Audley Family History -

Commemorative Brass to {ZA65} William Audley in All Saints Church, Horseheath

Memorial to {ZA65} William de Audley (died 1365) in the chancel

floor of All Saints Church, Horseheath

See below for his Family Tree

Links to Other Audley Brasses

On this website there are three brasses commemorating various members of the Audley Family. The following links will take you to the other brasses;

• • •       Commemorative Brass of {ZA19} Thomas Audley in St James' Church in the village of Audley Staffordshire
    •       Commemorative Brass of {ZC4} John Touchet Lord Audley in St James Church, Shere, Surrey

Horseheath from Wikipedia

Wikipedia has the following information about the Audley Family in Horseheath:

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

Audley Way Horseheath

Church Leaflet

Information from a leaflet in the church states:

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 from  former "Fortified-Britain" website

Information about Horseheath Hall that was displayed on the formerFortified Britain Websitecontradicts 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 {ZA6} James de Audley

1272                            {ZA6} Sir James de Audley died and was succeeded by his son, {ZA7} James de  Audley.

1273                            {ZA7} James died and was succeeded by his brother {ZA8} Henry.

1276                           {ZA8} Henry de Audley died and his brother {ZA9} William  de Audley inherited. The widow of  Robert de Beauchamp of Somerset, Alice, Mohun stated that {ZA6} James (Senior) had granted the manor to her (as she bore his illegitimate son).

1278                            {ZA9} William de Audleyreleased the manor to Alice Mohun and  her son, {ZA63} James. (the illegitimate son of {ZA6} James Audley by Alice Mohun the widow of Robert de Beauchamp

1282                           Alice Mohun, the widow of Robet de Beauchamp died.

c1286                          {ZA63} James died. He had taken the name Audley, and left his son, {ZA64} James  de Audley a minor, to inherit the hall.

1302-1305                   Occupied by {ZA23} Hugh de Audley.

1313                            The manor was handed back to  Alice Mohun's grandson, {ZA64} James Audley.

1335                           {ZA64} James Audley died.

1336-1362                   Margaret the widow of {ZA64} James Audley , held it for their son, {ZA65} William Audley

1365                            {ZA65} William died. (it is his memorial brass that is in Horseheath Church).  His brother, {ZA66} Thomas inherited.

1372                            {ZA66}Thomas died leaving a young son, {ZA67}James, who died young.

1378                            The  manor passed to {ZA68}  Elizabeth Audley the daughter of {ZA66} Thomas Audley..

1384                            {ZA68} Elizabeth Audley and her husband, John Rose held the manor.

1387                            {ZA68} Elizabeth left it to her former guardian, John Sibill and his wife, Joan

1395                            Held by Sir Philip Sinclair, great grandson of {ZA64} James Audley.

1397                            Bought by William Allington

 Family  History of {ZA65} William Audley who was Buried at  Horseheath Church

  The family tree of William Audley who was buried at Horseheath Church