Webmaster Notes
This is a speculation about the family crest on the North side of the tower arch in the church.
The Wentworth Years at Belchamp Walter were 1498-1611. I think that is highly likely that whoever was resident in the manor house had some involvement in the church. The construction of the tower was also completed in this time.
It is probably safe to assume that the crests on the North and the South of the arch were commissioned at a similar time. The crest on the South is thought to be that of the Raymond family (possibly also Sterne) - this is supported by visitations of Heralds.
Ros (Roos)/Wentworth Coat of Arms
The coat of arms on the North of the tower arch in St. Mary's Belchamp Walter appears to be that of marriage between the
Wentworth and de Ros families.
Top
British History on-line
The BHO listing for St. Mary's states that a coat of arms was wrongly painted in the 17th or 18th century (not very specific!).
It does not say which.
Ros or Rous
Colours are off, but the bougets are of same type
The research for this was making searches for coats of arms that had three bulls heads and three water bougets.
The colours are off and the depiction of the bulls is not the same. However, seeing how some of the heraldry is subject to
a lot of interpretation and speculation that is not surprising.
My guess at the moment is a Wentworth off-shoot and a de Rous coat of arms.
The Crofts coat of arms is recorded as the three bulls heads (sigil - a real or mythical animal) and the de Ros (or Roos)
the water bougets.
Water-bouget: a yoke with two large skins appended to it, formerly used for the conveyance of water to an army.
It has been differently drawn at different periods, as the figures, which are arranged in something like chronological order,
will shew. Many more slight varieties of form might be given, and as the form has varied so has the name.
It is not easy to determine the primary form, but in the earlier rolls it is spelt, as will be seen by the examples,
in a variety of ways, i.e. bouges, bouz, buzes, buz, bouces; and in rolls of Edw. III.'s reign we find bouges,
boustes, bustes, and busteaux; oge is also found.
- William de ROOS, de goules, a trois bouges d'argent[in other copies, 'd'azur a trez d'or,' and 'trois bousses d'or']--Roll,
temp. HEN. III.
- Robert de ROOS, de goules, a treis buz d'argent[in another copy, a trois buzes d'argent]--Ibid.
- Sire Johan de ROS, de goules, a iij bouces de sable--Roll, temp. ED. II.
- Sire Robert de ROS, de goules a iij bouces de ermyne--Ibid.
Bordure Compony
The coat of arms has a Bordure Compony. This was noted by Peter Rushbrook in his analysis of the Herardry he observed in the
church of St. Mary's, Belchamp Walter.
The significance of this is that there is a suggestion that there is a "break" in the hereditary line of the arms in the
main body. The two families, presumed to be an branch of the Wentworths and possibly a de Ros, was not straight-forward.
Wentworth/Crofts
The Wentworth branch is seen as Crofts.
William le Rous - 1305 or 1310
From a writ 16 June, 3 Edw. II. Buckingham.
Exchange of land in Bedford and Essex between John de Botetourt and Maud.
182. William le Rous.
Writ, 16 June, 3 Edw. II. Buckingham. Inq. Tuesday after St. James, 4 Edw. II.
Lynchelad'. Lands &c. worth 101. yearly, jointly held by the said William and Joan his wife, in exchange with
John de Botitehourte and Maud his wife for other lands in cos, Bedford and Essex, of Hugh Bolebek by service
of a clove gillyflower, and scutage when it shall happen.
Simon his son, aged 9, is his next heir.
Bedford. Inq. 11 July, 4 Edw. II. commencing.
Peling hamlet in the parish of Wottone. A messuage, 100a. land, 2|a. meadow,
4a. pasture, 15Ja. Ir. wood, rents, &c. jointly held by the said William and Joan of Sir Roger Lestrange
(Extraneo) in chief, by service of scutage when it runs and suit of court.
Coupol. A messuage, 45a. Ir. land, and 3r. meadow, jointly held as above of Walter Wyggein by service of
scutage when it runs ;
and a messuage, 10a. land, and la. meadow, jointly held as above of Sir Roger Lestrange in chief, by service
of scutage when it runs.
Kerdingtone. 10a. land jointly held as above, of Sir Roger Lestrange in chief by service of scutage when it
runs.
Heir as above.
C. Edw. II. File 14. (14.)#
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland
My theory regarding the provinance of the coat of arms and that it could be a Wentworth family arms relates to the
purchase of the Belchamp Walter estate by the Raymonds from the Wentworths. Reading the Wikipedia entry for
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland, it could explain the decline in the Wentworths empire.
The connection to the Ros/Rous family is not so clear. Both families seem to be associated with the area prior to The Raymonds
but over a very wide time span. The de Rous family 1310 and the Wentworths 1591. THIS IS HIGHLY SPECULATIVE.
