Narration by Jocelyn Wingfield - Family Historian
Leave Dulles (Washington D.C.) Airport in the evening by British airways flight non-stop to London. Overnight flight. Dinner aboard.
Breakfast aboard the flight
Morning arrival at Heathrow Airport, London
Transfer to Hotel Tower
Lunch on your own
Check in
The balance of the day is free
Welcome dinner and overnight
| Continental Breakfast | |
| St. Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf | |
| The College of Arms | |
| Lunch at the "George Inn" |
|
| Lawn Tennis Museum at Wimbledon | |
| Church of St. Sepulchre | |
| Return to the Tower Hotel | |
| Cash bar, private dinner and overnight |
| Continental Breakfast | |
| Tower of London |
 |
| Lunch on your own | |
| The Settlers Memorial |
 |
| Arrive Ipswich and check in the Swallow Belstead Brook Hotel Belstead Brook Park, Belstead Road, |
 |
| Cash bar, private dinner and overnight |
| Continental Breakfast | |
| Otley Hall |
 |
| Lunch at Otley Hall | |
| Church of Letheringham | |
| Orford Castle |
 |
| Return to Hotel Belstead Brook | |
| Cash bar, private dinner and overnight |
| Continental Breakfast | |
| Check out of hotel | |
| Depart for Village of Wingfield | |
| College of Wingfield | |
| Church of Wingfield | |
| Wingfield Castle for group photo | |
| Lunch at de la Pole Arms | |
| Kimbolton Castle and Stonely Priory |
 |
| Arrive George Hotel of Stamford |
 |
| Cash bar, dinner and overnight |
| Continental Breakfast | |
| Morning free for relaxing, shopping or independent sightseeing | |
| Lunch at Empingham - home of member John Parry-Wingfield | |
| Tickencote Church |
 |
| Tickencote Hall |
 |
| Return to hotel | |
| Cash bar, dinner and overnight |
| Continental Breakfast | |
| Check out | |
| Lunch on your own in Windsor | |
| Windsor Castle State Apartments |
 |
| St. George's Chapel |
 |
| Arrive Hilton Hotel, Heathrow Airport | |
| Check in | |
| Cash bar, farewell dinner and overnight |
| Continental Breakfast | |
| Check out | |
| Lunch on board | |
| Arrive at Dulles in the afternoon |
Some sites of Wingfield significance to be visited on the England tour
The College
of Arms
The Heralds here design, authorize, issue and record all coats of arms for
England. John Wingfield was made York Herald here in 1663. It was his son, Thomas (b.
1664) who immigrate to Virginia in 1680 and is the ancestor claimed by many American
Wingfields today. You will get a behind the scenes tour of this ancient facility.
St. Benet's Paul's Wharf
St. Benet's is the church of the College of Arms. It was burn down in the Great
Fire of London in 1666 and was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1683. Here the WFS
presented the John Wingfield York Herald Banner in 1988. coffee is planned here with the
present York Herald.
The Church of St. Sepulchre
John Smith (of Jamestown fame) is buried here. There is a stained glass window
honoring Smith and his sponsors. You will also see the Virginia Colonization Kneeler
Collection that includes among other a kneeler of Edward-Maria Wingfield (donated by the
WFS), John Smith, Pocahontas and Bartholomew Gosnold.
Jamestown Settlers Memorial
This monument was removed several years ago to accommodate major construction.
Before our visit it will have been reinstalled near the location on the River Thames
whence the Jamestown settlers sailed in 1606. The monument shows the names of the key
members of the colonists including Edward-Maria Wingfield, John Smith, and Bartholomew
Gosnold.
Tower of London
Built by William the Conqueror (1066-1087), one of the earliest stone
fortifications in Europe, it was used as a royal residence, prison and armory. It now
houses the Crown Jewels and is a major tourist attraction. In 1440-41 sir Robert Wingfield
of Letheringham and Badingham, Suffolk was put in the tower for nine months for a
political offense. In 1540, as Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard, Sir Anthony Wingfield,
K.G. arrested Thomas Cromwell, the strongest man after the king and put him in the Tower;
in 1549 he put the Regent, Somerset, in the Tower.
Otley Hall
Stunning Otley Hall and its gardens is one of the most fascinating houses in
England. It is the 16th century moated ancestral home of the Gosnold family, 3 members of
which sailed with Edward-Maria Wingfield to Jamestown in 1606. It is form this area (+
Stonely & London) that Edward-Maria Wingfield and Bartholomew Gosnold recruited 40% of
the 105 colonists. You will have lunch here.
