The view the pigeons up there in the loft have includes The Old Manor House.
As far as I know, there is little information regarding this building. The timber and plaster built hose was erected in 1550, during Tudor times, and that is a period in which this area is devoid of information. Those who choose to study the Tudors round here find almost no information whatsoever.
However, that year the imperialist English were involved in the 'rough wooing,' which began when Henry VIII sent his failing army to invade Scotland, to force a marriage between Mary, Queen of Scots, and his young son Edward VI. He failed, and an agreement was reached at Boulogne, where he also had troops attempting to steal French land, though by the time of the peace Henry himself had passed on.
John Napier was amongst those born that year, you know how he created Logarithms and so upset schoolchildren everywhere, especially me. Who needs such things? Thomas Cranmer's 'Book of Common Prayer,' introduced the previous year, was now in use everywhere in England. The reformation, caused by Henry's desire to bump off his wife, had taken over the land, and while some of a Catholic persuasion led short lived revolts in the south west, the reformation persisted. The 'Ale Houses Act,' licenced such premise's for the first time, much to landlord's joy. It continues bringing joy to licensees still.
Abroad, the Spanish were taking over South America, leaving Brazil for the Portuguese. Chocolate is introduced into Europe, by the Spanish I suspect, so women everywhere rejoiced as never before. The 'Society of Jesus,' is created, so you can expect a knock on your door any time soon.
The family of Sir Thomas Moore, indicate how the rich were dressed in the 1550's. Lower orders were dressed according to class, including the type of headgear allowed them. Of course even if you were wealthy, having the head cut off, or being burned at the stake, were occupational hazards in those days. It was fine to gain enough money to build a nice house, have a wee estate, but ensure you keep in with whoever was winning, and this meant following the Kings religion, or you were headed for the block. Politics was a hard place in these days.
Around a hundred years later, England was in the middle of yet another war, this time a civil war, though how 'civil' the people were to one another is unclear. This town was a Parliamentary Town, that is, they sided with Oliver Cromwell and his 'roundheads. Indeed many men from here may well have been part of his army. This county has always been a rebellious one. I myself have met many a revolting peasant round this way.
During 1648, Sir Charles Lucas led his royalist troops into Braintree seeking the weapons stored there. These had been removed by the parliament supporters in the town. Lucas moved to Colchester and the next day Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, arrived in the town. It is believed, though no real evidence has come to pass, that these men, or possibly the townsmen, damaged the royal sign above the door of the Old Manor House. Being so badly damaged no-one is quite clear as to who the sign represents. Then followed the Siege of Colchester, which killed many and lasted a good time.
But I have no idea who built the house in the first place. As Henry VIII died in 1547 it is clear the builder had chosen the protestant faith, young Edward VI was very much in favour of the reformation.
After him came a time of trouble, with Mary I ascending the throne eventually much death and trouble arrived for the protestants. It is always possible that the builder of the 'Old Manor House' was exiled, or dead within a few years. So far we do not have evidence for his life.
