Clopton Family Genealogical Society
A SELF GUIDED TOUR OF DEAD
CLOPTONS
Each tour is
designed to take one day and give the visitor adequate time to enjoy the sights
and absorb all the details at a leisurely pace. There is something to interest everyone from Clopton
devotees, history buffs, architect disciples, birdwatchers, military
aficionados, garden fanatics, nautical groupies, to Thespians.
Clopton
stories relating to all the locations mentioned in the tours below will be
published in the coming months.
Please
remember it takes a little more time to travel the roads than you might
expect. If you depend on public
transportation, you must take transportation schedules into consideration as
well.
Lady Mary Waldegrave,
daughter of Sir William Waldegrave, Knt., of Smallbridge and his wife,
Elizabeth Mildmay. She was the
wife of Sir Thomas Clopton, the youngest son of William Clopton, Esq. and his
wife, Mary Perient. Sir Thomas,
the youngest son, was the eventual heir of Kentwell Hall, Long Melford.
MAPS
& BOOKS
You Gotta Have Em
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
An Ounce of Prevention
Where to Look and What to Ask
A Beginners Guide
TOUR ONE
Long Melford and Lavenham, County Suffolk
TOUR TWO
Groton,
Hadleigh, and Stoke-by-Nayland, County Suffolk
And Boxted and Colchester,
County Essex
TOUR THREE
A Visit to
the Seashore
By Way of Clopton Corner,
Otley, and Chillesford
Cambridge University, County Suffolk
And the Lost Town of Clopton, County
Cambridgeshire,
And Duxford, County Suffolk
TOUR FIVE
Stowmarket & Rattlesden, County Suffolk,
And Norwich Cathedral, County Norfolk
TOUR SIX
Wickhambrook, Chipley Priory,
Poslingford, and Clare, County Suffolk
TOUR SEVEN
Maldon,
Ramsden Bellhouse, Rettendon, Paglesham
And Eastwood, County Essex
TOUR EIGHT
County Kent, the Home of Queens, The White Cliffs of Dover,
And Ferries to Calais, France
TOUR NINE
London
TOUR TEN
Stratford-upon-Avon
The “Other” Cloptons
MAPS & BOOKS
Whether you are planning a
trip to Counties Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex, or just want to have a better
understanding of the lives of our ancestors, you need to purchase some maps and
a book or two. Yes, there are maps
in cyberspace, however, they only give you a snapshot of a particular
area. They are also rather
cumbersome and time consuming to boot!
First you need a map of East Anglia. I would suggest
Official
Tourist Map of East Anglia,
published by Estate
Publications,
East of England
Tourist Board.
This
map lists almost all the little villages you will be visiting and almost
all the roads and gives you a sense of how the villages and towns
connect. The guide is very user
friendly. You may order this map
from
Landers
Bookshop
Hall Street
Long Melford
Suffolk
England
CO109HZ
Simply
include your credit card number with your request, and the staff will be happy
to take care of all the rest. The
e-mail address is [email protected]
(but don’t send you credit card number via e-mail!).
A
second set of maps will also prove to be an invaluable source of
information. These are the
Ordnance Survey Maps of Great Britain.
The Explorer Series depict in great detail (2 � inches to 1 mile)
every nook and cranny and footpath and every tiny road of every county in Great
Britain.
You will note below a detail
from the Explorer Series, Number 196, showing Kentwell Hall and Ford
Hall, both Clopton ancestral homes.
(Highlights have been added to assist the viewer). Of particular interest, these maps show
all the ancient foot and bridle paths (the green dotted lines). Some of these footpaths date to
prehistoric times and are still in use today. They represent the routes our ancestors took to quickly
gallop from place to place.
These
maps may also be purchased from Landers Bookshop, however, you will need to
know what maps to request.
Information regarding these maps may be found at the Ordnance Survey
site at
http://www.ordsvy.gov.uk/products/25k/index.cfm
The
costs of the maps will add up, therefore, we recommend you order just two to
start with:
Ordnance Survey
Explorer Map Number 196
Long Melford,
Hadleigh, Groton, and Sudbury
and
Number 210 for
Wickhambrook, Poslingford, and Clare
The latter map boasts Clopton
Cottage, Clopton Hall, Clopton Green, Clopton Green House, a second Clopton
Hall, and Chipley Priory (labeled incorrectly, Chipley Abbey).
There
is one modestly priced book we suggest you also order from Landers Bookshop:
Suffolk
Parish Churches
Details of
over 500 Churches Past and Present
Compiled by Mel
Birch
The Castell
Pocket Guides
A Pocket Guide
to Suffolk Parish Churches
Richard Castell
Publishing Limited
Thwaite Eye
Suffolk
ISBN
0-948-13448-8
This
book, which easily fits into a pocketbook, will prove to be another invaluable
guide as you plan your tour. Each
entry gives the location of the church and a brief description of the
features. Mercifully included is a
Glossary of terms for those who do not know their Squint from their Tympanum.
