The Beaumonts
The Beaumonts were a Norman family who came over from France with the Norman Conquest and were likely related distantly to the French kings. The Beaumonts came into ownership of Coleorton in 1424 via Thomas Beaumont's marriage in 1413 to Phillipa Maureward, the only heir of Sir Thomas Maureward who was an important landowner in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Dorset. There was some affinity between the two families in their support of the Lancastrians during a period of dispute of sovereignty (culminating in the bloody Wars of the Roses).
From then on The Beaumont family were Lords of the Manor at Coleorton and established Coleorton Hall as their base in Leicestershire. They undertook various economic activities locally including mining which at times brought in substantial income. The Beaumonts were not always resident in Coleorton and leased out the Hall and mines for substantial periods.
The family was extensive and the Beaumonts also had a substantial residence in Dunmow, Essex, and elsewhere.
The Beaumonts were powerful landowners and had great influence on the lives of Coleorton people. Viscount Beaumont left money in his will to establish a school in 1702 and in 1867 Canon W. B. Beaumont built the current school in Ashby Road next to St John's Chapel - see Viscount Beaumont's School - and much of the mining and transport in the area was established by Beaumont family members. One of the most famous Beaumonts was Sir George Beaumont, the 7th baronet, who was an accomplished artist and befriended many poets and artists of the time including Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott, Shelley and Southey. All of these spent some time at Coleorton Hall or the adjacent Hall Farm.
It's impossible to put all the Beaumont history on one page, but we'll be adding items over the next few months. Here are some links with information about various Beaumonts and activities:
- Sir George Beaumont 7th bt and the 200th Anniversary of the National Gallery
- Good account of the Beaumonts at Coleorton Hall by Nicholas Kingsley on his blog "Landed Families"
- Huntingdon Beaumont: Coleorton's coal-mining innovator and Great Grandfather of Railways
- Sir George Howland Beaumont 7th Baronet
- Lady Margaret Willes Beaumont
- Celebrating 250 Years since William Wordsworth's Birth
- Coleorton women: how the Beaumonts became Lords of the Manor at Coleorton
- Laying Foundations stones for local National Schools
- Lady Renee Beaumont turned the first turf for New Lount Colliery in 1924
- Can you identify any of these people? Photo of Coleorton Hall staff
- Extensive history of the Beaumonts of Coleorton and the Hall by Nicholas Kingsley
- "Coleorton Hall & The Beaumonts" by Rev A. E. Eager
- AMS Stonemasons repaired and restored some of the monuments in the grounds of Coleorton Hall. Some good photos.
- Article about the early Beaumonts (pdf)(Newbold Heritage Group website)
- About Coleorton Hall and some history of the Beaumonts on the Coleorton Hall website
- "Beaumont - Crusaders and Campaigners" by Lucy La Zouche
Traces the 4 distinct family lines of the Beaumonts from their French origins, which ineveitably intertwined, to todays families. She describes the family members, their activities, marriages and the titles bestowed upon them for service to the monarch.
Available from Amazon £12.49 plus postage as appropriate: Beaumont - Crusaders and Campaigners >>
Articles by Coleorton Heritage Group members
- Can you identify any of these people? Photo of Coleorton Hall staff
- The Blacksmiths Arms - A Sequel
- The Blacksmith's Arms - A Coleorton Beerhouse
- Coleorton Highways
- The Coleorton Bauble Shop - "Spar" manufacture
- The Murder of John Tugby by John Tugby
- Daffodils on the A512
- Following the work - Coleorton families search for a living
- More articles >>