Dauntsey
Encyclopedia
Dauntsey is a small village in the county of Wiltshire
in England
. It gives its name to the Dauntsey Vale
in which it lies and takes its name from Saxon for Dantes- eig, or Dante's island. It is set on slightly higher ground in the flood plain of the early Bristol Avon.
Today, the village is split by the M4 motorway
, with a chain of historic smaller settlements spread either side of the motorway: Dauntsey Green, Dauntsey Church at the entrance to Dauntsey Park, and Sodom and Dauntsey Lock on the eastern side of the motorway. Dauntsey Lock is on the former Wilts and Berks Canal
(presently being restored), the course of which runs alongside the Bristol-London mainline railway.
Ceppus or Cippus signifies in mediaeval Latin "stocks
" in which a felon's legs and feet were locked.
(d.1416) of Dyrham
, Gloucestershire, who had only 2 daughters by his first wife. Joan produced for him a son and heir Thomas who nevertheless died as a young man in 1431 leaving a pregnant wife named Joan, whose resulting daughter named Margery died aged 2 days. Thus ended the line of Russell of Dyrham. Joan Dauntsey married again, almost immediately after Russell's death, to Sir John Stradling(d.1435) the 2nd son of the lord of St Donat's Castle
in Glamorgan. The marriage was possibly arranged by Russell's son-in-law Sir Gilbert Denys
(d.1422) who was from Glamorgan and was related to the Stradlings. Stradling thus obtained a life interest in Joan's dower, consisting of 1/3 of the Russell manors. The marriage was conducted with such haste that the obtaining of the necessary royal licence for a widow of a tenant-in-chief
to re-marry had been overlooked. The couple were fined heavily in 1417 for their transgression, as the following entry in the Patent Rolls dated 8 July 1418 reveals:
Thereupon commenced the Stradling family of Wiltshire. In 1428 a feudal aid was assessed on John Stradling for the manor of Dauntsey in the hundred of Malmesbury. He was then also lord of the manors of Smethcote and Castle Combe
.Unexpectedly, during her marriage to Stradling Joan inherited the entire Dauntsey patrimony on the early death without progeny of her brother Sir Walter Dauntsey.
Joan outlived Stradling and married 3rdly John Dewale, with whom she is buried as is witnessed by an alabaster slab in front of the high altar in St James's Church, showing the couple lifesize, he being dressed in full armour. Around the margin of the slab runs a much obliterated inscription:
In English:
Above her head are the armorials of Dauntesy, severely worn away, and above Dewale's head is his shield of arms on which only a chevron can now be seen. Dauntsey folklore relates that the parish priest named Cuthbert murdered Edward, the last male member of the Stradling family. The murder was caught on the evidence of a kitchen boy who had hidden himself in an oven and was an eyewitness. Cuthbert was said to have starved to death hanging in a cage from a tree in the gardens.
, he died in 1655, his coffin was to be dug up and destroyed as a traitor but it was never found.
In the 14th century the nave, north and south aisles were added. The north chapel and bell tower were built by the Danvers family in the 17th century. In 1763 it was given the name St James the Great of Dauntsey. There are many historical features in the church, from dates etched into pews by bored youngsters to the prime historical feature the 14th century doom board; one of only five in the country. It is situated above the rood screen
with Christ in the centre of the top. The two characters under Jesus are John and Mary the mother of Jesus, these have been over painted in the past by residents of the manor house who had themselves put into the painting. To the right are two figures Adam and Eve being cast out of the garden of Eden by St Michael whelding his sword. At the bottom left are the dead in their shrouds, some have discarded their shrouds and are on their way to St Peter's gate and the others are headed for the yaws of the Devil depicted by a firebreathing monster at the bottom right. The painting was designed to put the fear of God into all who looked upon it. The First World War memorial window situated at the east end of the south aisle was designed and made by Kempe and Tower whose logo, a black tower above a golden garb or wheatsheaf, can be seen on the bottom left of the window. There are more features, including the ceiling and oak boxed pews. The church is open on Sundays throughout the summer.
situated on the GWR line between London and Bristol. It had three platforms one of which was used for trains between Dauntsey and Malmesbury and the other two for the main line.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in 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...
. It gives its name to the Dauntsey Vale
Dauntsey Vale
The Dauntsey Vale is a geographical feature in the north of the English county of Wiltshire.It is characterised by a wide flat clay flood plain of the upper reaches of the Bristol Avon river, which divides the Cotswolds to the west with the chalk downland of east and south Wiltshire to the east.It...
in which it lies and takes its name from Saxon for Dantes- eig, or Dante's island. It is set on slightly higher ground in the flood plain of the early Bristol Avon.