A
second book which is highly recommended is Historic Houses Castles *
Gardens, The Original Guide to the Treasurers of Great Britain & Ireland,
a Johansens Publication. It may be
ordered through any bookstore or see their web site at
This
is an excellent book even if you never set foot in Great Britain. It is filled with stunning photographs,
giving a brief overview of each entry, location, days of operation, admission
charges and internet addresses when available. Also included are maps which will help those designing
tours. Johansens publishes a
series of books for a number of countries.
While not absolutely
necessary, you may wish to consider purchasing three books, Knights on
Suffolk Brasses, Ladies on Suffolk Brasses, and Suffolk Heraldic
Brasses, by Thomas Mariner Felgate, which contain examples of Clopton brass
effigies, like the one found below in Tour One of Margery Francis (or Francys),
and many other Clopton kith and kin.
The set is available from the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust. To obtain copies send your request to:
Christopher
Bird
Secretary
Suffolk
Historic Churches Trust
Brinkleys, Hall
Street
Long Melford
Sudbury,
Suffolk CO10 9JR
England
If
you are interested in brasses, you will find these books a fount of
information. His illustrations
pick up many of the details which are lost in photographs. This set is a Must Have for those who
want to know the subtle history lessons gleaned from the images of those who
have gone before us.
To
fully appreciate the many arms you will see on your trip, we highly recommend
you purchase An Introduction to Heraldry, by Stefan Oliver (A Quantum Book, Chartwell Books, Edison, New
Jersey, 2000. ISBN: 0-7858-1248-2). It is available at any major book shop
including Barnes and Noble. An
excellent book filled with many colorful and lavish illustrations. Dismayed by the laborious and often
obscure language found in the vast majority of books on the subject (almost
calculated to drown any interest the novice may have) the author set out to
write a book that would stimulate interest in Heraldry and not frighten off the
beginner. He succeeded and
produced a book that is refreshingly easy for the tyro to understand and the
scholar to appreciate. Several
photographs of Clopton arms are included as well as those of many allied
families of the Cloptons.
AND THE UGLY
THE GOOD
You
will be touring some of the most charming Medieval villages in East
Anglia. The countryside is dotted
with fairytale thatched roofed cottages and gently rolling hills. You will visit homes and churches that
gave comfort and protection to your grandfathers and grandmothers hundreds of
years ago. It will prove to be one
of the most delightful and rewarding vacations you can possibly imagine. You will absolutely fall in love with
the country and her people. Don’t
forget your camera!
[Helpful Hint:
The villagers are friendly and simply cannot do enough to assist you. Just because these people live in
medieval villages does not mean they have medieval mind sets. They are well read and well traveled. Don’t patronize them nor expect them to
be impressed because you are a Clopton descendant. The English are very mindful of manners, so remember to say
“please” and “thank you,” and all the other rules of etiquette your mother
tried to drill into your head.]
A thatched roof cottage in
Lavenham
THE BAD
You
will be touring some of the most charming Medieval villages in East
Anglia. And those villages are
often served by tiny little Medieval roads. If you think driving on the left side of the road is the
most exciting challenge you will face, you have another think coming. Although the main roads are fine, the
further into the interior you go, the more the roads narrow. Many times you will find yourself on
paved pig paths with no room for two automobiles to pass.
If
the idea of negotiating the byways and highways of Great Britain by private
automobile, your life passing before your eyes every five minutes, is not your
idea of a fun vacation, all is not lost!
Thousands and thousand of people in Great Britain do not drive; they
take public transportation, and so can you. You just need to do a little advance planning. The British Tourist Authority stands
ready to help you. You may contact
them at their website specifically designed to assist Americans at
http://www.usagateway.visitbritain.com/homeusa.htm
All
you need to do is tell them at what airport you will be arriving and what your
destination is. They will be able
to assist you with information regarding railroads and buses (called
coaches). Once you get to your
destination you will want to visit the Tourist Information Centres (TIC’s)
which are found all over Britain.
There you will be able to obtain local bus (Coach) schedules.
[Helpful Hint:
If you ask villagers about the buses (coaches), they will probably roll
their eyes and say “Oh, they are terrible!” And if you ask why, they will reply “They stop at every
little village from point A to point B”
Bingo! That’s just what you
want. You want to visit those
little villages. If you are
dependent on public transportation, you may wish to stay at one of the larger
towns which will give you access to the greatest number of bus routes. When using the British rail system
check your ticket. Many British
trains have assigned seats just like airplanes. Make sure you are in the right car and the right seat.]
Once you get to your
destination from the airport, walking is another option. All of Britain is crisscrossed with
walking paths. In fact, it is
possible to walk anywhere on the island.
The British take their walking seriously, and the paths, some dating to
prehistoric times, take the visitor through private yards and fields and
forests. Most of the villages are
separated by only a walk of two or three miles. When finding oneself walking on private property, never,
ever leave the path. That is
considered rude. And if you go
through a gate, always shut the gate door behind you. And don’t forget to wear good, water proof walking shoes.
