Henry Heydon facts for kids

Sir Henry Heydon (died 1504) was an important person in England during the late 1400s and early 1500s. He was the son of John Heydon from a place called Baconsthorpe in Norfolk. Sir Henry married Anne Boleyn. She was the daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, who was the great-grandfather of the famous Queen Anne Boleyn, one of King Henry VIII's wives.

Sir Henry's Life and Work

St John the Baptist church in West Wickham, rebuilt by Sir Henry Heydon

Henry Heydon was the son of John Heydon and Eleanor Winter. He grew up in Baconsthorpe, Norfolk. Henry became a lawyer, which meant he knew a lot about laws and legal matters. He often helped other landowners in Norfolk with their legal problems. He also helped settle disagreements between people.

Serving His Community

From 1473, Henry Heydon worked as a Justice of the Peace in Norfolk. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area. He also served on different groups that handled important tasks for the county.

Growing His Lands

Henry inherited at least sixteen large estates from his father. He also bought more land in Norfolk and Kent. One of the places he bought in Kent was West Wickham. Here, he built a large house called Wickham Court. After owning land in Kent, he also became a Justice of the Peace there.

Henry was a trusted person. A powerful noble, Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, helped him buy land. Later, Henry Heydon managed the estates for the Duke's widow, Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham. He also helped manage the household of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, who was the mother of two English kings.

Serving the King

Henry Heydon became a knight when Henry VII became king. He was also present when Catherine of Aragon arrived in England in 1501. Even though he met important royal figures, Sir Henry was mostly a local official. He served the king by doing important work in his home county, rather than spending a lot of time at the royal court.

Building Projects

Sir Henry Heydon was a successful sheep farmer. He used some of his wealth to build and improve many places. In Norfolk, he finished building a castle that his father had started in Baconsthorpe. He also fixed up the church in Kelling and built a new church in Salthouse. He even built a raised road, called a causeway, between Thursford and Walsingham. In Kent, he rebuilt the church in West Wickham and built a strong manor house there.

Sir Henry Heydon passed away in Baconsthorpe in 1504. He was buried next to his father in a family chapel at Norwich Cathedral. There is a special window in the church at West Wickham that is thought to be a memorial to him.

Family Life

Sir Henry Heydon married Anne Boleyn, who was the second daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn. Sir Geoffrey was a very important person who served as the Lord Mayor of London. Sir Henry and Anne had eight children together: three sons and five daughters.

• John Heydon: He was the oldest son and inherited his father's lands. He became an important person in Norfolk during the time of King Henry VIII.
• Henry Heydon: He was also known as an esquire, a title for a gentleman.
• William Heydon: He sadly died during a time of unrest called Kett's Rebellion.
• Dorothy Heydon: She married Thomas Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham. They had many children. One of their daughters, Elizabeth, married the famous poet Sir Thomas Wyatt.
• Bridget Heydon: She married Sir William Paston. Bridget became the mother of several future members of Parliament. She was also the grandmother of Bridget Chaworth.
• Anne Heydon: She married two times. Her second husband was Sir Lionel Dymoke.
• Elizabeth Heydon: She married Sir Walter Hobart.
• Amy Heydon: She married Sir Roger L'Estrange.