Today, the village is split by the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
, with a chain of historic smaller settlements spread either side of the motorway: Dauntsey Green, Dauntsey Church at the entrance to Dauntsey Park, and Sodom and Dauntsey Lock on the eastern side of the motorway. Dauntsey Lock is on the former Wilts and Berks Canal
Wilts and Berks Canal
The Wilts & Berks Canal is a canal in the historic counties of Wiltshire and Berkshire, England, linking the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington, near Melksham, to the River Thames at Abingdon. The North Wilts Canal merged with it to become a branch to the Thames and Severn Canal at Latton near...
(presently being restored), the course of which runs alongside the Bristol-London mainline railway.
de Dauntsey family
The family which took its name from the manor of Dauntsey is said by Macnamara, op.cit, originally to have been called "Oldstock", which he deduced from its Latinised name Vetus Ceppus in early charters.Ceppus or Cippus signifies in mediaeval Latin "stocks
Stocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
" in which a felon's legs and feet were locked.
Stradling
The oldest memorial in the church is that of Joan Dauntesey who died c.1455 and her 3rd husband John Dewale who preceded her. Joan was the daughter of Sir John Dauntesey who died in 1413 and it was through her that the Dauntsey Estate went to the Stradling family. Joan was born c. 1394, and when very young became the second wife of the elderly Sir Maurice RussellMaurice Russell, knight
Sir Maurice Russell of Kingston Russell, Dorset and Dyrham, Glos. was a prominent member of the Gloucestershire gentry, the 3rd son, but eventual heir of Ralph Russell and his wife Alice. He was knighted between June and December 1385 and served twice as Knight of the Shire for Gloucestershire in...
(d.1416) of Dyrham
Dyrham
Dyrham is a village and parish in South Gloucestershire, England.-Location and communications:Dyrham is at lat. 51° 29' north, long. 2° 22' west . It lies at an altitude of 100 metres above sea level. It is near the A46 trunk road, about north of Bath and a little south of the M4 motorway...
, Gloucestershire, who had only 2 daughters by his first wife. Joan produced for him a son and heir Thomas who nevertheless died as a young man in 1431 leaving a pregnant wife named Joan, whose resulting daughter named Margery died aged 2 days. Thus ended the line of Russell of Dyrham. Joan Dauntsey married again, almost immediately after Russell's death, to Sir John Stradling(d.1435) the 2nd son of the lord of St Donat's Castle
St Donat's Castle
St Donat's Castle is a medieval castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, overlooking the Bristol Channel in the village of St Donat's near Llantwit Major, and about 25km west of Cardiff...
in Glamorgan. The marriage was possibly arranged by Russell's son-in-law Sir Gilbert Denys
Gilbert Denys, knight
Sir Gilbert Denys of Siston, Gloucestershire, was a soldier, and later an administrator. He was knighted by Jan 1385, and was twice knight of the shire for Gloucestershire constituency, in 1390 and 1395 and served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire 1393-4...
(d.1422) who was from Glamorgan and was related to the Stradlings. Stradling thus obtained a life interest in Joan's dower, consisting of 1/3 of the Russell manors. The marriage was conducted with such haste that the obtaining of the necessary royal licence for a widow of a tenant-in-chief
Tenant-in-chief
In medieval and early modern European society the term tenant-in-chief, sometimes vassal-in-chief, denoted the nobles who held their lands as tenants directly from king or territorial prince to whom they did homage, as opposed to holding them from another nobleman or senior member of the clergy....
to re-marry had been overlooked. The couple were fined heavily in 1417 for their transgression, as the following entry in the Patent Rolls dated 8 July 1418 reveals:
"Pardon, for 40 marks paid in the hanaper, to John Stradlyng, chivaler, and Joan late the wife of Maurice Russell, chivaler, tenant in chief, of their trespass in intermarrying without licence."
Thereupon commenced the Stradling family of Wiltshire. In 1428 a feudal aid was assessed on John Stradling for the manor of Dauntsey in the hundred of Malmesbury. He was then also lord of the manors of Smethcote and Castle Combe
Castle Combe
Castle Combe is a small village in Wiltshire, England, with a population of about 350. It is renowned for its attractiveness and tranquillity, and for fine buildings including the medieval church. The 14th century market cross, erected when the privilege to hold a weekly market in Castle Combe was...
.Unexpectedly, during her marriage to Stradling Joan inherited the entire Dauntsey patrimony on the early death without progeny of her brother Sir Walter Dauntsey.
