7 THE VENABLES FAMILY AT MIDDLEWICH With contributions from Alan Thacker and Mike Walton

Transcription

1 7 THE VENABLES FAMILY AT MIDDLEWICH With contributions from Alan Thacker and Mike Walton In this Chapter the evidence for the decision of the Venables Family to make Kinderton Manor their principal residence in the mid 13 th century is reviewed by Alan Thacker and Mike Walton. There then follows an illustrated description and discussion about the famed Venables Screens, preserved at Saint Michael s Church. The Chapter concludes with a note on the development of the English Language, in an attempt to illustrate how the pre-conquest English spoke, how the 11 th century Normans spoke, and how the two languages fused into a single whole over the following centuries. Lord William de Venables with his cousin, Robert de La Mare, as they might have appeared in c Lord William was still resident at his principal manor of Eccleston at this date, and it appears to have been his grandson, Roger, who was the first representative of the family to reside at Kinderton from c [Painting by Graham Sumner] 81

2 THE FIRST BARON OF KNDERTON: by Alan Thacker The emergence of Kinderton as the undoubted caput of the Venables holdings is a complex story. It had certainly occurred by the 1290s, when Hugh de Venables 1 was styled of Kinderton. 2 Also relevant to this discussion is a Middlewich deed, recording the grant of a salthouse of eight leads by William, Lord of Eccleston, to one Robert Kent, in which this grant was witnessed by Radulf de Vernon and Hugh de Venables, both knights. Another deed, perhaps also of early 13 th century date, records an acknowledgement that the Abbott and Convent of Dieulacres and the monks of Poulton had permission from Lord William de Venables to take sufficient timber for support of the house at Poulton from William s lawn 3 at Eccleston. That deed was witnessed by three members of the Venables family and by Robert, clerk to the Vernons. 4 All this may suggest that, while William de Venables was head of the family, from the late 12 th century up to the 1230s, Eccleston was still perhaps his principal base. By the 1230s, however, William appears to have been establishing a new seat at Marston in Great Budworth: presumably a development of the estate which was represented as Wincham in the Domesday Survey. Andrew, Prior of Norton in the 1230s, granted him a licence to establish a domestic chapel there. 5 In the mid-1240s, William s son and heir, Hugh de Venables, granted his son and heir, Roger, the Manor of Kinderton, without any withholding 6, except only Witton and Marston and their appurtenances. 7 Shortly afterwards, Roger leased the Manor of Eccleston to the Abbott and Convent of Combermere, the lease to begin in Eccleston was again leased out by Roger to John de Grey in the 1250s 9. It looks therefore as if the whole focus of the family s interest shifted to Middlewich and Marston in the mid-13 th century, where the head of the family and his heir resided thereafter. The importance of Marston, a few miles north of Middlewich, along the Roman road, is confirmed by the fact that, in 1293, it was assigned as dower to Margaret, widow of Sir William 10, son and heir of Roger de Venables. 11 THE VENABLES FAMILY BARONS OF KINDERTON by Mike Walton Next, Mike Walton also reviews the evidence for the residence of the Venables Family at Kinderton, from which he draws very similar conclusions to Alan Thacker s. 1 Head of the family Cheshire Record Office, DVE 1/E/I/1. 3 Park? 4 Cheshire Record Office DVE 1/CII/1. 5 Ormerod, iii, Sine ullo retenemento. 7 Cheshire Record Office DVE 1/K/1. 8 Cheshire Record Office DVE 1/E/I/9. 9 Cheshire Record Office DVE 1/EI/4. 10 Died Ormerod iii,