Those choosing the take advantage of the many
footpaths will often find themselves traveling through private property. The thoughtful owners of The Red House,
in Cavendish, have provided a little step for the traveler to climb over the
fence and a door for a canine companion.
If one wishes even more
information than is found on the Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps – see above –
Landers Bookshop also carries a series of Footpath Maps by Wilfrid George. Footpath Map of Long Melford
(published by the author, 43 Linden Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5JH)
features every detail one could image of not only Long Melford but also Acton,
and the paths leading to Lavenham to the northeast, Great Waldingfield to the
east, Bury St. Edmunds to the north, and Glemsford and Clare to the west.
The fifteenth century
pargetted house at Clare
[Helpful Hint:
Take an umbrella, wet weather jacket, and a sweater. Look at the latitude of England and you
will discover it is north of most of the United States. Although the sea breezes keep East
Anglia rather mild, it rains often and is cool much of the time. This is no time to make a fashion
statement with shoes. Wear comfortable
shoes which won’t get soaked through.]
THE UGLY
The ugly news is you will be
touring some of the most charming Medieval villages in East Anglia. And that spells trouble if you have a
physical handicap, especially if you have problems with mobility. When making reservations at a hotel you
must ask very specific questions.
Don’t accept their assurances they have handicap accessible rooms. You may find they mean the room is on
the first floor but that doesn’t necessarily mean the bathroom is properly
equipped for your disability. And
you might find you are unable to get into the hotel dining room. Restaurants throughout the area pose a
problem; you may be able to get into the restaurant but don’t count on being
able to use the restrooms - they may be on the second floor. Churches and historical houses often
require visitors to navigate stairs.
[Helpful Hint:
You will find at least one ATM machines in almost every village
and in all the super stores (large grocery stores). The cost to exchange money is less using the ATM’s.]
http://www.SmoothHound.co.uk/hotels/theredh.html will take you to a listing of the best of Great
Britain’s Bed and Breakfast and Hotel lodging beginning with The Red House in
Cavendish, about four miles west of Long Melford. Before you visit this site, a word or two of advice: When a room is described as en suite,
that means the bathroom is attached to the bedroom, and is truly private. Otherwise, when making inquiries, you
would be wise to ask the host exactly where the bathroom is in relationship to
the room and also if one is expected to share the bathroom with others.
Please keep in mind that in order to incorporate modern conveniences into
medieval houses, bathrooms are sometimes found down the hall, down one flight
of stairs and take a left, first door on the right. A certain amount of inconvenience, however, is mostly
outweighed by the charm of it all.
If you have any kind of physically limitations relating to mobility, be
sure to discuss with the host how many steps you will be required to get around
within the house.
At many hotels and B&B’s, the cost of the room includes a full
English breakfast. Take advantage
of this option. In most villages
the pubs and restaurants do not serve food from about 2:00 or 2:30 in the
afternoon until 6:30 or 7:00 at night, although some restaurants feature teas
in mid-afternoon. If you find
yourself of an evening tired of restaurants and you just want to slip into bed
and read a good book, you will find that grocery stores carry sandwiches,
individual salads, crisps (potato chips) and canned drinks.
[Helpful Hint:
If you are dependent on public transportation you should ask the host
where the nearest bus (coach) stop is in relation to the house. You may also wish to ask about taxi
service. A Silver Award is the
highest rating that may be achieved in B&B’s. Don’t automatically assume that hotels will have bathrooms
in each room. Many older, less
expensive, hotels have a community bathroom on each floor.]
A BEGINNERS GUIDE
Lady Bridgett Crane was the daughter of Robert
Crane, Esq., of Chilton. She was
the third wife of Francis Clopton, Gent., of Long Melford. Francis Clopton was the son of Sir
William Clopton, Knt., and his third wife, Lady Thomasine Knyvet.
