Thomas Seckford facts for kids
Thomas Seckford (1515 – 1587) was an important lawyer and businessman who worked for Queen Elizabeth I. He owned a lot of land in Suffolk, England, and was a Member of Parliament (MP). He was also a kind person who helped the town of Woodbridge.
Thomas Seckford was one of the main judges in the Court of Requests from 1569 to 1587. This court helped ordinary people bring their problems to the Queen. He was also in charge of the Court of Wards and Liveries from 1581 to 1587, which looked after young people who inherited land. He built large houses in Woodbridge, Ipswich, and Clerkenwell, London. He also helped Christopher Saxton create the very first detailed maps of England and Wales.
A famous picture, which shows William Cecil in the Court of Wards, is believed to show Thomas Seckford. The man thought to be Seckford wears a tall hat and sits on the left side of the table. This guess was made because the man wears his hat even in the presence of the Master, suggesting he was the Surveyor.
It's important not to mix him up with other people named Thomas Seckford, like his younger brother, his father, or his nephew.
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Seckford Family History
The Seckford family came from a place called Sekford in Great Bealings, Suffolk, a very long time ago. A manor house, Sekford Hall, is mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England in 1085. The family continued to own this manor for many years.
The Seckfords also owned a lot of land in Woodbridge since the time of King Edward III (around 1335). They were given special permission to hunt on their lands in several towns, including Woodbridge.
Thomas Seckford's grandfather, also named Thomas Seckford, died in 1505. He owned Seckford Hall and other lands. He and his wife were buried in Great Bealings. It's thought that this grandfather built the brick porch of Great Bealings church.
Thomas Seckford's Early Life
Thomas Seckford, the person this article is about, was born near Woodbridge, Suffolk. He was the second son of Thomas Seckford and Margaret Wingfield. His mother was the sister of Sir Anthony Wingfield, an important person in King Henry VIII's government.
Thomas probably studied law at the University of Cambridge. In 1540, he joined Gray's Inn, a famous place for lawyers. He joined at the same time as William Cecil, who would become a very powerful figure in Queen Elizabeth's court. Thomas became a lawyer in 1542.
Thomas Seckford's family had connections to the Protestant Reformation. His uncle, Sir Anthony Wingfield, leased the land of the former Woodbridge Priory after the monasteries were closed down. In 1542, the priory church was pulled down.
Thomas Seckford's connections helped him. Even after his uncle died, his cousin, Robert Wingfield, who was a captain for King Edward VI, continued to support him.
When Queen Mary became queen, Thomas Seckford got a small job in the Duchy of Lancaster. This helped him become a Member of Parliament for Ripon in 1554. He also became an MP for Orford in 1555 and 1558. In 1556, he became a "Lent Reader" at Gray's Inn, which showed how respected he was as a lawyer.
Thomas Seckford's father started building the large brick house called Seckford Hall in Great Bealings after 1553. Although it was close to Woodbridge, Thomas Seckford himself never lived there.
Working for Queen Elizabeth I
When Queen Elizabeth I became queen, Thomas Seckford quickly gained important positions. Queen Elizabeth herself wrote that he had "faithfully served Us" since the third year of her reign.
He was immediately appointed as one of Elizabeth's two Masters in Ordinary of the Court of Requests. He held this job until he died. These officers helped the Queen deal with legal cases brought by ordinary people as she traveled around England. This job kept him close to the Queen and helped him learn about different parts of the country.
He also held other important jobs, such as Steward of the Court of the Marshalsea and a deputy chief Steward for the Duchy of Lancaster. He was also a commissioner for legal and church matters.
Ipswich and Woodbridge Buildings
Thomas Seckford was chosen to represent Ipswich in Parliament in 1559 and again in 1563. In 1563, he became Steward of the Liberty of the Bishop of Ely in Suffolk.