Joan outlived Stradling and married 3rdly John Dewale, with whom she is buried as is witnessed by an alabaster slab in front of the high altar in St James's Church, showing the couple lifesize, he being dressed in full armour. Around the margin of the slab runs a much obliterated inscription:
Hic jacet Johannes Dewale armiger et Domina Johanna uxor eius quondam uxor Domini Mauricii Russel militis qui quondam Johannes Dewale obiit mense...die ultimo MCCCC...III. Et prefata Johanna obiit in primo die anno Dom....Quorum (aiabus p'pcietur ?) Deus. Amen
In English:
"Here lies John Dewale, esquire, and lady Joan his wife once wife of Maurice Russell, knight, which said John Dewale died in the month...on the last day 14...3. And the foresaid Joan died on the first day A.D....Of whom (may God spare their souls?). Amen"
Above her head are the armorials of Dauntesy, severely worn away, and above Dewale's head is his shield of arms on which only a chevron can now be seen. Dauntsey folklore relates that the parish priest named Cuthbert murdered Edward, the last male member of the Stradling family. The murder was caught on the evidence of a kitchen boy who had hidden himself in an oven and was an eyewitness. Cuthbert was said to have starved to death hanging in a cage from a tree in the gardens.
Danvers
Edward Stradling's sister Anne married Sir John Danvers and so introduced the Danvers family to Dauntsey. To the north of the chancel is the tomb of Sir John and Lady Anne. Above the tomb are fragments of a stained glass window with Sir John and his wife kneeling with their sons and daughters. Anne outlived her husband by 25yrs, she had a canopied tomb built for her on the south wall of the chancel. To the north of the chancel stands the chapel that houses the marble tomb of Henry Danvers, created 1st Earl of Danby by Charles 1, on the east end of the tomb is an epitaph written to his step father by the George Herbert the Elizabethan poet who stayed some time at Dauntsey Park. On the north wall of the chapel is the Bissett Memorial noting a charitable distribution of coal to the poor. On Henry's death in 1643 the estate passed to his younger brother Sir John named after his grandfather. His political views differed from his brothers, he sat in judgement on Charles 1 and with the restoration was condemned as a regicideRegicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
, he died in 1655, his coffin was to be dug up and destroyed as a traitor but it was never found.
Mordaunt
As a result the estate and church were forfeited to the Crown and then granted to the Mordaunt family in 1690, whose name is linked with Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough. The arms of the Earl can be seen above the South door.20th century
In the 20 century, Lord and Lady Meux occupied the house and Lady Meux left her mark on the church by removing the original stained glass window and replacing it with another in memory of Sir Henry Meux.St James the Great Church
St James the Great Church, situated on the edge of the village, can be accurately dated back to 1177 when Malmesbury Abbey claimed it. In 1263 it was gifted to the Lord of Dauntsey Park House and has belonged to the village ever since.In the 14th century the nave, north and south aisles were added. The north chapel and bell tower were built by the Danvers family in the 17th century. In 1763 it was given the name St James the Great of Dauntsey. There are many historical features in the church, from dates etched into pews by bored youngsters to the prime historical feature the 14th century doom board; one of only five in the country. It is situated above the rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
with Christ in the centre of the top. The two characters under Jesus are John and Mary the mother of Jesus, these have been over painted in the past by residents of the manor house who had themselves put into the painting. To the right are two figures Adam and Eve being cast out of the garden of Eden by St Michael whelding his sword. At the bottom left are the dead in their shrouds, some have discarded their shrouds and are on their way to St Peter's gate and the others are headed for the yaws of the Devil depicted by a firebreathing monster at the bottom right. The painting was designed to put the fear of God into all who looked upon it. The First World War memorial window situated at the east end of the south aisle was designed and made by Kempe and Tower whose logo, a black tower above a golden garb or wheatsheaf, can be seen on the bottom left of the window. There are more features, including the ceiling and oak boxed pews. The church is open on Sundays throughout the summer.
Transport
Dauntsey used to have a railway stationDauntsey railway station
Dauntsey railway station served the village of Dauntsey, Wiltshire from 1869 to 1965. It was situated on the Great Western Main Line which runs from London to Bristol....
situated on the GWR line between London and Bristol. It had three platforms one of which was used for trains between Dauntsey and Malmesbury and the other two for the main line.
Sources
- Macnamara, F.N., Memorials of the Danvers Family, 1895 http://www.archive.org/details/memorialsofdanve00macn
- Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Welsh Biography Online, Stradling http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-STRA-MOR-1275.html?query=stradling&field=name
- Victoria County History, Wiltshire, vol. 14, 1991, Malmesbury Hundred, Dauntsey, pp. 65–75 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=116142
- Histed, Lucy. A Guide to St James the Great, Dauntsey, c.2007 (Booklet in church)