Sir Arthur Hopton of Cockfield Hall in Yoxford, Suffolk was an English landowner, knight and Member of Parliament. Cockfield Hall at Yoxford was purchased by John Hopton from Sir John Fastolf. John Hopton, who is buried in the Hopton chantry in Blythburgh church, was the father of Sir William Hopton, his principal heir, Custos of Dunwich and Treasurer of the Household to King Richard III. William was dubbed a knight by King Richardon the day before his coronation in 1483. Sir William Hopton married Margaret Wentworth, daughter and heir of Sir Roger Wentworth of Nettlestead, Suffolk, and they were the parents of Sir George Hopton. Sir George married Anne Sotehill of Stockerston, Leicestershire, but died at a comparatively young age in 1489, soon followed by his elder son John. Thereupon the second son, Arthur Hopton, an infant, succeeded his brother to manors in the Yoxford area in 1490. Arthur's mother Anne remarried in 1498 to Sir Robert, Lord Curson, who at once entered Hopton's manor of Westleton forcibly, claiming it should belong to Anne during her lifetime. Sir George Hopton had left the child in the wardship of four trusted friends, and his executors Sir Robert Clere and William Eyre became engaged in lengthy Star Chamber proceedings for the recovery of Arthur's rights. Arthur served in the French campaign of 1513 and was knighted for his bravery after the Battle of the Spurs. He went with Henry VIII and other knights to Henry's meeting with Francis I of France at the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520. He was also present at the reception of Charles V in 1522, the coronation of Anne Boleyn in 1533 and the christening of Prince Edward in 1537. Sir Arthur is thought to have built Cockfield Hall in its Tudor brick form, including the part now forming the north wing, and the Gatehouse. This work may date to around 1520, since he was still principally resident in Blythburgh in 1524. The brick hall and farmstead of his principal manor of Westwood, known as Westwood or Blythburgh Lodge, stands south-east of the village on rising land facing south over water-meadows and pastures towards the Dunwich river. The reversion of the house and site of Blythburgh Priory was granted to him in tail male in November 1538, with marsh and watermill and various closes, together with the manors of Blythburgh and Hinton Hall belonging to the priory, and with the parish rectories of Blythburgh, Bramfield, Thorington and Wenhaston, the chapelry of Walberswick, and all messuages in those places belonging to them, excepting the advowsons. He was a knight of the shire for Suffolk in 1539, and again in 1542.
Family
Sir Arthur married first, but without issue, to Maud, the daughter of Sir Robert Dymoke of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire and his wife Margaret Welles, daughter of Lionel Welles, 6th Baron Welles. Sir Robert Dymoke was King's Champion at the Coronations of Kings Richard III, Henry VII and Henry VIII, and had been knighted on the same occasion as Sir William Hopton, Sir Arthur's grandfather. Sir Arthur married secondly Anne, daughter of Sir David Owen of Cowdray House at Midhurst in West Sussex, with whom he had 5 or 6 sons, including his successor Owen, and 4 daughters. His children included:
Margaret Hopton, married Anthony Cokett, of Sibton, Suffolk and North Mimms, Hertfordshire, and Arthur Robsert, natural son of Sir John Robsart of Wymondham and Syderstone, Norfolk, and half-brother of Amy Robsart.
Dorothy Hopton, married ---- Berrye, of Norwich, mother of Sir Benjamin Berrye.