3 Gilbert de Venables, the first of the family to settle in England was granted lands in Cheshire shortly after the Norman Conquest. The Venables pedigree There are two published pedigrees - one in Ormerod 12 and another in the transcripts of the 1580 Visitations of Cheshire as published in 1882 by the Harleian Society 13. Ormerod says that Gilbert de Venables is supposed to have derived his name from Venables in Normandy 14, and to have been a younger brother of Stephen earl of Blois. 15 There is then a footnote Leycester's MS pedigrees, preserved at Tabley. So far as the visitation is concerned; apart from the statement that Gilbert Venables was alive in the 20th year of William the Conqueror's reign (Gilbert de Venables vixit 20 Wm Conq.), presumably derived from the fact that he was named in Domesday Book in 1086, there is no mention of Gilbert's ancestry. [No conclusive evidence of Gilbert's connection with Stephen, Earl of Blois has, as yet, been forthcoming from records preserved in England. Is it possible that, despite traditions to the contrary, Gilbert was a son of Mauger de Venables, in Normandy, who is said to have been in possession of that fief some years before?] The pedigrees then differ in some other respects. However, both are based upon documents that were not contemporary with the events that they covered. Also, approximately 70 years separated the researches - Ormerod in the early 1800s and the Harleian in the years before However, a comparison of the pedigrees with contemporary documents in the Cheshire & Chester Record Office suggests that, where they differ, Ormerod is correct and the Harleian pedigree is not. When did the Venables Family settle at Kinderton? Gilbert de Venables is shown in Domesday Book as holding the following estates (in the order set out in Domesday) as a tenant of the Earl of Chester: Eccleston [nr Chester], Alpraham, Tarporley, Wettenhall, Hartford, Lymm, High Legh, Wincham, Mere, Peover, Rostherne, Hope, Newbold [Astbury], Brereton, Kinderton, Davenport, Witton, Blakenhall. The Venables Family are known now as the Barons of Kinderton. It is certain that from about at least the middle of the 13th century until the death in the late 17th century of the last of the male line, Peter Venables, (i.e. for at least about 400 out of the 600 year history of the male line in England) Kinderton was their main residence. However, whilst Kinderton was given to Gilbert de Venables among his other holdings in about 1070/71, it is likely that he settled at Eccleston, rather than at Kinderton, for a number of reasons, as follows: Domesday tended to list the holdings of the Normans in a particular order; putting the major holding, first. In the case of Gilbert, Eccleston was listed first. Eccleston is near Chester, which was then the centre of power in the County In 1071 Eccleston was 'waste' but by 1086 had been improved (by Gilbert?) so that it was worth 50s. Kinderton was 'waste' at 1071 and worth only 10s in The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, G Ormerod, 2 nd edition, 1882, vol 3 pp The Visitation of Cheshire in the year 1580, Harleian Society, vol 18, 1882, pp Added in the 2 nd Edition of Ormerod. 15 The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, G Ormerod, 2 nd edition, 1882, vol 3 p

