6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



its interest to the fact that Wilham Tynclale Hvcd there 

 for a short time as tutor of Sir John Walshe's children, 

 and also because it was visited by Henry VIII and Anne 

 Boleyn on the 2ist August, 1535. The next owner was 

 Maurice Walshe, son of Sir John. In 1556 while he was 

 at dinner in the Hall with his family, "a fiery sulphurous 

 globe" passing from one window to another, killed him 

 and one child, and so injured six more children that they 

 all died within six months. Two sons, however, remained, 

 Nicholas, who succeeded, and Henry. Nicholas married 

 Mary, daughter of Sir John Berkeley, of Stoke 

 GifTord. He died 1577, leaving a son Henry, who 

 was slain in a duel by Sir Henry Wintour, and was 

 succeeded by his cousin Walter, who was seized of the 

 Manor in 1602. Soon afterwards the three Manors of 

 Old, Little, and Chipping Sodbury were sold to Thomas 

 Stephens, of Lypiatt. The Stephenses seem to have 

 resided in the old Manor House, as various members of 

 the family are described in the pedigree as of Little 

 Sodburv. In 1728 on the failure of heirs male, the 

 Manors came to Richard Packer, whose mother was a 

 Stei)hens ; and on his death, without male issue, they 

 passed to Elizabeth, second wife of David Hartley, D.D., 

 whose descendants still hold them. The house seems to 

 have been "restored" at the latter end of the 17th 

 century, l)ut it still contains many traces of the original 

 structure, such as a beautiful oriel window, a fine j)orch 

 with wood moulding, and several 15th century windows 

 heavily barred. In the interior, the dining hall, although 

 dismantled, is much, as regards its structure, as it was in 

 the time of Tyndale and Sir John Walshe. 



The family and their guests sat at a raised dais at the 

 south end, whilst the retainers sat at tables placed along 

 the east and west walls. Part of the old hall has been 

 partitioned o(T, l)Ut the original north end, with its two 

 doors, remains intact. Over the entrance from the 



