Iron Acton

Iron Acton

Looking west down High Street from the tower of St. James the Less parish church
Iron Acton
 Iron Acton shown within Gloucestershire
Population 1.346 (2011census)[1]
OS grid referenceST680835
Civil parishIron Acton
Unitary authoritySouth Gloucestershire
Ceremonial countyGloucestershire
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Bristol
Postcode district BS36
Dialling code 01454
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Avon
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentThornbury and Yate
WebsiteIronActonParish.info
List of places
UK
England
Gloucestershire

Coordinates: 51°32′56″N 2°27′47″W / 51.549°N 2.463°W

Iron Acton is a village, civil parish and former manor in South Gloucestershire, England. The village is about 2 miles (3 km) west of Yate and about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of the centre of Bristol. The B4058 road used to pass through the village but now by-passes it just to the north.

The "iron" part of the toponym originates from the iron that used to be mined near the village. "Acton" is derived from the Old English for "farm (or village)[2] with oak trees". Still today there is an oak wood in the village beside the River Frome.

The civil parish also includes the smaller villages of Latteridge and Engine Common.

Descent of the manor

de Acton

Arms of de Acton: Quarterly per fess indented argent and azure

The de Acton family long held the manor of Iron Acton, from which they took their surname. Their arms were: Quarterly per fess indented argent and azure. The arms of Reynold de Acton in the Collins Roll of Arms are blazoned as Quarterly per fess indented azure and ermine.[3] The later descent of this family as recorded in the heraldic visitation of Gloucestershire is as follows:[4]

Poyntz

John Poyntz (d.1366)

Effigies believed to represent Sir John Poyntz (d.1366), son of Matilda de Acton, and his wife Elizabeth Clanvowe, daughter of Philip Clanvowe

John Poyntz (d.1366), a younger son of Nicholas II Poyntz (d.1311), feudal baron of Curry Mallet in Somerset, by his second wife Matilda (or Maud) de Acton, aunt and heiress in her issue of John IV de Acton (d.1362) of Iron Acton.[9] he married twice:

Robert Poyntz (1349-1439)

Drawing of tombstones of Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1439) and his 1st wife Anna. From Samuel Lysons' "Collection of Gloucestershire Antiquities", 1803
Preaching cross, Iron Acton churchyard, erected by Sir Robert Poyntz(d.1439). From Samuel Lysons' "Collection of Gloucestershire Antiquities", 1803
Arms of Poyntz: Barry of eight or and gules

Robert Poyntz (1349-1439), son by his father's first marriage. He was MP for Gloucestershire in 1415 and 1417 and Sheriff of Gloucestershire 1396-7. He was steward between 1405–1416 of the estates of Anne of Gloucester (d.1438), dowager Countess of Stafford in Glos., Hants., and Wilts. and by 1439 was steward of the manor of her son Humphrey Stafford, 6th Earl of Stafford(d.1460) at Thornbury Castle.[10] Robert's surviving ledger stone in Iron Acton Church depicts a knight, almost life-size, wearing a helmet with the body in plate armour with a skirt of traces. He wears a gorget with slight traces of chain-mail, round shoulder pieces, brasserts on the arms, gauntlets with pointed cuffs, legs in plate. His feet rest on a dog.[11] The slab is much worn and was broken in two places in the 19th century. The ledger line contains the following inscription: Here lyeth Roberd poyntz Lord of Iren Acton and thys stepyl maked who deyde the fiftene day of Junne the year of oure Lord MCCCCXX...(last XIX worn away) of whos sowle God have mercy Amen.[12] He built the steeple of Iron Acton Church, although the church lacks a steeple today, and none is shown in a 19th-century engraving of the church. The church tower itself appears to date from before the time of Robert, so surely cannot have been "the stepyl" referred to. It is however widely accepted that Robert erected the stone preaching cross in the church yard, which displays escutcheons bearing the arms of Acton and FitzNichol, the latter being the family of his second wife. The second slab is incised with the following words within a ledger line: Here lyeth Anne the firste wife of Roberd Poyntz of whos sowle God have mercy Amen. In the centre is shown a life-sized lady wearing a dress with tight-fitting body, low in the neck, laced from hands to waist with tight sleeves, full skirt and reticulated head-dress.[13] The third slab retains only part of a female figure with a ledger line containing the words: ...erine the second wyfe of Robert Poyntz. The slab was re-incised with a Latin inscription to commemorate Elizabeth Poyntz(d.1631), wife of a much later Robert Poyntz.

