Editing Sutton Coldfield (section)

=== Early development, c. 1135–1499 ===
==== Possession of the manor ====
The manor remained in the possession of the Crown until 1135,<ref name="DargueSC" /> when [[Henry I of England|King Henry I]] exchanged it for the manors of [[Oakham|Hockham]] and [[Langham, Rutland|Langham]] in [[Rutland]], with [[Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick]].<ref name="Salzman" /> The manor remained in the possession of the earldom of Warwick for around 300 years, with numerous exceptions.<ref name="DargueSC" /> As Sutton Forest was no longer in the possession of the Crown, it became Sutton Chase.

In 1242, when the manor was passed to Ela Longespee, the widow of [[Thomas de Beaumont, 6th Earl of Warwick]], it was named as Sutton-in-Coldfield, and again noted as such in 1265 when Ela married her second husband [[Philip Basset]]. The manor of Sutton-in-Coldfield was once again in the possession of the earldom of Warwick when Ela exchanged it with [[William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick]], for the manor of Spilsbury in [[Oxfordshire]].<ref name="Salzman" /> The first mention of a manor house attached to the manor of Sutton was mentioned in 1315 on a site named Manor Hill, west of the parish church.<ref name="Salzman" />

During the 15th century, Sutton Coldfield underwent a process of change due in part to the turbulent ongoings with the Earls of Warwick and their possession of the manor house. In 1397, [[Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick]], was punished by King [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] for being a member of the [[Lords Appellant]]. All his possessions were confiscated, including the land at Sutton, which was transferred to [[Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey|Thomas Holland]], 3rd [[Earl of Kent]]. Upon King Richard II's death in 1400, Thomas de Beauchamp was returned his possessions, although he died the following year. In 1446, [[Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick|Henry de Beauchamp, 14th Earl of Warwick]], died and the earldom was passed to his two-year-old daughter [[Anne de Beauchamp, 15th Countess of Warwick|Anne]]; however, King [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]] collected the profits of the land whilst Anne was in her infancy. Anne died in 1448, and the estate and earldom passed to her aunt [[Anne Neville, 16th Countess of Warwick|Anne Neville]], although this was contested by her three older half-sisters. In his ''Itinerary'', [[John Leland (antiquary)|John Leland]] mentions that [[Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick]], and his wife, Anne Neville, are believed to have built a new manor of timber-frame construction, with a lease given by King Henry VI in 1460 to Edward Mountfort, suggesting that the manor was then occupied by the Mountfort family.<ref name="Salzman" />

Despite being occupied by Mountfort family, Richard Neville regained his power and land, but was killed at the [[Battle of Barnet]] in 1471. Normally, the land would have remained in the possession of his wife, but instead they were given to his two daughters and their husbands. However, the eldest daughter, Isabella, contested and obtained the remainder of the interests from her sister. Isabella died in 1476, leaving the manor in the possession of her husband, [[George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence]]. However, in 1478, he was [[attainder|attainted]] and executed, meaning that the manor was passed to his only surviving son, [[Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick|Edward Plantagenet]], who was still an infant. The Crown held the lands due to Edward's age, but in 1487 granted the lands back to [[Anne Neville, 16th Countess of Warwick]], since both of her daughters were now dead. She immediately gave the lands back; however, Sutton and other manors were given back to her in 1489. She died in 1492, with all the land returning to the possession of the Crown, with whom it remained until it was incorporated in 1528.<ref name="Salzman" />

==== Growth and military influence ====
The manor of Sutton was not the only manor house within Sutton, as the [[Langley Hall, West Midlands|manor of Langley]] was noted as being in the possession of the de Bereford family of Wishaw as early as the mid-13th century. [[New Hall Manor]] is said to date to the 13th century also, and was mentioned in 1327 as being passed from William de Sutton to Robert de Sutton. It is believed to have originally been a hunting lodge. In 1281, [[Peddimore Hall]] was first mentioned when it was sold to Hugh de Vienna by Thomas de Arden. It is presumed that the land was given to the Arden family by one of the Earls of Warwick.<ref name="Salzman" />

It is not known exactly when the village of Sutton began to develop but in 1300, [[Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick]], was granted a [[charter]] by King [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] to hold a [[market (place)|market]] on each Tuesday and an annual fair on the eve of Holy Trinity in the village. Sutton did not establish itself as a [[market town]] like [[Birmingham]] was able to, and the market appears to have fallen out of use, as a new charter was later granted to [[Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick]], for a market to be held on the same day, as well as fairs on the eve of Holy Trinity and the eve of St. Martin.<ref name="Salzman" />

During the 12th and 13th centuries, religious activities were carried out at the free chapel of [[Saint Blaise]], constructed within the Sutton manor grounds. In the late 1200s, the town constructed its own parish church, the first incumbent of which was ordained in 1305. This later became [[Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield|Holy Trinity Church]], and the only remaining features of the original church survive below the east window, where clasping buttresses are visible, a method of construction from the mid-13th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=History |url=http://www.htsc.org.uk/history.html |publisher=Holy Trinity Parish Church |access-date=13 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618052331/http://www.htsc.org.uk/history.html |archive-date=18 June 2010 }}</ref>

Throughout the 15th century, Sutton Coldfield developed a military connection, due in part to Sir [[Ralph Bracebridge]] who obtained a lease for his lifetime from the Earl of Warwick for the Manor and Chase of Sutton Coldfield. In return, Bracebridge was required to assist the Earl with nine [[lances fournies]] and seventeen archers in strengthening [[Calais]] from French attack.<ref name="Bracken45">{{cite book|last=Bracken |first=L. |title=History of the forest and chase of Sutton Coldfield |year=1860 |publisher=Benjamin Hall|pages=45–6}}</ref> As a result, Sutton Coldfield became an important training location for English soldiers during the wars between England and France. [[Archery butts|Butts]] were assembled within the town for archery training, and marks can still be seen in the sandstone wall on 3 Coleshill Street where archers sharpened their arrows. It is believed that 3 Coleshill Street is of medieval origin despite having a Georgian façade. Bracebridge is remembered as having dammed [[Plants Brook|Ebrook]] to form Bracebridge Pool, now in Sutton Park, which he used for fishing.<ref name="Bracken52">{{cite book|last=Bracken |first=L. |title=History of the forest and chase of Sutton Coldfield |year=1860 |publisher=Benjamin Hall|page=52}}</ref>