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Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury is in Shrewsbury, Shropshire [Map].
Around 1190 William Burnell was born to William Burnell (age 18) at Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury.
Around 1247 William Burnell (age 57) died at Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury.
Around 1260 Phillip Burnell was born to Hugh Burnell (age 35) at Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury.
In 1290 Maud Burnell Baroness Lovel and Burnell was born to Phillip Burnell (age 25) and Matilda aka Maud Fitzalan (age 27) at Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury. She married (1) John Lovell 2nd Baron Lovel, son of John Lovell 1st Baron Lovel and Joan Ros Baroness Lovel, and had issue (2) 1315 John Haudlo aka Burnell and had issue.
William Burnell was born to William Burnell at Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury.
Acton Burnell Castle is also in Castles in Shropshire.
On 1st August 1264 Phillip Burnell was born to Hugh Burnell (age 21) at Acton Burnell Castle [Map]. He married Matilda aka Maud Fitzalan, daughter of John Fitzalan 7th Earl of Arundel and Isabella Mortimer Countess Arundel, and had issue.
In 1315 Edward Burnell (age 29) died. Baron Burnell extinct. His widow Aline Despencer Baroness Burnell retained Acton Burnell Castle [Map]. His sister Maud Burnell Baroness Lovel and Burnell (age 25) inherited his estates.
On 5th August 1346 John Haudlo aka Burnell (age 79) died at Acton Burnell Castle [Map].
Around 1347 Hugh Burnell 2nd Baron Burnell was born to Nicholas Haudlo Burnell 1st Baron Burnell (age 21) at Acton Burnell Castle [Map]. He married (1) 1375 Philippa Pole Baroness Burnell, daughter of Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk, and had issue (2) March 1386 Joyce Botetort 3rd Baroness Botetort (3) before 29th January 1408 his fifth cousin once removed Joan Devereux 3rd Baroness Devereux Baroness Burnell, daughter of John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux and Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 7th November 1827 John Smythe 8th Baronet was born to Edward Joseph Smythe 6th Baronet (age 40) at Acton Burnell Castle [Map].
St Mary's Church, Acton Burnell. A delightful 1280's church, built by Robert Burnell, close to the castle he also built, the chancel is particularly good. There are fine monuments here, particularly one to Sir Richard Lee and his wife from 1591. The nearby castle is looked after by English Heritage and free to visit.