He married twice:

Nicholas Poyntz (d.1461)

Nicholas Poyntz (d.1461), son by his father's second wife. He married twice:[14]

John Poyntz (d.1465/1472)

John Poyntz (d.1465/1472), eldest son and heir by his father's first wife. He married Alicia Cocks, of Bristol, who survived him and remarried to Sir Edward Berkeley of Beverstone castle.[15] By his wife he had progeny:

Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1520)

Poyntz Chapel in the Gaunt's Chapel, Bristol, built by Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1520); left: view towards east end formerly occupied by an altar, with Spanish floor-tiles; right: the fan-vaulted ceiling with Poyntz arms impaling Woodville in centre

Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1520), eldest son and heir, a supporter of the future King Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. He was buried in the Gaunt's Chapel, Bristol, in the magnificent "Chapel of Jesus" (known as the "Poyntz Chapel"), a chantry chapel built by him. He married Margaret Woodville, the illegitimate daughter and only child of Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, by his mistress Gwenlina Stradling, daughter of William Stradling[17] of St Donat's Castle, Glamorgan. By Margaret Woodville he had progeny 5 sons and 4 daughters including:

Sir Anthony Poyntz (c.1480–1533)

Early 16th century Easter Sepulchre monument against south wall of the Poyntz Chapel, Iron Acton Church, possibly of Sir Anthony Poyntz (c.1480–1533). Three heraldic escutcheons appear, one showing the de Acton arms, the other two now blank. No inscription survives

Sir Anthony Poyntz (c.1480–1533), eldest son and heir, a diplomat and naval commander. He married twice:

Sir Nicholas Poyntz (1510-1556)

Sir Nicholas Poyntz (1510-1556), eldest son and heir by his father's first wife. He was a prominent courtier during the latter part of the reign of King Henry VIII. His portrait drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger survives in the Royal Collection. He added the east wing to the moated manor house of Acton Court, which addition was lavishly decorated to impress King Henry VIII, who with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, visited the house in 1535 during a tour of the West Country. He married Joan Berkeley, daughter of Thomas Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley (d.1533), of Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, by whom he had five or six sons and three daughters, including his eldest son and heir Nicholas Poyntz (c.1528-1585).

Nicholas Poyntz (c.1528-1585)

Sir Nicholas Poyntz (c.1528-1585), eldest son and heir. He was a Member of Parliament for Totnes, Devon, in 1559 and for Gloucestershire in 1571.[18] He was knighted in 1559 and was appointed Sheriff of Gloucestershire for 1569-70. He married twice:

Sir John Poyntz (d.1633)

Sir John Poyntz (d.1633), eldest son and heir. He was Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1591 and was knighted before 1593. He was elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1593. He died insolvent and intestate in 1633 and was buried at Iron Acton. He married twice:

Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1666)

Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1666), KB, son and heir. He was the last Poyntz of Iron Acton. He was made a Knight of the Bath on 2 February 1626, at the coronation of Charles I. In 1626 he was elected Knight of the Shire for Gloucestershire and was re-elected in 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles I decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. He was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1637. He married Francisca Gibbons, a daughter and co-heiress of Geruatus Gibbons of Kent, by whom he left no male progeny, only two daughters:[22]

Acton Court

Acton Court on Latteridge Lane is the historic manor house of the manor of Iron Acton. It is a Tudor building, with later restorations. In the 16th century Nicholas Poyntz added the east wing to the existing moated house, which addition was lavishly decorated to impress King Henry VIII, who with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, visited the house in 1535 during a tour of the West Country.

Historic estates

Parish church

Parish church of St James the Less
19th-century engraving of Parish church of St James the Less. The preaching cross, of which then only the base survived, erected by Sir Robert Poyntz, is shown in the churchyard, centre

The Church of England parish church of Saint James the Less is Perpendicular Gothic and includes a clerestory, south aisle and south chapel, two-storey north porch and three-stage bell-tower.[24] The nave and south arcade are of three bays.[24] The nave, chancel and south chapel all have wagon roofs and there is a fan vault under the tower.[24]

The church was restored in 1878–79 under the direction of the Gothic Revival architect Sir T.G. Jackson.[24] The high altar has a reredos designed by F.C. Eden and made in about 1930.[24] Behind the altar of the south chapel is a screen also designed by Eden.[24]

Poyntz Chapel

Arms of Poyntz: Quarterly 1st & 4th, barry of eight or and gules (Poyntz); 2nd & 3rd, quarterly per fess indented argent and azure (Acton). The escutcheon, suspended by the guige strap from an initial letter "T", is shown on a field of oak leaves, a reference to the etymology of the ancient settlement of Acton ("Oak-town")
View eastwards along the south aisle towards the Poyntz Chapel. High on the east wall to the right of the window can be seen hanging the funeral helm with spur and piece of leather surcoat borne on the funeral bier of Sir John Poyntz(d.1680)[25]

