John Norreys (Keeper of the Wardrobe) facts for kids

Sir John Norreys (born around 1400, died 1 September 1466) was an important person in England during the 1400s. He was a strong supporter of the Lancaster family, who were fighting for the English throne. John Norreys also led a part of the Norreys family that became very famous later on, especially during the time of the Tudor kings and queens. He even worked for King Henry VI of England, looking after the royal Wardrobe.

Meet the Norreys Family

John Norreys was the son of William Norreys and Christina Stretch. His family, the Norreys, were quite old and important. They are believed to have come to England from France a long time ago, right after the Norman Invasion in 1066. They lived at a place called Ockwells Manor.

Sir John's Family Life

Sir John Norreys was married three times and had several children.

First Marriage

Before 1437, John married Alice Merbrook. She was from Yattendon, Berkshire. In 1448, Alice was given a special honor. She became a Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. This is a very old and important group of knights and ladies.

John and Alice had two sons:

• Sir William Norreys (1433 – 4 January 1507)
• John Norreys, who was alive in 1466.

Second Marriage

After Alice passed away, John married Eleanor Clitherow. She was from Goldston in Kent. They had one son and one daughter:

• John Norreys, who later lived in Goldston. He married Isabel/Elizabeth Wyfold.
• Anne Norreys, who was alive in 1495. She married John Harcourt, and later John Grey.

Third Marriage

In September 1459, John married Margaret Chedworth. She was the widow of Nicholas Wyfold. John and Margaret had one son and one daughter:

• William Norreys, who was alive in 1466.
• Lettice Norreys, who was alive in 1466.

After Sir John died, his widow Margaret married John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk.

Sir John's Homes and Land

Sir John Norreys was very busy improving his family's homes and buying more land.

Ockwells Manor

In 1446, John started rebuilding Ockwells, which was his family's main home. The large windows in its great hall still have beautiful stained glass today. This glass shows the coats of arms of his important friends. These include the King and Queen, the Bishop of Salisbury, and powerful Dukes like Warwick, Somerset, and Suffolk.

Yattendon Castle

Through his first marriage to Alice, John gained ownership of Yattendon Castle around 1440. At that time, it was more like a large manor house. In 1448, King Henry VI gave him special permission to add battlements (strong walls with gaps for defense) to Yattendon Castle. He also got permission to create a large park of about 600 acres (2.4 square kilometers) around it.

Expanding His Lands

In 1450, John bought another manor called Hampstead Ferrers. This place soon became known as Hampstead Norreys. He then continued to buy many nearby estates. This helped him to own a lot of land in the county of Berkshire.

Working for the King

Sir John Norreys spent much of his life working at the royal court. He held many important positions:

• He was a Knight of the Shire (which means he was a Member of Parliament) for Berkshire.
• He was also the Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire in 1442 and 1457. A sheriff was like a chief law enforcement officer for a county.
• By 1439, he was a Yeoman of the King's Chamber.
• In 1441, he became an usher of the Chamber and then an Esquire of the Body. These roles meant he was close to the King.
• From 1444 to 1446, he was the Keeper of the wardrobe for King Henry VI. This meant he was in charge of the King's clothes, jewels, and other valuable items.
• In 1447, he was made the Treasurer of the Chamber and master of the Queen's jewels. He held these roles until 1452.
• Later, he was made a Knight of the Bath.

His Final Years

Sir John Norreys passed away on 1 September 1466. He was buried in the Norreys Chapel, which is part of Bray Church. He had a marble tomb there, but it no longer exists. However, the Norreys family crest, carved in stone, can still be seen on the church walls.

Famous Descendants

Sir John's family continued to be important at the royal court for many years.

His great-grandson, Sir John Norreys, worked for King Henry VII of England. He later became an usher for King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, and Queen Mary I of England.

Another famous descendant was his great-great-grandson, Sir Henry Norris. He was a close friend of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Sir Henry served as an Ambassador to France and was later given the title of 1st Baron Norreys. All six of Henry Norris's sons became well-known soldiers under Queen Elizabeth. One of them, Sir John Norreys, was considered the most skilled soldier of his time.