4 The Cheshire County Sites and Monuments Record lists a mediaeval motte at Eccleston which might have been built during the settlement of Cheshire by the Normans. There is no evidence of a motte at Kinderton but it should be noted that the Normans did not construct them at all of their settlements. As such, that apparent absence would not of itself preclude Gilbert's settling there instead of at Eccleston It is likely that Eccleston was still the seat of the Venables in the early 13th century since a deed of that date shows the then William de Venables, great grandson of Gilbert, as 'Lord of Eccleston' However, it seems clear that Kinderton had become a much more valuable holding than Eccleston by the middle of the 13th century as evidenced by: The value of Middlewich at farm in was 67 and 100 in (Its value in 1237 was a third of the value of Chester.) Middlewich had had a market for some years as evidenced by the fact that "William Crispin was charged with stealing fowls in Honkyloue [Hankelow?] and selling them at Middlewich market" [Added - "He made fine for the peace of the lord of the hundred as appears in the roll of fines.] [13 January 1259/60] (There are frequent mentions of Middlewich in 'Cheshire in the Pipe Rolls, ', but none for Eccleston that I could find.) Hugh, the son of William 'Lord of Eccleston' above, is recorded as granting the manors of Eccleston and of Kinderton to his son, Roger. Roger then, in 1247, leased the Manor of Eccleston to the Abbot and Convent of Combermere for seven years and then, later, to Lord John de Grey. After noting William's description as Lord of Eccleston and other issues, Alan Thacker [see above] notes that: "By the 1230s, however, William appears to have been establishing a new seat at Marston in Great Budworth, presumably a development of the estate that was represented in Domesday as Wincham (DB 256). Andrew, prior of Norton in the 1230s, granted him a license to establish a domestic chapel there..." He then refers to Hugh's grant of Kinderton to Roger and then Roger's lease of Eccleston to the abbot and convent of Combermere and then to John de Grey and then continues "It looks therefore as if the whole focus of the family's interest shifted to Middlewich and Marston in the mid 13th century, where the head of the family and his heir thereafter resided. The importance of Marston, a few miles north of Middlewich along the Roman road, is confirmed by the fact that in 1293 it was assigned as dower to Margaret, widow of Sir William, (d 1292), son and heir of Roger de Venables..." So, on the basis of the evidence, either William, Gilbert's great grandson, towards the end of his life, or William's son, Hugh, might or might not have been settled at Kinderton, as their primary residence, but it would seem that Roger, Hugh's son was certainly settled there by By 1284, William, Roger's son, is referred to as 'of Kinderton' and, in , as 'Baron of Kinderton'. His son, Hugh, is referred to as 'Lord of Kinderton' and, thereafter, many charters/deeds refer similarly to the head of the family. 84

5 Summary Gilbert de Venables, the first of the family in England, almost certainly settled at Eccleston. His, unnamed son was probably still at Eccleston, as was his son, Gilbert, and Gilbert's son, William, 'Lord of Eccleston', who died in His son, Hugh, might have settled at Kinderton, but, almost certainly, his son, Roger (d. circa 1261), who leased Eccleston to the Abbot and Convent of Combermere in 1247 and then to Lord John de Grey, was settled at Kinderton. Roger's son, William, described as 'of Kinderton' must have been settled there, as was William's son, Hugh, 'Lord of Kinderton'. Finally, a contemporary document refers to the Court Baron of Kinderton in the earliest reference to the barony that I have yet found. [A more complete treatment, with references, may be seen on the internet at and a printed copy of that treatment has been deposited with the Cheshire & Chester Record Office.] THE VENABLES SCREENS Hidden away from casual viewing at the base of the tower of Saint Michael s Church are to be found two oak screens, which are certainly unique in Cheshire and perhaps also in England. They provide a great deal of information about local heraldry, and are an invaluable source of information about local history and Venables-related genealogy. Originally, the screens were positioned elsewhere in the church. They consist of plain lower elements, with emblazoned panels forming an heraldic frieze above. 16 These two screens were commissioned by Peter Venables 17, to record his own two marriages, those of his father, Thomas Venables, and also some 400 years of his family s many marriage-connections since the 13 th century. The screens are dated, respectively, 1632 and It is thought that the heraldic shields and crests may have been painted originally by William Smith, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, a herald at the College of Arms. He was born at Oldhaugh, Warmingham, a few miles south of Middlewich. 18 THE 1632 SCREEN The screen on the south wall of the tower 19 is dated It commemorates the two marriages of Peter Venables s father, Thomas. 20 In each case, the Coat of Arms of the wife s family is shown on a shield, beside the Arms of Venables The marriage with Elizabeth Brereton Thomas Venables s first marriage was to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Brereton of Brereton. This marriage, between two great landowning, important, powerful and influential families, had been arranged when Thomas was only 10 years of age. In due course, they had three children: a son Thomas, who died young, and two daughters. 16 Some of the colours have faded and become discoloured over the centuries. Clearly also, they have been touched-up, with incorrect colours Given their rarity and extreme historical importance, it is to be hope that these screens will one day be returned to an appropriate position in the nave of the church. 19 On the left as you go through the door into the tower

