Barnardiston family


The Barnardistons were English landholders of the Medieval period, with holdings in Barnston, Essex; Barnardiston, Suffolk and Great Coates, Lincolnshire.

The Barnardiston family

The Barnardiston were 'one of the most ancient families of the equestrian order' in Great Britain, with 'a direct line of twenty-seven generations at least'. Originally from Essex, the family held estates around Barnston from the time of William the Conqueror.

In Barnardiston

Barnardiston Manor was held by members of the Barnardiston family in the medieval period.

In Great Coates

During the reign of Edward II of England, a marriage to Margery Wylegby, Willoughby, gained them the 'noble manor' of Great Coates in Lincolnshire.
The Barnardiston's manor seat at Great Coates was a 'moated hall'. In 1919, it was noted that 'the moats formerly surrounding the residence' could still be seen, in a field known as 'Hall's Close', which was south-west of the church. An adjoining field, called 'Butt's Close', were the remains of the archery butts, mounds of earth used for target practice.
Among the monuments in the Great Coates church interior are brasses dedicated to Lady Isabella, daughter of William Kelke of Barnetby, and wife of Roger Barnardiston, from 14020 and another, dating from around 1503, to the family of Sir Thomas Barnardiston.
In Thomas Barnardston's will, written and witnessed at Great Coates in April 1461, he requests to be buried in St. Nicholas Church 'on the north side of the altar under the window'. He also leaves bequests to the Church and, 'to the parson...my best horse'.