The line of descent of the dead
Cloptons mentioned in the tours, unless otherwise noted include:
Thomas Clopton + Katherine Mylde
William Clopton + Margery Francis
John Clopton + Alice Darcy
William Clopton + Thomasine Knyvet
Richard Clopton + Margaret Playters
William Clopton + Margery Waldegrave
Walter Clopton + Margarete Maidstone
William Clopton + Elizabeth Sutcliffe
William Clopton + Ann Booth
Katherine Mylde + William deTendring
Alice deTendring + John Howard
Henry Howard + Mary Hussey
Elizabeth Howard + Henry Wentworth
Margaret Wentworth + William Waldegrave
George Waldegrave + Anne Drury
Edward Waldegrave + Joan Acworth
Margery Waldegrave + William Clopton
Walter Clopton + Margarete Maidstone
William Clopton + Elizabeth Sutcliffe
William Clopton + Ann Booth
Walter Clopton + Alice FitzHugh
William Clopton + Amitia or Ivetta Grey
Johane Clopton + Roger Beauchamp
John Beauchamp + Margaret Holland
Margaret Beauchamp + Oliver St. John
John St. John + Alice Bradshaw
John St. John + Sybil Jenkyn
John St. John + Anne Neville
Cressit St. John + John Boetler or Butler
John Boetler or Butler + Jane Elliott
Elizabeth Boetler +William
Claiborne, Sr. Secretary for Life of Virginia
Walter Clopton + Alice FitzHugh
William Clopton + Amitia or Ivetta Grey
Johane Clopton + Roger Beauchamp
John Beauchamp + Margaret Holland
Margaret Beauchamp + Oliver St. John
John St. John + Alice Bradshaw
John St. John + Sybil Jenkyn
John St. John + Anne Neville
Cressit St. John + John Boetler or Butler
John Boetler or Butler + Jane Elliott
Elizabeth Boetler +William Claiborne, Sr. Secretary for Life of Virginia
Thomas Clopton + Katherine Mylde
William Clopton + Margery Francis
John Clopton + Alice Darcy
William Clopton + Joan Marrow
Elizabeth Clopton + Geoffrey Gates
Dorothy Gates + Thomas Josselyn
Henry Josselyn + Anne Torrell
Thomas Josselyn + Theodora Cooke
Henry Josselyn, Deputy Governor of Maine
Alice Clopton + John Harleston
John Harleston + Margaret Berdewell
Margaret Harleston + Thomas Darcy
Roger Darcy + Elizabeth Wentworth
Thomas Darcy + Elizabeth de Vere
Mary Darcy + Richard Southwell
Richard Southwell + Bridget Copley
Katherine Southwell + Leonard Mapes
Francis Mapes + Anna Loveday
Thomas Mapes + Sarah Purrier
Long Melford and Lavenham, County Suffolk
Long Melford features more
dead Cloptons than any other spot in East Anglia. The official site of Kentwell Hall, the magnificent
ancestral home of the Clopton family in Long Melford, is found at http://www.kentwell.co.uk/map.htm. This site features a lovely selection
of photographs of Kentwell Estates.
A second site featuring a number of photographs of the estate is found
at http://www.brentwoodit.demon.co.uk/kentwell.htm.
The visitor may tour the house and the grounds. The tours are self guided. The hosts have thoughtfully placed
throughout the house guides to each room.
Plan to spend no less than two hours at Kentwell, more if there are
special activities. There is a nice
gift shop, a tea room, and an adequate number of clean restrooms.
Even the drainpipes are fun
at Kentwell Hall!
Holy
Trinity Church is a Must See stop for Cloptons. Tours are given at specific times, and should not be
missed. The windows in the church
feature the Cloptons and their allied families. Tombs and brass effigies are located within the church. If you are lucky, the guide may take
you up into the bell tower to see the bells and learn a little about the art of
bell ringing. Plan to spend at the
very least an hour; longer, if you take the guided tour. There is a well stocked gift shop and
one restroom.
Rubbing of the monumental brass found at Holy
Trinity Church of Margery Francis (or Francys), of County Norfolk. She was the wife of William Clopton,
Knt., of Long Melford. Her
children were John Clopton, Sheriff of Norfolk & Suffolk, the great
benefactor of the church whose image is found in one of the stained glass
windows, and Elizabeth Clopton, who married Robert Cavendish and John
Gedney. The headdress indicates
the brass was not engraved until after 1480; the headdress and the heraldic
costume were not seen in effigies created at the time of her death in
1424. She is shown with a
Butterfly headdress, her forehead plucked of hair. Beneath the transparent veil, rarely shown in brass, her
hair is swept back into a decorated net, or caul. Her kirtle, a close fitting costume, usually with buttoned
sleeves, displays her parental arms of Francis. Over her kirtle she wears an heraldic mantel showing her
husband’s arms of Clopton. Only
the upper part of the canopy survives, with the badge of the House of York (a
white rose) and a large angel with outstretched hands. Suffolk Heraldic Brasses, T. M.
Felgate, East Anglian Magazine, Ltd., Ipswich, 1990, p. 108-109, plate 37. Mr. Felgate added the top dexter (left)
Clopton shield of arms which is missing but is on record. An inscription, now missing, but on
records as Hic jacet Margeria Clopton nuper uxor W’mi Clopton ac filia et
heres Eliae Frauncheys armigeri que obijt 12 die Junij A’o D’ni 1424 cujus
anima propitietur Deus, Amen.
Mr. Felgate contends that the absence of indents for this and other
missing parts confirms the present brasses have been relaid. In other words, she may not have been
buried in the spot where the brass is now found. The effigy is 36 inches long, deeply engraves, and in
excellent condition. The arms on
kirtle, mantle, and shields were all originally inlaid with color.
It
is now time to take a break and visit the village of Long Melford for some
retail therapy. There are many
antique shops, several book stores, and at least one shop featuring paintings
and reprints of the area. If
breakfast has worn off, or if you just want to rest your weary feet and enjoy
some liquid refreshments, Long Melford has many fine pubs and restaurants.
