William de Goldingham: Research & Modelling
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| Ermine, three bars wavy, gules |
William de Goldingham was a knight of Essex (holding Chigwell Manor and seisin (freehold) of Burebache Wood) and may have come into the possession of family estates at Goldingham Hall (a manor in Bulmer parish, Yorkshire) and Ryshton, Yorkshire which was held earlier by Hugh de Goldingham. Nevertheless, the chief estate for the Goldinghams was Chigwell, formerly of William Brito and believed to have come into their possession as tenancy in demesne (or ownership) some time after 1254. The manor of Grange, which gave its name to Grange Hill, was originally part of Chigwell Hall and altogether the estates must have comprised significant land holdings and income as William de Goldingham and Aline (his wife) confirmed to Robert, Abbot of Tilty, gifts to the abbey of 3 messuages (house and land) and 234½ acres of land in Chigwell in 1258. Having said that, he is generally judged a knight of average means.
The Goldingham family lineage through open sources is sketchy but we know that William de Goldingham was born in Chigwell in 1236 and that he married at age 21 to the 16 year old Alina (or Aline) le Breton on Jul 1257 at Chigwell. Alina was of Essex also, born 1241 in Layer Breton and is recorded as being the daughter of William Brito. Given the timing it may well be supposed that the demesne of Chigwell came as dowry. In any event, four years on and the young couple had a son, John de Goldinham who went on to inherit – dying himself in 1315.
A good number of Essex knights and their followers took up arms with the Montfortian rebel barons, William de Goldingham amongst them. Whether he was at Lewes or not I cannot say for certain. It appears that he survived the war but was not pardoned ‘of his trespasses’ until 28 June 1267. This timing strongly suggests that William was with the ‘Disinherited’ and amongst the garrison at the Isle of Ely which capitulated 1 June 1267. Had he previously given over to the King, I suggest he would have been captured within the ‘Dictum of Kenilworth’ when that siege had ended in December 1266. Given that previous to the outbreak of open hostilities, the record indicates stability or even accumulation of property within the Goldingham estates, his subsequent rebellion is the most likely cause for any subsequent forfeit to the crown; the most probable reason for falling in with the last, desperate revolt with the ‘Disinherited’.
So, when would a knight like Goldingham have been most likely to join with the rebellion? Given that we know that the period following Simon de Montfort’s victory as Lewes in fact saw a decline in support rather than the increase one might otherwise have expected, it seems just as likely therefore, that William was with the army from before Lewes. Furthermore, even if present at the fall of Northampton, he would have been just as likely to have broken his parole with the others and took the field at Lewes. Given the events at Evesham and the fact that Goldingham’s recorded activity would seem to post date that battle, I can be less bold in placing him there with confidence.
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| All Saints, Rushton |
Modelling: My William de Goldingham is with the knights of my cavalry for the Left Ward and is an old Essex Miniatures model (ironically) with a Gripping Beast shield. Those of you familiar with this figure may recall it comes with an integral triangular shield (an under sized one in my view) which I had to cut away. Once more I opted for a non-heraldic surcoat and in this case, a rather plain black one befitting his modest social status. His horses caparison; however, was another matter and I have come up with a speculative design based upon his arms. The image here is the unfinished model (for the finished item see the future posting on the Knights of the Left Ward: Modelling). It was taken just prior to the matt spray coat I give all my models before finishing off with the shiny metal details – Humbrol Aluminium for the maille and steel, with a dry brush of silver to highlight.
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| William de Goldingham, All Saints, Rushton |
Selected bibliography:
'Chigwell: Manors', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 4: Ongar Hundred (1956)
W. A. Copinger: Manors of Suffolk
Comments
cheers
Matt
Sara Goldingham
I've been doing a bit of digging on the Goldinghams, and also on the Knights Templar. I think you are right to place your William at the Battle of Lewes...
BUT I don't think he is the same William as the effigy in Rushton, for the following reasons:
William of Rushton's Father was Hugh de Goldingham, Steward of Rockingham Castle, his Mother was Amicia, His wife Isabella and his son was Henry.
William of Chigwell/Belstead's Father was Hugh of Willingdon, his Mother was Matilda, His wife was Aline Le Breton and he had two sons, John and Fulk. Aline inherited the lands at Gislingham and after her death, William gave his sons into the wardship of Philip Basset and donated the land at Gislingham to the Temple. The dates of death also differ.
Of course, given that Philip Basset lived in Northampton doesn't help to separate them. There may of course have been a third William in which case I am totally wrong!
William de Goldingham was the son of Hugh de Goldingham, of Chigwell manor and others, who had been granted them by William the Conqueror. Hugh was the Steward of Rockingham Castle at the time of the Barons Wars. Goldingham Hall is in Bulmer, Suffolk. It was the family seat until the 1500s. William married Aline Le Breton, who inherited Gislingham in Essex. On her death he gave Gislingham to the Knights Templar, and joined them himself.
Due to the close proximity of Paul’s Hall to Goldingham Hall in Essex I wonder if there are any familiar connections (with the Goldingham’s) and if so what they might be? Any thoughts gratefully received.
Thank you,
Les