Editing Sutton Coldfield (section)

==== 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>