Now
it is back to the tour and onto Melford Hall, the magnificent home of our Aunt,
Mary Clopton, and her husband, William Cordell, Knt. See Two Hundred Men in Velvet. The self
guided tour of the house and gardens will take at least one and a half
hours. Mary Clopton was born and
raised at Fore Hall, now called Ford Hall, about a mile north of the
village. It is a wonderful house
with the remains of a moat behind it.
It is a private home, however, a public footbath will take you close
enough to take photographs of the exterior.
Lavenham
is about four miles northeast of Long Melford, and is one of the most
picturesque villages in East Anglia.
Ford Hall is next to one of the exciting little roads leading to this
quaint village. You may find
Lavenham so interesting you may want to schedule an entire day to visit this
charming place. While the
fa�ade on shops in Long Melford is primarily Victorian, Lavenham has maintained
their Medieval exteriors. A
favorite tourist stop, you will find not only a plethora of interesting
architecture but also many shops and fine restaurants. The tourist bureau is very large and
offers a host of information.
There is a large public parking space for automobiles and buses across
from the church, and an adequate number of clean restrooms. You will want to visit the church. See A Goodly Sweet Child.
Groton, Hadleigh, and
Stoke-by-Nayland, County Suffolk
and Boxted and Colchester,
County Essex
A
few miles southeast of Long Melford is St. Bartholomew’s Church, Groton, the
church of William Clopton, armiger, Lord of Castlings Manor, the husband of
Margery Waldegrave. It is a simple
country church famous for its association with the Winthrop family. It is believed that all William and
Margery’s 12 children were baptized at St. Bartholomew’s. William and Margery and most of their
children are buried there. Near by
is Castlings Manor, the Clopton home for many years. The house is in private hands, however, a public footpath
will put your close enough to take photographs of the house. See Midnight Romps & Wilted Roses and Brief Communion.
Hadleigh
Guildhall as seen from the Church
Hadleigh
is the next stop. At Hadleigh is
found the Guildhall built in 1438 by William Clopton, Knt., the husband of
Thomas Knyvet, Joan Marrow, and Katherine Hopton. A contract between the town and William Clopton specified
that one red rose plus two cents interest, was to be paid to him each year as
rent. In the mid 1980’s some
Clopton cousins did a little research and discovered that the payments had
stopped in 1472. In June of 1984
Gene Carlton Clopton led a merry group of 80 Clopton descendants to collect 512
years worth of roses. Considering
interest, the group good naturedly requested the town pay up to the tune of
1,303,364 roses. A compromise was
reached, and the Cloptons settled for five roses, one for each century. Once a year the town of Hadleigh now
places one red rose on the tomb of William Clopton at Holy Trinity Church, Long
Melford.
Tomb of William
Clopton at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford
Hadleigh
was also the home of William Clopton, Knt., Lord of Toppesfield Manor and his
wife, Amitia or Ivetta Grey, of Buckenham Castle, County Norfolk. Our most royal lines come from the
marriage. Their daughter Johane
Clopton married Roger Beauchamp, 2nd Baron Beauchamp of
Bletsho. Johane married into one
of the most eminent and powerful families, the Beauchamps. A companion in arms of the
victorious William the Conqueror, the family was represented by the Earls of
Warwick and Albemarle, and, the Barons of St. Amand, Barons of Bletsho, Hache,
Kydderminster and Powyke. Counted
among her direct descendants are most of the Kings and Queens of England who
have held the throne since Henry, VII.
There is a Toppesfield Manor at Hadleigh, however, it is not the home
occupied by the Cloptons.
[Helpful Hint: One can well imagine that it costs a fortune to maintain
these churches. The congregations,
not the government, are responsible for securing the funds necessary to
restore, preserve and maintain these ancient buildings which are so important
to our Clopton heritage. Many of
the congregations are composed of very few people. You will note that each church has a collection box for
offerings – usually in a slot in the wall by the main door. Please give a generous contribution in
addition to any church literature you might purchase at the gift shops.]
The
Church of Saint Mary, at Stoke-by-Nayland, is the final resting place of our
“double grandmother,” Katherine Mylde.
It is located about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh. It is next to the timber framed
guildhall and is considered one of the loveliest and most ornate churches in
Suffolk. The north chapel is the
earliest, dating from the early 14th century. Brass funeral effigies in
the south chapel include those of Dame Katherine Mylde, the widow of Sir Thomas
Clopton, and the second wife of Sir William de Tendring, whose brass is
near by. Also in the south chapel
are the brasses of their daughter, Lady Alice de Tendring and her husband Sir
John Howard. Near by is the brass
of Lady Katherine Moleyns, the wife of their grandson, Sir John Howard. The Register dates from 1545.
