Beaupré Hall
Encyclopedia
Beaupré Hall was a large 16th century
house mainly of brick, which was built by the Beaupres in Outwell
, Norfolk
, England
and enlarged by their successors the Bells. - shown on this . like many of Britains's country houses it was demolished in the mid-twentieth century.
from St. Omer who dwelled and "christened his domain with gallic grace, among the dull-sounding names of the danes."
The knight of St. Omer, accompanied William the Conqueror
, during his invasion of England, and "appears in the Roll of Battle Abbey
, and his descendants lived here in their place of Beaupré."
Several other St. Omer's of note are Sir Hugh de St. Omer and John de St. Omer, who according to Matthew Paris
, were known to have 'penned a counterblast' to a monk of Peterborough
who had lampooned the people of Norfolk during the reign of King John
; of which elevated them to literary fame.
A Sir Thomas de St. Omer was keeper of the wardrobe to King Henry III
. The Arms of his son a (fess between six cross-crosslets) appear on a monument, formerly in Mulbarton Church. His daughter Christian and only heir married John, the great-great-grandson of one Senulph, who lived during the reign of King Henry II
, and had issue: John dicte quoque Beaupré who lived during the reign of King Edward II, and married Katherine, daughter of Osbert Mountfort
. Their son Thomas Beaupré would be raised by his Grandmother Christian (last of the St. Omer's) after the death of both of his parents. Thomas was knighted by King Edward III, and married Joan Holbeache, and died during the reign of King Richard II. Generations later the Hall was in possession of Edmonde Beaupré, Esq. After his death in 1567, and leaving no male heirs, the hall succeeded to Sir Robert Bell, by virtue of marriage to Edmonde's daughter Dorothie in 1559; whereby his Beaupré line became extinct.
Upon Sir Robert Bell's passing following the events of the black assize of Oxford, in 1577, the hall passed to his son Edmonde, and his heirs successively until finally in 1741, Beaupre Bell, bequethed the hall to his sister who married William Greaves, of Fulbourn.
Their daughter Jane brought it by marriage to the Townley family
, who held Beaupré Hall until it passed into the hands of Mr. Edward Fordham Newling, and his brother.
Main construction of the Hall was carried out during the lives of Nicholas Beaupré and his wife Margaret Fodringhay. Expansions in architecture was undertaken resulting in a number of successive enlargements, and in the end consisted of over 30 interior rooms. The Hall, Emerging from the South-West end, stretched North-East, with an additional wing branching out North-West, at an angle to make a chapel. These structures date from the early 16th century and had corners that were fortified with semi-Gothic spirelets
, that were also added to later additions throughout the years.
Phase II (1531–1570)
A turreted Gate House was added circa., 1530, and placed in front of the entry facing South-East. This structure was built upon an old model, probably, by Edmonde Beaupré during the time of his marriage with Margaret the daughter of Sir John Wiseman, servant to the 15th Earl of Oxford
. His second wife, Katherine Wynter (widow of John Wynter of Great Yarmouth*) was the daughter of Phillip Bedingfeld of Ditchingham Hall.
Phase III (1571–1577)
After Edmonde Beaupre's death in 1567, the hall was enlarged by the Bells, and new construction and renovations included:
Demolishing and rebuilding the body of East wing of the old house. (where the living quarters were located)
Refitting the North-East section with porches on each side which had upper levels, and bay's in front. From this section a large wing was added spanning South East (demolished circa 1850), and a small wall was built connecting the wing to the North-East section of the Gate House, which effectively enclosed the area to make a court yard.
Around 1570, the South west end of the Gate House, was fitted with a new building that connected a Gated section of wall to the south-west wing, making another court yard. This wing spanned north-west to the main block, and from the main block extended the chapel
which had an altar piece in the far North-West end.
Phase IV (1577-1935)
Aside from several rooms on the first floor and the main door which had 16th century linenfold
paneling, the Hall was variously altered internally by its successors (some negligent
) from the 16th century. These alterations included a 17th century fire place, Georgian Wainscoting, and other 18th century paneling. Despite further unfortunate alterations to the back of the Hall during the 19th century, by the early 20th century the Hall was not inhabited and what was left of the building was mostly a ruin.