6 The marriage with Anne Gargrave After his first wife, Elizabeth, had died in 1591, Thomas Venables married Anne, a daughter of Sir Cotton Gargrave of Nostell, in Yorkshire. They had three children: Peter 21 and two daughters. Each element of the 1632 screen is topped with the Venables crest a wyvern [dragon] devouring a child. This striking device is derived from an ancient legend, in which Thomas Venables, an early member of the Venables family, was reputed to have slain a dragon that was about to eat a child, in the forest at nearby Moston. 22 The three principal elements on the 1632 Screen. From left to right: the Brereton marriage-shield; the wyvern crest of the Venables coat-of-arms; the Gargrave marriage-shield. THE 1633 SCREEN On the north wall of the tower 23 is another screen that, originally, commemorated the two marriages of Peter Venables, using the same heraldic approach as that adopted on the 1632 screen: illustrating the Arms of the wives alongside those of Venables, at each side. But the original shield on the right hand side, was over-painted in the 18 th century. Dominating the 1633 screen is a tablet that records, through heraldry, no less than 23 Venables marriages. The marriage to Frances Cholmondeley Peter Venables s first marriage was to Frances, sister of Sir Robert Cholmondeley, Baronet and later Lord Cholmondeley, Earl of Leinster. They had four sons and two daughters. The marriage to Mary Wilbraham The oval panel on the right hand side of the 1633 screen is assumed, once, to have been painted with the Coat of Arms of the Mary Wilbraham, daughter of Sir Richard Wilbraham of Woodhey, alongside the Arms of Peter Venables. They had a son and heir, Thomas Venables, who died young. But this panel was later repainted in 1762, with the Armorial bearings of George Venables-Vernon, grandson of Peter Venables s sister and heir, Mary. Thus, today, this panel commemorates George venables-vernon s elevation to the peerage, as Lord Vernon and Baron of Kinderton. 21 Who commissioned the Venables Screens. 22 Commemorated to this day in Dragon s Pool at Moston, and Dragon s Lane in Warmingham, the real origins of this legend are obscure. Some say that the dragon was an evil murderer. Alternatively, it may very plausibly have been a large and ferocious wild boar, which teemed in the forests of medieval Cheshire. 23 On your right as you go through the door into the tower. 86

7 The three principal elements of the 1633 Screen. From left to right: the Cholmondeley marriage-shield; the main tablet showing 23 Venables marriages heraldically; the Lord Venables-Vernon Coat-of-Arms. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Modern English is derived from the languages spoken by the Anglo-Saxons in the 7 th and 8 th centuries, from the language spoken by the Normans in the 10 th to 12 th centuries, and from further infusions of French -in particular during the years of the Plantagenets- of the 12 th to 15 th centuries. The examples will help the reader to see how today s English language developed from various influences, including that of the Normans after End of the ninth century Aelfred kyning hateth gretan Waeferth biscep his wordum luflice ond freonlice [MEANING: King Alfred sends his greetings to Bishop Werferth in his own words, in love and friendship.] Anglo-Saxon in c.1066 Min nama ist Wulfric ond ic cume fra Newa tun [MEANING: My name is Wulfric and I come from Newton.] A Norman in c.1070 Men nom est Dgilbert. Je viens de Venabulis en Nourmaundie [MEANING: My name is Gilbert and I come from Venables in Normandy]. 24 English of c.1225 Sumer is icumen in, llude sing cucco! [MEANING: Summer is coming in, loudly sing cuckoo! 25 English of c.1390 Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage to Canterbury with full devout corage. [NOTE: the structure of the sentence is Germanic but there are many French words]. 26 Modern English They exemplify the whole range of contemporary European imagination. [ NOTE: the Germanic structure is still present but most of the words are French]. 24 Note that, in some ways, this is closer to modern English than slightly later French. 25 Extract from The Cuckoo Song. 26 Extract from chaucer s Canterbury Tales. 87