Letheringham
Moated Letheringham Hall came to the Wingfields when Sir Thomas Wingfield married
Margaret Bovile in about 1361. Sir Thomas was the brother of Sir John Wingfield of
Wingfield. The noble Old Hall was pulled down in 1770 and an attractive farmhouse now sits
on the site.
The Church of Letheringham
This ancient and historically interesting church reflects the Wingfield's
3-centuries presence and contains several Wingfield brasses including one of Sir John
Wingfield of Suffolk, 1389. It is one of the largest brasses in England.
Orford
Castle
Built in 1165-1173 and still in remarkable condition. Sir Henry Wingfield, Knight
of Rhodes, 4-greats grandfather of Thomas Wingfield of York River, VA was Governor of
Orford Castle in the 1480s. He is the ancestor of the Upton, Tickencote and Mattaponi
(Virginia) Wingfields.
The Village of Wingfield
Wighefelda is recorded in Doomsday Book of 1086. At one time Wingfield was the
seat of one of the most powerful families in England. in the 14th century Sir John de
Wingfield inherited considerable property through his marriage to Alianore Glanville. It
was by his will that the College was established and church rebuilt. He died about 1361
without a son, so his daughter, Katherine inherited his estate which passed to
the de la Poles when she married Michael de la Pole. De la Pole became the Earl of
Suffolk.
Wingfield College
There is irrefutable evidence that parts of the College were formerly the main
Wingfield manor house (ca 1300). It was rebuilt into the College in 1362. Sir John
Wingfield, Chief of Staff to the Black Prince, died of the plague about 1361. His wife
Alianore and brother Sir Thomas carried out his instructions to build the college.
Wingfield Church
The Church was also rebuilt by Sir John's wife, Alianore and his brother, Sir
Thomas the year after he died (ca 1361). Sir John's impressive monument and effigy is
visible today, together with the tomb and monument of his grandson (and son of his
daughter, Katherine nee Wingfield, Countess of Suffolk), Michael de la Pole of Wingfield
Castle, 2nd Earl of Suffolk; as is the monument and effigy of his great great grandson,
John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk & his wife Elizabeth Plantagenet (sister of
Edward IV and Richard III) of Wingfield Castle. The Church was refurbished in 1837, 1866
and 1997.
Wingfield Castle
Permission to "castellate" his manor house was obtained by Michael de
la Pole, husband of Katherine Wingfield and daughter of Sir John Wingfield, in 1384. The
moated castle with its Tudor manor house is the only inhabited castle in Suffolk, and one
of the last in England. Today it is a private residence but it appearance remains the same
as when it was built.
Kimbolton
Castle
Kimbolton is chiefly known as where Queen Catherine of Aragon spent her last
years. She died in "the Queen's Room" in 1536. Charles Wingfield, uncle of
Edward-Maria Wingfield, owned the castle at the time of her death.
Stonely Priory
Stonely Priory dates back to about 1220. Thomas-Maria Wingfield, Sr. and Margaret
Wingfield lived here when their son Edward-Maria Wingfield (the founder of the Jamestown
Colony in 1607) was a boy. Edward-Maria Wingfield wrote his "A Discourse of
Virginia" here in 1608. There is a WFS memorial plaque to him on the wall.
Empingham
Long a Tickencote Wingfield Manor. You will be the guest of Lord & Lady of
the Manor John & Sue Parry-Wingfield in their beautiful Queen Anne house for lunch.
You will see John's private historical artifacts of the Wingfield and Lee families. One is
an enormous 12-ft heritage scroll prepared by John Wingfield, York Herald (1663). (See St.
Benet's).
Tickencote Church
In the attractive English hamlet of Tickencote, a stop to see this memorable
church is a must. Many Wingfields are buried here including the grandparents and
grandfather of Thomas Wingfield of York River VA (1680). The WFS helped with recent church
repairs.
Tickencote
Hall
The original 1433 great house came into the family in 1592 as the home of Sir
John Wingfield, the great grandfather of Thomas of York River, Virginia (1680). In 1947
the main manor was sold and dismantled and the stables were converted into the present
manor. The setting is spectacular.
Windsor - St. George's Chapel
This awe-inspiring Garter Chapel was built 1475-1508. amongst the 56 stalls are
two Wingfield stalls with Garter plates for Sir Richard Wingfield and his nephew, Sir
Anthony Wingfield. Sir Richard was the grandfather of Virginia's founder, Edward-Maria
Wingfield. The two Wingfield coats of arms are also in the roof of the stunning, restored
St. George's Hall inside the Castle.