The entry had four centered arches connected to four towers built mostly of brick with stone dressings and upper caps made of ashlar
. The second floor of the Gate House was a drawing room, lit by square headed windows decorated with stone mullion
s and transom
, and was fitted with a fine Elizabethan fireplace, which had a marble frame and accompanying wood mantelpiece.
The mantelpiece enclosed the fireplace from the floor to the ceiling and had early Jacobean architecture
style paneling with a pair of trimmed arches that were encased and separated by ornate columns, directly above the center of the marble arch frame. Each trimmed arch panel displayed a heraldic relief carving:
The Armes as they appeared on the left or North-West side of the mantelpiece featured the Arms borne by Bell. A Jacobean style pillar, separated this coat and arch from the other where appeared the quartered and impaled Arms of Beaupre: From the sinister
top appear the quarters of Edmonde Beaupre/St. Omer-Fodringhay/ and Baulney Bottom: Dorewood-Coggeshall-and Harske.
The Matrimonial landmarks of the family history of the hall are recorded in beautiful heraldic glass panels that date from 1570. The Beaupré panels are slightly larger and older than the Bell panels, throughout the mantling
is particularly fine.
Several coats were reconstructed after suffering damage. The fragments of one particular style of mantling have been incorporated within the various reconstructed Arms. Several coats are repeated in the quarterings
of the various panels.
The following coats occur and have been blazoned accordingly:
, Beaupré Hall was used by the RAF
. From this point the Hall fell into a state of further disrepair until its saddening demolition in 1966. During the fifties the grounds of the hall and the barrack huts that had been erected by the RAF, were used to house students on the 'Holidays With Pay' scheme run by the government. In the book The Bedside Companion for Ghost
hunters by Ingrid Pitt there is an account of a ghost seen by a couple of students who entered the Hall at night. Legends of headless horsemen, and other spirits roaming the hall, have also been reported.
16th century
As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century lasted from 1501 to 1600. It is regarded by historians as the century in which the rise of the West occurred....
house mainly of brick, which was built by the Beaupres in Outwell
Outwell
Outwell is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk The village is west of Norwich, south-west of King's Lynn and north of London. The nearest town is Wisbech which is north west of the village. The Village is on the route of the A1101 Bury St. Edmunds to Long Sutton road...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and enlarged by their successors the Bells. - shown on this . like many of Britains's country houses it was demolished in the mid-twentieth century.
History of the Hall
The history of Hall begins with its family origins, a NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
from St. Omer who dwelled and "christened his domain with gallic grace, among the dull-sounding names of the danes."
The knight of St. Omer, accompanied William the Conqueror
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, during his invasion of England, and "appears in the Roll of Battle Abbey
Battle Abbey
Battle Abbey is a partially ruined abbey complex in the small town of Battle in East Sussex, England. The abbey was built on the scene of the Battle of Hastings and dedicated to St...
, and his descendants lived here in their place of Beaupré."
Several other St. Omer's of note are Sir Hugh de St. Omer and John de St. Omer, who according to Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris was a Benedictine monk, English chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire...
, were known to have 'penned a counterblast' to a monk of Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
who had lampooned the people of Norfolk during the reign of King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
; of which elevated them to literary fame.
A Sir Thomas de St. Omer was keeper of the wardrobe to King Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. The Arms of his son a (fess between six cross-crosslets) appear on a monument, formerly in Mulbarton Church. His daughter Christian and only heir married John, the great-great-grandson of one Senulph, who lived during the reign of King Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, and had issue: John dicte quoque Beaupré who lived during the reign of King Edward II, and married Katherine, daughter of Osbert Mountfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
. Their son Thomas Beaupré would be raised by his Grandmother Christian (last of the St. Omer's) after the death of both of his parents. Thomas was knighted by King Edward III, and married Joan Holbeache, and died during the reign of King Richard II. Generations later the Hall was in possession of Edmonde Beaupré, Esq. After his death in 1567, and leaving no male heirs, the hall succeeded to Sir Robert Bell, by virtue of marriage to Edmonde's daughter Dorothie in 1559; whereby his Beaupré line became extinct.
Upon Sir Robert Bell's passing following the events of the black assize of Oxford, in 1577, the hall passed to his son Edmonde, and his heirs successively until finally in 1741, Beaupre Bell, bequethed the hall to his sister who married William Greaves, of Fulbourn.
