble house , by the ancient family of Ansty , as early as the reign of King Henry the Second . It be- longed to Hubert de Anesty , in 1211 , whose son and successor was Nicholas , and his only daughter Dionysia , ‡ by marriage , conveyed this estate to William de Montchensy , lord of Swainscamp . He died in 1285 , and his widow in 1303 , leaving two children , William and Dionysia . The son being in active opposition to King John and Henry the Third , was one of the chief commanders at the battle of Lewis , where the latter of these monarchs was taken prisoner ; but being himself afterwards taken , this estate was confiscated , and given to William de Valence , earl of Pembroke , who had married his aunt , Joan de Montchensy . Afterwards , the estate was restored to him , but he lost his life at the siege of Drossellan Castle , in Wales ; § on which event , leaving no offspring , his sister Dionysia inherited his estates . She was married to Hugh de Vere , second son of Robert , earl of Oxford , a man who acquired fame in military expeditions under King Edward the First . Himself and his lady died in 1313 , without issue , and were succeeded in this and other possessions by Adomar de Valence , earl of Pembroke , son of William and Joan de Montchensy , who , though thrice married , || yet died without issue , in 1224. His last wife had this manor for part