The altar at the east end of the south aisle forms the focal point of the so-called Poyntz Chapel, which is not a separate chamber or structure. This is not to be confused with the Poyntz Chapel (formally termed "Chapel of Jesus") built by Sir Robert Poyntz (d.1520) within The Gaunt's Chapel, Bristol. Against the south wall is a 16th-century canopied tomb erected for a now unknown member of the Poyntz family. Of the three heraldic escutcheons comprised within the structure two are now blank and one bears the arms of the Acton family, from which the Poyntz's inherited the manor, A fess indented. No inscription survives. The tomb was covered with many layers of whitewash until this was removed in the 19th-century restoration. Marking-off the Poyntz Chapel from the chancel is a pair of stone effigies set on slabs at floor level. The figures show an armed knight of the 14th century beside a female figure, possibly his lady, but perhaps of a slightly later date. The knight is believed to represent Sir John Poyntz (d.1366), son of Sir Nicholas Poyntz(d.1311) feudal baron of Curry Mallet,[26] Somerset, by Matilda Acton, his 2nd wife, daughter and eventual heiress of Sir John Acton(d.1312) of Iron Acton.[27][28] Buried beneath an incised slab set into the floor in the centre of the Poyntz Chapel is Robert Poyntz (1359–1439) between his two wives, 1st, Ann (family unknown), 2nd (marr. pre. 1389) Katherine FitzNichol, daughter of Sir Thomas FitzNichol of Hill, Gloucestershire, many times MP for Gloucestershire. Two other tombstones commemorate Florence Poyntz(d.1598) and Hugh Poyntz(d.1604), son of Sir Nicholas Poyntz(d.1585/6) by Margaret Stanley, daughter of Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby.[29]

Railway

The Midland Railway opened its Thornbury Branch Line in 1872, including Iron Acton railway station to serve the village. The LMS closed the station in 1944 and it was demolished in the 1960s, but the line still carries one freight train per week between a stone quarry at Tytherington and the junction at Yate with the Birmingham and Gloucester line.

A freight-only branch serving an iron mine in Frampton Cotterell joined the branch line at the station. This was closed in 1872 but a truncated section of the line served as a coal depot until closure on 10 June 1963.

Iron Acton station had a single platform and a large wooden station building. The remains of the platform survive, as does a crossing-keeper's cottage to the south of the station site.

Amenities

Iron Acton hosts events throughout the year, including the annual May Day fair and horticultural show. Other events are organised by Acton Aid, a community organisation made up of men of the village who work together to benefit the parish of Iron Acton. Money is raised by holding social events such as the annual fireworks display and the Proms in the Meadows, and working with other parish organisations at the annual May Day fair. An example of such an event is the Victorian evening, during which local residents dressed up in Victorian era clothing for a fair on the street, which is accompanied by a brass band.

The village has its own football club, which played home games on the field behind the Rose and Crown public house on the High Street. The pub was closed and was turned into residential accommodation; Iron Acton F.C. now plays home games on Yate Common, Sunnyside Lane, Yate, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.

Iron Acton Primary School (above the orange wires), seen from the tower of the church
Looking east along the High Street, seen from tower of the church

Bibliography

Sources

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iron Acton.

References

  1. ↑ "Parish population 2011.Retrieved 20 March 2015".
  2. ↑ Blair, 1977, pages 258–259
  3. ↑ See
  4. ↑ Maclean, Sir John; Heane, W.C., eds. (1885). The Visitation of the County of Gloucester, taken in the year 1623, by Henry Chitty and John Phillipot as deputies to William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms; with pedigrees from the heralds’ visitation of 1569 and 1582-3, and sundry miscellaneous pedigrees. Harleian Society, 1st ser. 21. London, pp.128-135, pedigree of Poyntz
  5. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.131
  6. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.131
  7. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.131
  8. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.131
  9. ↑ Maclean, 1885, pp.131-2
  10. ↑ History of Parliament biog. p.132
  11. ↑ Description from church booklet, p.4
  12. ↑ The date stated in the published source (Church guide, Iron Acton Church) is thus 1420, yet his biographers give the date of 1439, adding the worn away final XIX i.e. History of Parliament biography, pp.132–134
  13. ↑ Description quoted from church booklet
  14. ↑ Maclean, 1885, pp.128;131-2
  15. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.129
  16. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.133
  17. ↑ Maclean, 1885, p.133
  18. ↑ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/poyntz-sir-nicholas-1528-85
  19. ↑ Maclean, p.129
  20. ↑ Maclean, p.135
  21. ↑ Maclean, p.135
  22. ↑ Maclean, p.135
  23. ↑ Verey, 1970, page 278
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Verey, 1970, page 276
  25. ↑ Text quoted from framed notice in church
  26. ↑ Known by ancient spelling "Cory Mallett" in most genealogies of the Poyntz family
  27. ↑ Church booklet "Iron Acton", no author or date stated, dedicated to Mrs Eileen Meredith(d.1978), pp.3–4
  28. ↑ Heraldic Visitation of Gloucestershire 1623, pp.130–135, pedigree of Poyntz
  29. ↑ Visit of Glos., p.135