Sir John de Botetourt

Sir John de Botetourt is possibly the most important person in English History that is relevant to Belchamp Walter's past. He was not only a very significant person in the late thirteenth century serving both Kings Edward I and Edward II in battle and administation he became a very wealthy man.

Through marriage he became the owner of the many manors in Essex, Suffolk and other parts of the country. He fought for the Edwards (I and II) in Scotland, Wales and Gascony. His military "career" exposed him to influential families of the time, he was Admiral of the North and helped Edward I invade Scotland in 1296 and possibly was involved in the acquisition of the Stone of Scone, from John Balliol, very relevant to the 2023 coronation of King Charles III.

The intermarriage between the de Veres, de Beauchamps and Fitz Othos meant that Sir John had vast estates "conveyed" to him due to his marriage to Maud Fitz Otho in 1302. Belchamp Walter and Belchamp Otten were included in this inheritance and the Church of Belchamp Walter was an obvious place to build a chantry to his memory. He died in 1324 and his grandson, another Sir John of Mendelsham, is most likely have commissioned the chapel.

The chapel was constructed either at the time that the Nave was built or after that date. The exisitance of the medieval wall paintings, also contemporary, is not known. The paintings could have been painted around the chapel arch opening or the arch created with a disregard to the paintings.

The chantry was removed by the Tudor Reformation in 1574. This date can be see carved into the remains of the arch on the right side on one of the family crests.

The presence of the Botetourt chapel and its present state of disrepair is testiment to the importance of Belchamp Walter in the History of the country. Events of the 12th and 13th centuries framed the situation leading to Botetourt in Belchamp Walter. The lands that were known as Thunderlow at Domesday were given as a wedding gift by Aubrey de Vere to his daughter Rohse on her marriage to Geoffery de Mandeville. Rohse then married a de Beauchamp of Bedford and a de Bueachamp married a Ftiz Otho. These, and other unions between influential families of the 12th century, resulted in the land being owned by de Botetourt.

This page is from https/tempusfugit.me.uk - the History of Belchamp Walter. For more information please visit the website.

You can find the website by making a simple Internet search for Belchamp Walter, the Church of St Mary's and Sir John de Botetourt