Although much weathered by
time, the arms of de Tendring
And the Howards are featured
above the door of
The Church of Saint Mary
A
few miles to the south finds us at St. Peter’s Church, Boxted. Walter Clopton and his sister, Anna
Clopton, the children of William Clopton and his wife, Margery Waldegrave of
Groton, married Maidstone siblings, Margarete Maidstone and John
Maidstone. They were the children
of Robert Maidstone and his wife, Margaret Wade. This is where William Clopton, the husband of Elizabeth
Sutcliffe, was baptized and where he grew up. The Maidstones and the Cloptons of Groton were staunch
Puritans. A grandson of Anna Clopton
and John Maidstone was caught in the loft of the belfry of the church urinating
on the heads of men. The Vicar
struck him, whereupon the naughty lad called the Vicar a “bishop’s brat and a
piscopal priest.”
This photograph
does not do justice to the charming
Fa�ade of St.
Peter’s Church, Boxted.
It is
reminiscent of a fairy tale church.
This should take you into the
early afternoon, and if you aren’t too tired, a visit to Colchester should be
just what the doctor ordered. This
is a nice sized town and offers some excellent shopping opportunities and
boasts a Pizza Hut and Burger King for those in need of a junk food fix. There is a large public parking deck
right down town, so you don’t have to worry about finding a parking place. Colchester Castle is the main
attraction. Most of the castle is
devoted to a museum. A guided tour
is a must do. There is a gift
shop, snack bar and an adequate number of clean restrooms. Colchester offers so many learning
opportunities you may wish to schedule an entire day to tour the city. The Castle was turned into a
prison, and one of our Clopton kinsman, William Clopton, son of Francis Clopton
and Anne Shorte, was imprisoned there briefly.
In seventeenth England, the law was supposed
to apply to everyone, but in reality, it depended on who did what to whom. A clear case in point is that of our
naughty kinsman. On the
recognizance of John White and Rob[ert] Lucken, both of Takeley, yeomen,
"William Clopton, of Rayne, Gentleman," who, on March 4, 1652, was
indicted for "not having the fear of G[o]d before his eyes but being moved
an seduced by the motion of the devil, at Takelay, assaulted Mary wife of
Matth[ew] Aylett being of the age of 30 [y]ears and above, without her consent
and against her will did feloniously abuse, ravish and carnally did know
her."
April
26, 1652 finds William committed to the Gaol in Colchester Castle by Mr.
Christ[opher] Muschamp, Esq. "for being charged upon the oath of Mary wife
of Matt[ew] Alet[t] of Takeley labourer, that he hath by violence against her
will had [c]arnal knowledge of her on 4 March last in the house of William
Meads of Takeley alehousekeeper."
Takeley is about 10 miles west of Rayne.
Had
our bad boy raped a woman of his equal social standing or one of superior
ranking, he would have been in very serious trouble indeed. Fortunately for him, but not the
lamented Mrs. Aylett, Mr. Aylett was merely a laborer. A check through the seventeenth century
records of County Essex find only twelve occurrences of the Aylett name, the
men described mainly as yeomen and colliers. One Mary Aylett of Fairestead, in 1614, was found guilty for
her "lewd and incontinent life." It seems a Richard Meade of Terling
"living idle and out of service, and being found naked in the house of the
above said Mary Aylett," also found himself in hot water. Whether this is the same Mary Aylett is
not known.
At
any rate, our "Gentleman" cousin is "set at li[b]erty" on
April 27, "having given security for good behaviour." No further mention of the unpleasant
incident is recorded. On the same
day that William is released, poor Peter Loveday, no gentleman, he, is indicted
for petty larceny, "confessed it, to be whipped and set at liberty."
A Visit to the Seashore,
by way of Clopton Corner,
Otley, and Chillesford, County Suffolk
A typical
seaside scene at Aldeburgh
Where brave
fishermen still make their living
Daring the
forces of the North Sea
Certainly
no visit to East Anglia would be complete without a visit to the seashore, and
Aldeburgh is our destination, northeast of Ipswich. But have no fear!
There is a dead Clopton sighting or two along the way. A few miles northeast of Ipswich one
will find the villages of Clopton Corner and Clopton. Clopton is a Saxon word meaning “homestead by a hill,” or,
“town of the hill farm,” and there is no evidence that any family with the
surname of Clopton was ever associated with these villages. Although Clopton Church is charming,
there aren’t any dead Cloptons anywhere to be had.
A
few miles north of Clopton Corner
one finds Otley Hall. A stunning
medieval hall, with a moat, it is rich in history and architectural detail. It was the home of the Gosnold family
for over 300 years beginning in 1401.
Time simply does not permit us to going into all the familial
connections, so let us just say that the Cloptons are connected to the Gosnolds
through several marriages, including that of Margery Clopton to Thomas Doggett. Margery was the daughter of William
Clopton and his wife Margery Waldegrave.
Bartholomew Gosnold came to the New World in 1602 and named Cape Cod and
Martha’s Vineyard. He returned
again in 1606/7 to found the Jamestown Colony, the first English speaking
settlement, 13 years before the Mayflower landed.