Their daughter Jane brought it by marriage to the Townley family
Towneley (family)
The Towneley or Townley family are an English recusant family whose ancestry can be traced back to Norman England. They take their name from Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire, which was the family seat until its sale in 1901.-The Towneleys of Towneley Hall:...
, who held Beaupré Hall until it passed into the hands of Mr. Edward Fordham Newling, and his brother.
Construction and architecture
Phase I (1500–1530)Main construction of the Hall was carried out during the lives of Nicholas Beaupré and his wife Margaret Fodringhay. Expansions in architecture was undertaken resulting in a number of successive enlargements, and in the end consisted of over 30 interior rooms. The Hall, Emerging from the South-West end, stretched North-East, with an additional wing branching out North-West, at an angle to make a chapel. These structures date from the early 16th century and had corners that were fortified with semi-Gothic spirelets
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, that were also added to later additions throughout the years.
Phase II (1531–1570)
A turreted Gate House was added circa., 1530, and placed in front of the entry facing South-East. This structure was built upon an old model, probably, by Edmonde Beaupré during the time of his marriage with Margaret the daughter of Sir John Wiseman, servant to the 15th Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford is a dormant title in the Peerage of England, held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141 until the death of the 20th earl in 1703. The Veres were also hereditary holders of the office of master or Lord Great Chamberlain from 1133 until the death of the 18th Earl in 1625...
. His second wife, Katherine Wynter (widow of John Wynter of Great Yarmouth*) was the daughter of Phillip Bedingfeld of Ditchingham Hall.
Phase III (1571–1577)
After Edmonde Beaupre's death in 1567, the hall was enlarged by the Bells, and new construction and renovations included:
Demolishing and rebuilding the body of East wing of the old house. (where the living quarters were located)
Refitting the North-East section with porches on each side which had upper levels, and bay's in front. From this section a large wing was added spanning South East (demolished circa 1850), and a small wall was built connecting the wing to the North-East section of the Gate House, which effectively enclosed the area to make a court yard.
Around 1570, the South west end of the Gate House, was fitted with a new building that connected a Gated section of wall to the south-west wing, making another court yard. This wing spanned north-west to the main block, and from the main block extended the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
which had an altar piece in the far North-West end.
Phase IV (1577-1935)
Aside from several rooms on the first floor and the main door which had 16th century linenfold
Linenfold
Linenfold is a simple style of relief carving used to decorate wood panelling with a design "imitating window tracery", "imitating folded linen" or "stiffly imitating folded material". Originally from Flanders, the style became widespread across Northern Europe in the 14th to 16th centuries...
paneling, the Hall was variously altered internally by its successors (some negligent
Beaupre Bell
Beaupré Bell Esq. was an English antiquary, of Beaupré Hall, Norfolk.Beaupré Bell was the first son of Beaupré Bell Esq., and Margaret, the daughter of Sir Anthony Oldfield, and was a fifth generation descendant of Sir Robert Bell and his wife Dorthie, of the old family of Beaupré or De Bello...
) from the 16th century. These alterations included a 17th century fire place, Georgian Wainscoting, and other 18th century paneling. Despite further unfortunate alterations to the back of the Hall during the 19th century, by the early 20th century the Hall was not inhabited and what was left of the building was mostly a ruin.
Gate House and Heraldry
The Gate House was built around 1525, and was rebuilt and fortified until the time of Edmonde Bell.The entry had four centered arches connected to four towers built mostly of brick with stone dressings and upper caps made of ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
. The second floor of the Gate House was a drawing room, lit by square headed windows decorated with stone mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
s and transom
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
, and was fitted with a fine Elizabethan fireplace, which had a marble frame and accompanying wood mantelpiece.
The mantelpiece enclosed the fireplace from the floor to the ceiling and had early Jacobean architecture
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
style paneling with a pair of trimmed arches that were encased and separated by ornate columns, directly above the center of the marble arch frame. Each trimmed arch panel displayed a heraldic relief carving:
The Armes as they appeared on the left or North-West side of the mantelpiece featured the Arms borne by Bell. A Jacobean style pillar, separated this coat and arch from the other where appeared the quartered and impaled Arms of Beaupre: From the sinister
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
top appear the quarters of Edmonde Beaupre/St. Omer-Fodringhay/ and Baulney Bottom: Dorewood-Coggeshall-and Harske.
