Peter Atte Wode facts for kids

Peter Atte Wode was an important person in medieval England. He served as a special judge called a Justice in Eyre for the southern part of England from 1360 to 1367. These judges handled cases about forest laws.

Who Was Peter Atte Wode?

Peter Atte Wode was likely born in a place called Coulsdon in Surrey. This area is now part of Greater London. We don't know his exact birth date, but it was probably before 1325.

His father was Geoffrey Atte Wode, who worked for King Edward III as a Serjeant-at-Arms. This was a special role, like a royal bodyguard or official. Peter's mother was Anisia. Peter and his wife, Laurencia, had at least one son, who was also named Peter. This younger Peter later became a Knight of the Shire, which meant he represented his county in Parliament.

Helping After the Black Death

In 1351, Peter Atte Wode was chosen to help with a special group in Surrey. This group was formed in many parts of England. Their job was to make sure new laws were followed. These laws were created to help manage workers and keep the peace after the terrible Black Death. The Black Death was a huge plague that caused many people to die in 1348–1349.

Later that year, Peter Atte Wode faced some challenges related to his work. However, after a trial, he was found innocent of any wrongdoing.

Working with William of Wykeham

Peter Atte Wode became good friends with a very powerful man named William of Wykeham. This friendship helped Peter become more important and also helped him gain more wealth.

Jean Froissart, a famous writer who recorded events from medieval England and France, wrote about William of Wykeham:

At this time reigned a priest called William of Wykeham. This William of Wykeham was so much in favour with the King of England, that everything was done by him, and nothing was done without him.

Peter's Role as a Judge

Because of his connection to Wykeham, Peter Atte Wode was appointed a Justice in Eyre on July 13, 1361. He shared this important job with William of Wykeham. He held this position until about 1367.

The Eyre Court was a special court created to hear cases. These cases were about forest law in the King's Royal Forests across England. William of Wykeham later became a very important religious leader, the Bishop of Winchester. He also served as the King's top advisor, known as the Lord Chancellor, for both King Edward III and King Richard II.

Helping Rebuild Windsor Castle

William of Wykeham was also put in charge of rebuilding parts of Windsor Castle. He was the King's Commissioner for this huge project. During this time, Peter Atte Wode also received a special task to help rebuild a part of Windsor Castle. This shows how much the King trusted Peter and his connections.

Family Service to the King

The Atte Wode family had a long history of working for King Edward III. By 1346, three members of Peter's family were serving as Sergeants-at-Arms, like royal bodyguards. These included his father, Geoffrey Atte Wode, his grandfather, Sir William Atte Wode, and his uncle, Richard Atte Wode.

His grandfather, Sir William, was even the Captain of the Guard for King Edward III. His uncle, Richard, helped move the invasion fleet down the River Thames in 1345. This was during the Hundred Years' War with France.

After a successful military campaign in 1346, the Atte Wode family seemed to become very wealthy. Some historians believe this wealth came from England's success during the war. Froissart, the chronicler, wrote about the English army winning great riches after a battle:

After the battle of Caen "...the Englishmen were lords of the town three days and won great riches, the which they sent by barks and barges to Saint-Saviour by the river of Austrehem, two leagues thence, whereas all their navy lay".

Peter's Land and Home

In 1346, Peter Atte Wode and his wife Laurencia started buying and selling land. Many of these land deals were in Sanderstead, Surrey (now part of Greater London), and nearby areas. This began a long connection between the Atte Wode family and Sanderstead.

Peter owned land in several places, including Woodmansterne and Chipstead Manor. It is believed that he lived at Wood Place in Coulsdon, which was his family's old home. In 1350, he even got permission from the Bishop to have a private chapel, called an oratory, at Wood Place.

Later Life and Legacy

The exact date of Peter Atte Wode's death is not known. However, on December 20, 1382, his wife Laurencia, who was then a widow, started a special fund at Newark Priory. This fund was to pay for a mass to be said for Peter Atte Wode's soul.

Peter Atte Wode gathered a large amount of property and wealth during his life. He is a good example of a new group of wealthy landowners in England. These people were not born into noble families, but they became rich through their connections and service to the royal family. His family continued to buy land, especially in Surrey. They even built a large manor house called Sanderstead Court. They also continued to serve the royal family in different roles and were elected as Knights of the Shire.