In 1562, he was allowed to rebuild his large house in Ipswich, known as the "Great Place." It was a grand building with two main floors, tall windows, and two four-story towers. It also had a covered walkway with arches on the ground floor, which offered a view of a garden and the River Orwell.
In 1564, he bought the land and buildings of the former Woodbridge Priory from the Crown. This included the main house, lands, a water-mill, and the right to hold fairs and markets. He paid £764.8s.4d. for all of this.
Seckford built or finished the brick mansion at the priory site, which became his own home in Woodbridge. It was a tall, two-story building with gabled roofs. A striking part of the house is its three-story brick porch with classical columns. The Seckford family symbol above the south porch is dated 1564.
Seckford also built the nearby Woodbridge Shire Hall, or Sessions-Hall. This building had an open market area below and a room above, which he gave to the County to use as a courtroom. Seckford's family symbol is carved in stone above the first-floor entrance. He became the Treasurer of Gray's Inn in 1565.
His Marriage
In 1567, Thomas Seckford married Elizabeth Harlowe in London. Elizabeth had been married twice before. Her first husband, William Billingsley, was a well-known merchant and worked at the Royal Mints. Her second husband was Sir Martin Bowes, who had been a Lord Mayor of London. Thomas Seckford mentioned his "loving friend and late son-in-law, William Bowes" in his will, referring to Elizabeth's son from her second marriage.
Later Years and Achievements
Clerkenwell Estate
In 1566, Seckford bought land in Clerkenwell, London, which had belonged to a Benedictine Nunnery. On this land, he built a large house called Woodbridge House and another house for himself. This area is now known as Sekforde Street and Woodbridge Street. He also gained control of other lands in the area that had belonged to the Knights Hospitaller.
During these years, he served on several important committees and commissions. For example, he helped with trials for serious crimes, including treason. In 1571, he became a senior Member of Parliament for Suffolk and was chosen again for Ipswich in 1572. In 1575, he became a "Bailiff" in charge of collecting rents from lands that had belonged to the Priory of St John of Jerusalem in London. This job might have helped him improve his Clerkenwell estate.
Thomas Seckford was known for his honesty. A short Latin poem was written about him, praising his good character.
Supporting Mapmaking
Thomas Seckford spent a lot of money and effort to support Christopher Saxton in creating the first detailed maps of England based on actual surveys. These maps were made during the 1570s. Each map in the completed collection, which was dedicated to the Queen, shows the Queen's royal symbol and Thomas Seckford's symbol as the person who paid for it.
In 1577, Queen Elizabeth gave Saxton the sole right to produce maps for ten years. She wrote that Saxton, "servant to our trustie and wel beloved Thomas Sekeford esquier, master of requestes unto us," had traveled across England at Seckford's "greate coste, expenses and charges" to create these "trew and pleasaunt mappes."
Saxton worked with skilled engravers like Remigius Hogenberg and Augustine Ryther. These maps became a huge source of information and showed how good English mapmaking and engraving had become. Thomas Seckford was also honored in a book about Scotland by William Harrison, who thanked him for his help with descriptions of rivers.
Court of Wards and Liveries
In 1579 or 1581, Seckford was appointed Surveyor of the Court of Wards and Liveries. He worked under William Cecil, who was the Master of that Court, until Seckford's death in 1587.
Family Memorial
Thomas Seckford's father died in 1575, and his mother died in 1557. In 1583, Thomas Seckford, who was 67 years old, put up a memorial for them in Great Bealings church. This memorial proudly displayed his family's symbols and celebrated his 25 years of service as Master of Requests.
The memorial is a stone plaque with columns and carvings. In the center, there is a large carved and painted shield showing Thomas Seckford's family symbols. Smaller shields show his parents' symbols and their marriage. The inscription says that Thomas Seckford placed the memorial for his "beloved parents" in 1583, celebrating his 25 years of service to the Queen.