The Matrimonial landmarks of the family history of the hall are recorded in beautiful heraldic glass panels that date from 1570. The Beaupré panels are slightly larger and older than the Bell panels, throughout the mantling
Mantling
In heraldry, mantling or lambrequin is drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield. In paper heraldry it is a depiction of the protective cloth covering worn by knights from their helmets to stave off the elements, and, secondarily, to decrease the effects of...
is particularly fine.
Several coats were reconstructed after suffering damage. The fragments of one particular style of mantling have been incorporated within the various reconstructed Arms. Several coats are repeated in the quarterings
Quartering (heraldry)
Quartering in heraldry is a method of joining several different coats of arms together in one shield by dividing the shield into equal parts and placing different coats of arms in each division....
of the various panels.
The following coats occur and have been blazoned accordingly:
- The Arms of Thomas Beaupré (ArgentArgentIn heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
on a BendBend (heraldry)In heraldry, a bend is a coloured band running from the upper right corner of the shield to the lower left . Writers differ in how much of the field they say it covers, ranging from one-fifth up to one-third...
AzureAzureIn heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
three cross crosslets OrOr (heraldry)In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
)-quartering St. Omer (a fessFessIn heraldry, a fess or fesse is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary, ranging from one-fifth to one-third...
between three cross crosslets) impaling the Arms of his wife Margaret daughter of John Meeres d. 1471 (a fess between three water bougets erminy). - Beaupré-quartering St. Omer- impaling -Fotheringhay, (Gules a cross indented Argent), and Baulney (argent an eagle displayed azureAzureIn heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
membered Or) and DorewodJohn Doreward-Early life:Outside the affairs of parliament, little is known of Doreward. He was apparently the son of William Doreward of Bocking, Essex who was a member of parliament for Essex in the eighteenth and twentieth parliaments of Edward III...
of Dorewoods Hall, Bocking, Essex- (Erminy on a chevron Sable three crescents Or) -and Harske (Or a Chief indented sable). - Beaupré-ArgentArgentIn heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
on a BendBend (heraldry)In heraldry, a bend is a coloured band running from the upper right corner of the shield to the lower left . Writers differ in how much of the field they say it covers, ranging from one-fifth up to one-third...
AzureAzureIn heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
three cross crosslets OrOr (heraldry)In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
quartering St. Omer (a fessFessIn heraldry, a fess or fesse is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary, ranging from one-fifth to one-third...
between three crossCrossA cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
crosslets) impaling Mountford of Feltwell (argent three fleurs-de-lis gulesGulesIn heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
). - Beaupré-quartering St. Omer quartering Fotheringhay.
- Beaupré-quartering St. Omer impaling Fotheringhay.
- Thomas Fotheringhay, (Sable a cross indented Argent).
- Sir William Coggeshall, High Sheriff of Essex,(Sable a cross between four escallopsScallopA scallop is a marine bivalve mollusk of the family Pectinidae. Scallops are a cosmopolitan family, found in all of the world's oceans. Many scallops are highly prized as a food source...
) married Antiocha Hawkwood, daughter of Sir John HawkwoodJohn HawkwoodSir John Hawkwood was an English mercenary or condottiero who was active in 14th century Italy. The French chronicler Jean Froissart knew him as Jean Haccoude and Italians as Giovanni Acuto...
. - Fotheringhay.
- Bell, (Sable a Fess Ermine between three church Bells Argent).
- Sir Robert Bell.
- Bell impaling HarringtonJohn Harington, 1st Baron Harington of ExtonJohn Harington was an English courtier and politician.-Life:He was the son of James Harington and was knighted in 1584...
,(Sable a fret Argent). - Beaupré quartering Fotheringhay.
- Bell quartering Beaupré.
- Beaupré impaling Fotheringhay.
Final years
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Beaupré Hall was used by the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. From this point the Hall fell into a state of further disrepair until its saddening demolition in 1966. During the fifties the grounds of the hall and the barrack huts that had been erected by the RAF, were used to house students on the 'Holidays With Pay' scheme run by the government. In the book The Bedside Companion for Ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
hunters by Ingrid Pitt there is an account of a ghost seen by a couple of students who entered the Hall at night. Legends of headless horsemen, and other spirits roaming the hall, have also been reported.