Audley Places in Cambridgeshire

Commemorative Brass to {ZZ6} William Audley in All Saints Church, Horseheath and

Audley Way, Horseheath This page also contains a brief history of the village of Horseheath.

See below for his Family Tree

      Brass of {Z19} Thomas Audley in St James’ Church in the village of Audley Staffordshire

      Brass of {Z38} John Touchet Lord Audley in St James Church, Shere, Surrey

Horseheath was known to the Romans, and it had for a while a fine house in a great park, but both are now gone. Now it has a few old houses, to keep company with its 600 year old church containing Norman fragments. The fine nave, a blaze of light from great transomed windows, is 15th century, and its lofty height is crowned by a noble roof with a great span, with massive moulded beams and carved bosses. The oak chancel screen also dates from the 15th century and still has traces of painting in its panels. There is a 16th century sundial. It has a 500 year old font, and treasured brasses and monuments of lords and ladies of its greater days. They were the Audleys and the Alingtons. A fragment of old glass in the church has the shield of the Audleys, one of whom distinguished himself at the Battle of Poitiers, in 1356. A brass portrait in the church shows William Audley, who was alive at the time, standing with his feet on a lion, magnificent in armour and with a very long sword. Near him is the brass of Sir Robert Alington, Knt., laid to rest in May 1552. (Sir Robert had been married to Margaret, daughter of Sir William Coningsby, Knt., King’s Justice).

Link to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseheath

The parish is first recorded in the Domesday Book as “Horseth”. William the Conqueror gave the land to the de Vere family: the Earls of Oxford at Hedingham Castle. They passed it on to the Audley family; there is a very fine brass memorial to William Audley in the church dated 1366. After his death the manor passed to the Alington family who held it for 300 years then the Bromleys (1700-1776) and finally the Batsons (1776-1925), before the manor was broken up into separate farms.

Information about Horseheath Hall on the fortified England website contradicts the information from the leaflet in the church in that the fortified England website  indicated that the Audley family lived at Horseheath Hall rather than Hedingham Castle.

*                                  Medieval moat.

1199                            Possibly held by Walter de Capeles.

1217                            Walters lands were restored to him following a rebellion.

1247                            Held by Sir Peter of Melling, through his wife, Joan.

1259                            Held by Sir {Z6} James de Audley

1272                            {Z6} Sir James de Audley died and was succeeded by his son, {Z7} James.

1273                            {Z7} James died and was succeeded by his brother {Z8} Henry.

1276                           {Z8} Henry died and his brother {Z9}William inherited. The widow of {ZZ1} Robert                                                       de Beauchamp of Somerset, {ZZ2} Alice, stated that {Z6} James (Senior) had                                                                      granted  the manor to her.

1278                            {Z9} William released the manor to {ZZ2} Alice and her son, {ZZ3} James.

1282                           {ZZ2} Alice died.

c1286                          {ZZ3} James died. He had taken the name Audley, and left his son, {ZZ4} James a                                                       minor, to inherit the hall.

1302-1305                   Occupied by {Z23} Hugh de Audley.

1313                            The manor was handed back to {ZZ2} Alice’s grandson, {ZZ4} James.

1335                           {ZZ4} James died.

1336-1362                   James’ widow, {ZZ5} Margaret, held it for their son, {ZZ6} William.

1365                            {ZZ6} William died. (it is his memorial brass that is in Horseheath Church).                                                                   His brother, {ZZ7} Thomas inherited.

1372                            {ZZ7}Thomas died leaving a young son, {ZZ8}James, who died young.

1378                            The  manor passed to {ZZ7} Thomas’ daughter, {ZZ9} Elizabeth.

1384                            {ZZ9} Elizabeth and her husband, {ZZ10} John Rose held the manor.

1387                            {ZZ9} Elizabeth left it to her former guardian, John Sibill and his wife, Joan

1395                            Held by Sir Philip Sinclair, great grandson of {ZZ4} James Audley.

1397                            Bought by William Allington