Robert Poyntz (died 1520) facts for kids

Sir Robert Poyntz (died 1520) was an important figure in English history. He was the lord of the manor of Iron Acton in Gloucestershire. Sir Robert was a strong supporter of the future King Henry VII. He fought alongside him at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, a key battle that changed who ruled England. Sir Robert was buried in the Gaunt's Chapel in Bristol. He built a beautiful chapel there, known as the "Poyntz Chapel."

The family crest of Poyntz, showing their colors.

The Poyntz family crest, a clenched hand, carved in stone. It comes from the French word poigne, meaning "fist."

Family Background

Sir Robert Poyntz was the oldest son of John Poyntz, who died between 1465 and 1472. His mother was Alicia Cocks from Bristol. After John Poyntz died, Alicia married Sir Edward Berkeley of Beverstone Castle.

Sir Robert also had a younger brother named Thomas Poyntz, who died in 1501. Thomas was a special attendant to King Henry VII. He was present when the King's first son, Prince Arthur, was baptized.

Poyntz Family History

The Poyntz family of Iron Acton came from John Poyntz, who died in 1376. He was a younger son of Nicholas Poyntz, who died in 1311. Nicholas was a powerful landholder in Somerset. His second wife, Matilda de Acton, was related to the family who owned Iron Acton.

Marriage and Children

The family crest of the Woodville family.

A shield in the Poyntz Chapel ceiling showing the combined crests of Poyntz and Woodville.

Sir Robert Poyntz married Margaret Woodville. She was the daughter of Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, who died in 1483. Anthony Woodville was a very important knight and the brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville. Queen Elizabeth was married to King Edward IV. Margaret's mother was Gwenlina Stradling from St Donat's Castle in Wales.

Records from the time show that this marriage was very important. There was a special agreement for the marriage signed by Earl Rivers himself. Letters from a powerful church leader, Cardinal Morton, also mention it. The family crests of Poyntz and Woodville are even carved together in the chapel where they are buried.

Sir Robert and Margaret had five sons and four daughters. Some of their notable children included:

• Sir Anthony Poyntz (around 1480–1533) of Iron Acton. He was the oldest son and inherited his father's lands.
• John Poyntz (around 1485–1544) of Alderley, Gloucestershire. He became a Member of Parliament. A famous painting of him by Hans Holbein the Younger is kept at Windsor Castle.
• Sir Francis Poyntz (died 1528). He was a diplomat, meaning he worked for the King in other countries. He wrote a book called The Table of Cebes the Philosopher. He died from the plague in London.
• Lady Anne Walsh (born Poyntz) (around 1492–1528). She married Lord John Walsh, who was close to King Henry VIII. The Walshes hired William Tyndale as a tutor for their sons. Tyndale later became famous for translating the Bible into English.

The Poyntz Chapel

Around 1520, near the end of his life, Sir Robert Poyntz built a beautiful chapel. It was added to the Gaunt's Chapel in Bristol, which is now known as St Mark's Church, Bristol. This new part was called the "Chapel of Jesus" or the "Poyntz Chapel." It was a special chapel where prayers could be said for his family.

The chapel has a unique ceiling with a "fan-vaulted" design. There are also two small spaces in the north wall, but their original use is not known. The floor is covered with colorful Spanish tiles, likely from Seville, that were laid when the chapel was built.

In the center of the vaulted ceiling, there is a shield carved in stone. It shows the combined family crests of Poyntz and Woodville, celebrating his marriage. At the entrance to the chapel, there is a carving of the Poyntz family crest: a clenched hand. This comes from the French word poigne, which means "fist."

Death and Burial

Parts of Sir Robert Poyntz's tomb in Gaunt's Chapel.

Sir Robert Poyntz died in 1520. He was buried in the Gaunt's Chapel in Bristol, the same place where he had built his special chapel.

Today, only two parts of his tomb remain in the Gaunt's Chapel. These are wooden panels decorated with Gothic designs. Each panel shows a family crest. One shows the Poyntz family crest with four different sections. The other shows the Poyntz crest along with six sections for the Woodville family. This second shield likely belonged to his son, showing the combined family heritage.

Images for kids

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  The Poyntz Chapel in Gaunt's Chapel, Bristol. This view looks towards the east end, where an altar used to be.

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  The beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling of the Poyntz Chapel. You can see the Poyntz and Woodville family crests in the center.