This is an excellent biography of Hugh d'Audley, on the "Edward II" blog:Hugh, my ancestor 24 generations back, was born at Stratton Audley, near Bicester, Oxfordshire. His sister Alice d'Audley and husband Ralph Neville, are entombed (with effigies heavily damaged) at Durham Cathedral. They are also my ancestors.
I visited
the village of Stratton Audley in 2007. I had dinner in the very old thatched pub the "Red Lion" by the manor house; and visited the parish church, which would have been contemporary with the Audleys' lordship there. The church contains an ancient carved stone font (still in use) that has been used for services since the 1100s. The manor house looked to be 1500s-1600s, but was probably built on or over the site of the original.
the village of Stratton Audley in 2007. I had dinner in the very old thatched pub the "Red Lion" by the manor house; and visited the parish church, which would have been contemporary with the Audleys' lordship there. The church contains an ancient carved stone font (still in use) that has been used for services since the 1100s. The manor house looked to be 1500s-1600s, but was probably built on or over the site of the original. The name d'Audley was a contraction of de Aldithley, and several generations before Hugh's time, they lived in Castle Heleigh, Audley, Staffordshire. So there's a bit of poetry in Margaret Audley being kidnapped by the Earl of Stafford. The d'Audley family appears to have received Stratton Audley as an inheritance from foremother Ela Longuespee.
Hugh d'Audley married Margaret de Clare (Gaveston), and they're buried at Tonbridge Priory, Kent, with several of her de Clare ancestors, their son-in-law Ralph, Earl of Stafford, and presumably, their daughter Margaret Audley, countess of Stafford.
Tonbridge was "hometown" for the de Clares, earls of Hertford and Gloucester. Margaret inherited the estate from her de Clare line, and her daughter Margaret Audley, countess of Stafford, inherited it and it became first an Audley, and then a Stafford property.
Tonbridge was "hometown" for the de Clares, earls of Hertford and Gloucester. Margaret inherited the estate from her de Clare line, and her daughter Margaret Audley, countess of Stafford, inherited it and it became first an Audley, and then a Stafford property.
Photos:
1. Hugh d'Audley, 1st Lord Audley of Stratton Audley, father of Hugh d'Audley Earl of Gloucester. This effigy and that of his wife Isolt de Mortimer, are found at St. Bartholomew's in Much Marcle, Herefordshire.
2. Red Lion pub, Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire.
3. Parish church, Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire, probably the site of Hugh's christening.
4. Tonbridge Castle and Priory, ca 1260, when in de Clare possession.
Thanks for the mention, Christy - and fascinating post! I hadn't realised that the effigies of Hugh's parents still existed (hope to see them one day).
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