One
may go directly east to Aldeburgh or go south into Woodbridge and then into
Chillesford, where the visitor will find the final resting place of Agnes
Clopton, the wife of Hamond Claxton, and the daughter of William Clopton and
Margaret Jermyn. Their daughter,
Agnes Claxton Smythe, is also buried there.
Many of the
churches are reached by pleasant little
Drive ways such
as this leading to the church at Chillesford
Looking across
the churchyard at Chillesford Village on a foggy day
A
few miles northeast will take you into Aldeburgh, certainly one of the most
interesting seaside villages in East Anglia. It is such a lovely area that consideration must be given
to spending a night or two there.
But be warned: it is a favorite spot for vacations so advance reservations
are strongly suggested. Aldeburgh
has become “the place” for wealthy Londoners to have a vacation home. This will also place you within an easy
drive of either Southwold to the north, or Flixstowe to the south.
This quaint
medieval building at Aldeburgh contains
an outstanding
little museum, including Roman artifacts
which the
visitor may touch.
Cambridge University, County
Suffolk,
the Lost Town of Clopton,
County Cambridgeshire,
and Duxford, County Suffolk
Many
of our ancestors attended Cambridge University. It is a charming campus and the visitor will find ample
photo-ops. At Cambridge the
visitor will find the United States War Cemetery. The town contains many unique shops and many book stores.
About
15 miles southwest of Cambridge, in County Cambridgeshire, between
Wrestlingworth, and Croydon, one finds the site of the medieval village of
Clopton. There is nothing left of
the village, but archeological investigations have revealed the placement of
the village and marketplace. At
the time of the Domesday Book, Clopton was already well established with two
manors and at least nineteen households spread out along the hillside. Tax returns of the 14th
century show a fairly wealthy population of between five and six hundred
people. A Robert Clopton, Lord
Mayor of London in 1441, purchased the village. One of his children, William, inherited Clopton Village, who
eventually sold the village to John Fisher, Sergeant-in-Law, for 200
pounds. By 1533 the Clopton Church
was pillaged and in ruins, and in 1561, the parish of Clopton contained only
two houses and was merged with the neighboring village of Croyden. There is a 11 mile walking path called
The Clopton Way, offering commanding views over much of south west
Cambridgeshire, which takes approximately 4 hours to complete.
While
on the return trip to the Long Melford area, one may wish to visit the Imperial
War Aircraft Museum, about 15 miles southeast of Cambridge and the Lost Village
of Clopton, just outside of Duxford.
Stowmarket, and Rattlesden,
County Suffolk,
and Norwich Cathedral,
County Norfolk
At
Stowmarket one finds the Museum of East Anglian Life. This stop offers a nice change of pace. The exhibits include a reconstructed
post and beam house, representing the most common structure used in building
homes of the medieval period. The
visitor is afforded the opportunity to attempt to assemble the various types of
timber joints using miniature replicas of the beams. There are other hands on exhibits and craftsman’s
demonstrations. One fascinating
exhibit is devoted to gypsies.
There are clean restrooms on the grounds. The little town, just outside the gates of the museum, has a
well stocked Tourist Information Centre.
The
pride of Rattlesden, just a few miles to the southwest of Stowmarket, is St.
Nicholas Church. Our
kinsman, Walter Clopton, son of Thomas Clopton, Esq., of Liston Hall and his
wife, Elizabeth Sparrow, was the Rector of this wonderful church. The medieval ceiling features a superb
double hammerbeam roof with sixty-six beautifully carved hovering angels. The angels carry a rich assortment of
emblems of the Apostles and saints.
Sixty-six large
carved angels adorn the ceiling at St. Nicholas Church
The
next stop is Norwich Cathedral, northeast of Stowmarket. Parking is hard to find within the city,
therefore it is recommended that those arriving in private automobiles may
consider parking outside the city in one of the park and ride facilities served
by buses (coaches). Norwich
Cathedral is believed to be the only Cathedral in Great Britain displaying the
Clopton arms. The Cathedral has a
library and a gift shop located in the Cathedral’s restaurant. The Cathedral has an ample number of
clean restrooms. See Saint Crispin’s Day. The town
offers some excellent shopping opportunities.
One
may wish to spend an extra day or two in Norfolk. The visitor will find at Norwich the Fairhaven Woodland and
Water Garden and the Hoveton Hall Gardens. This flat country boasts some of the most glorious coastline
which has a unique network of inland waterways. The Norfolk Broads, to the east of Norwich, attracts
birdwatchers and boaters from around the world.
Wickhambrook, Chipley Priory, Polslingford,
And Clare, County Suffolk
There
is little tangible evidence left of the most ancient English Cloptons, however,
one may enjoy retracing the pathways and byways once trod by our
ancestors. See Of Norman
Blood.
The magnificent
window at Clare features two
Clopton Shields,
one large one at the top right,
And a smaller
one in the second, lower.