Seckford's Almshouses
In his last year, 1587, Thomas Seckford founded seven almshouses in Woodbridge. These were homes for poor or sick unmarried men or widowers. He provided money for them from his property in Clerkenwell. Queen Elizabeth officially approved the creation of "Seckford's Alms-house" in May 1587.
Seckford wrote detailed rules for the almshouses in July 1587. The people in charge of the almshouses were to be the Chief Justice of the Court of Bench and the owner of Seckford Hall (if he was a male heir of Seckford's father). They would choose the residents with advice from the Woodbridge church minister.
The almshouses were built as a single row of houses. Six houses were for two men each, and a seventh house was for the "Principal" almsman alone, making 13 residents in total. If a man got married, he would be asked to leave. Each house had a garden for growing food. The men received a regular payment and new clothes each year, along with a silver badge showing the Seckford family symbol. They had to attend church regularly. Gambling, swearing, and cursing were not allowed and could lead to fines or even expulsion. Three poor widows also lived nearby to help care for the men when they were sick.
Death and What He Left Behind
Thomas Seckford's wife, Elizabeth, died in November 1586 and was buried in London. Thomas himself died in Clerkenwell on December 19, 1587, at the age of 72. He was first buried there, but later, as he wished in his will, his body was moved to a special vault in a chapel at St. Mary's Church in Woodbridge. This chapel is now used as an organ-chamber. His family symbol can still be seen in a stained-glass window in the church.
His tomb is like a stone table with arches and columns. It is now located in the church between the main altar area and the north-east chapel.
Since Thomas Seckford had no children, his nephew Charles Seckford inherited his estate. Thomas's will led to some disagreements between Charles and Thomas's younger brother, Henry, but Charles eventually won the case.
The Seckford Foundation Today
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Thomas Seckford's generosity still helps people in Woodbridge and Suffolk today. His gifts are managed by a group called The Seckford Foundation. The current almshouses, sometimes called the Seckford Hospital, were built on a nearby site between 1838 and 1842. They have been updated and are now run by Seckford Care, a part of the Trust. The smaller row of almshouses near the entrance are on the exact spot of the original homes.
The almshouse trust was expanded in 1861 to help support the Woodbridge School. This school, along with the Abbey Junior School, is now supported by the Foundation. In 2007, the Seckford Theatre was also opened in Woodbridge under the same organization.
In 2012, the Seckford Education Trust (SET) was created by the Foundation. It has opened secondary schools in Beccles, Ixworth, and Saxmundham. In 2019, it also took over two primary schools in Felixstowe. The Foundation also gives individual grants and other help, especially focusing on education and support for young people, and care for the elderly.
Remembering Thomas Seckford
Loder's Token
In 1796, a special copper coin or medal, about the size of a penny, was made by R. Loder of Woodbridge to honor Thomas Seckford. One side showed a picture of Seckford in his hat with the words "THO SEKFORD ESQ. FOUNDED WOODBRIDGE ALMSHOUSES 1587."
The other side showed Seckford's family symbol and the words "AT WHOSE EXPENCE COUNTY MAPS WERE FIRST ENGRAVED 1574." In Latin, it also said: "ORATIONES . ET . ELEEMOS . ASCENDUMT . IN . MEMORIAM . CORAM . DEO." This means "Prayers and alms rise before God in his memory." This token probably looked like the old badges worn by the almshouse residents.
Streets and Pubs
The almshouses are located on Seckford Street in Woodbridge. An old pub called The Seckford Arms (now a private house) used to stand next to the entrance of the almshouse site.
In London, Sekforde Street in Clerkenwell is named after Thomas Seckford because he once owned the land there. Sekforde Street is next to Woodbridge Street, which was laid out at the same time in the 1830s. The Sekforde pub in Clerkenwell uses a picture of Seckford in his hat as its sign.
In the movie About a Boy starring Hugh Grant, the main character lives in a flat on No.1 Sekforde Street. Woodbridge Chapel on Woodbridge Street also appears in the film.