Detail of the large Clopton Shield at the top right
TOUR SEVEN
Maldon, Ramsden Bellhouse,
Rettendon, Paglesham,
and Eastwood, County Essex
It
is now time to pack bag and baggage and relocate to a Hotel or B&B in the
southeast portion of County
Essex. All Saints Church at
Maldon, about 8 miles east of Chelmsford, has one of the most interesting exteriors
in East Anglia. Several members of
the D’Arcy, or Darcy, family and the Cloptons married throughout the
centuries. A large statue of Sir
Robert D’Arcy (1385-1448) portrayed as a knight of the Lancastrian period is
found in one of the outside niches.
Sir Robert was a Member of Parliament for Maldon in 1422 and several
times represented the County of Essex.
Sir Robert built a large home in Maldon, which became known as D’Arcy’s
Tower and after 1576, the Moot Hall.
Upon his death he left money for the founding of a D’Arcy chantry. This was housed in the portion of All
Saints’ which Sir Robert had built before his death and known as the D’Arcy
Chapel. The D’Arcy arms include
three cinquefoils and there are frequent cinquefoils incorporated in the
carvings throughout the church.
See Where
Mightier Do Assault Than Do Defend. The quayside of Maldon,
locally known as the Hythe, is an ideal place to view the Thames sailing
barges.
To
the southwest is the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. The ancestors of Thomasine Knyvet were long associated with
this church, and when she inherited Ramsden Bellhouse, her husband, William
Clopton, became the Patron to the church, and his brother, Thomas, its
Rector. It is a delightful church
with an interesting and colorful history.
Elaborate
doorway to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin
A
few miles east of Ramsden Bellhouse is Rettendon, the last church of The
Reverend William Clopton, husband of Elizabeth Sutcliffe. He was a Puritan and was cast out of
the pulpit for his refusal to support the Anglican Church. The next stop is Paglesham, southeast
of Rettendon, the final resting place of Elizabeth Sutcliffe. Paglesham is just across the River
Crouch from Burnham-on-Crouch, which is the sailing Mecca of County Essex. The last week in August is dubbed
Burnham Sailing Week, and the river is filled with sailors. Paglesham also has a horse race track.
Old tombstones
are often found at many medieval churches
Pushed to the
side, some used as border for flower gardens.
This one at
Rettendon lies next to the wall of a building.
And
then southwest to Eastwood, where William Clopton, their son, and the patriarch
of the American Cloptons was born.
The Reverend William Clopton died at Eastwood, about 10 miles southeast
of Rettendon, although his burial place is not known. A hotel or B&B in the vicinity of Eastwood would be a
good place to spend the night. It
is close to the seaside city of Southend-on-Sea.
County Kent, the Home of
Queens, the White Cliffs of Dover,
And Ferries to Calais,
France
County
Kent borders County Essex to the south.
Canterbury is on the River Stour.
The River Stour runs northwards and forms the border between Counties
Essex and Suffolk. Canterbury is
the center of the Anglican Church and seat of the Archbishop of
Canterbury. The cathedral houses a
magnificent collection of twelfth and thirteenth century stained glass and the
tomb of the Black Prince. Haver
Castle and Gardens near Edenbridge was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn,
one of the unfortunate wives of Henry VIII. See
One
simply cannot miss visiting the wonderful seaport villages of Kent. The renown white Cliffs of Dover are
about 16 miles southeast of Canterbury.
It is at Dover the visitor can catch a ferry to Calais, France. Situated at the point on the European
mainland close to Britain, Calais is an ideal location for visitors coming for
a day trip or a short stay. The
Tourist Office, with English speaking staff, is available to assist the traveler. To find out the details of traveling to
Calais from England and information regarding exploring the area, see
http://sig.netinfo.fr:8084/default.asp?english=1
Leeds
Castle, Maidstone is known as “the loveliest Castle in the world,” and was the
home of six of the medieval Queens of England, as well as Clopton descendant,
the infamous Henry VIII. See
London
There
are so many books readily available regarding London tours that it is not
necessary to make recommendations except to say that the Tower of London is a
Must See considering how many Cloptons and their kith and kin resided there at
one time or another. You may find
that it pays to join a tour group.
The only practical way to get into the Tower of London and other popular
sites is on a tour. Lines are long
for the general public; tours get right in. Also consider taking a bus (coach) tour of the city.
Stratford-upon-Avon
The “Other” Cloptons
Stratford-upon-Avon
is not – I repeat is not – in London. It isn’t even considered part of Greater London. The home of William Shakespeare and The Cloptons of Warwickshire is about 20 miles southeast of
Birmingham in County Warwickshire.
It takes a good two hours to drive from Stratford-upon-Avon to Heathrow
airport. It was at Stratford’s
Clopton Manor that Ambrose Rookwood, a descendant of Alice Clopton and her
husband, John Harleston, stayed before setting off to London to blow up
Parliament. See Two Hundred Men in Velvet. The Cloptons of Warwickshire and William Shakespeare formed
a close friendship and Shakespeare is buried modestly in the church which
boasts the elaborate tombs of several Cloptons. There is also a Clopton bridge.
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