Other Records

1. A History of Kenton Hall: By Mary Terbrak, 2019.
For this Article by Mary Terbrak with the accompanying pictures see the Books section of this website.

The History of Kenton Hall
KENTON HALL *This estate was held by Ivo de Keneton , and Alicia , his wife, Anno 1194 and descended in a direct line through the family of Garneys
Taken from A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: But Uninvested With Heritable Honours.

Blood Hall and the Bloody Field
Tradition says that Blood Hall near Debenham was built on the site of a clash with the Danes. Others say the Hall was used as a hospital while the battle raged close by. Bloody Field. here was once two, Big and Little Blood Fields, the supposed battle site. During field leveling in 1859, a large quantity of bones, both human and horse, were found here, plus an iron spur and other oddments, confirming the local belief. Probably speculation rather than genuine tradition, it has even been suggested that this is the site of King Edmund's final and fateful battle with the Danes in 869 AD.

KENTON
"KENTON, a parish in the hundred of Loes, county Suffolk, 2 miles N.E. of Debenham. Stonham is its post town. The village is small, and the inhabitants chiefly employed in agriculture. The surface is high tableland, and the soil clay alternated with sand and loam. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £147 4s. 8d., and the vicarial for £148. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Norwich, value £137. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient edifice, with a square embattled tower. It contains an ancient mural plate of the Garney family, with an inscription bearing date 1524. The charities produce £38 per annum, £25 of which is for the repair of the church, the remainder for the benefit of the poor of this parish and that of Debenham. Kenton Hall is the principal residence."
From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)

All Saints' church comprises a nave with S aisle and N and S porches, a chancel and W tower. The nave is of flint with a S doorway dating from the end of the 12thc. and a plain N doorway of the same period (not accessible). Both doorways are protected by flint porches: the N (now a vestry) plain and designed by Hakewill in 1871-72; the S more elaborate and 15thc. The nave windows, two on the N and one W of the porch on the S, belong to Hakewill's restoration, and he also lowered the nave roof slightly; the line of the old roof is visible on the tower wall.
The S aisle is a two-bay brick structure built by John Garneys, Lord of the Manor, in 1520-22, as a chapel to St John the Evangelist. It occupies only the section of the nave E of the S porch, and can be entered from a doorway in the E wall of the porch.
The south aisle is now furnished in a devotional manner, albeit dedicated to the Blessed Virgin rather than to St John . It once contained an excellent, intricate Garneys brass, contemporary with the chapel, which Cautley and Arthur Mee both saw in the 1930s.

Taken from An Historical and Chorographicall description of Suffolcke (1594)
T.M. Felgate illustrates it in his excellent Knights on Suffolk Brasses of 1976, at which time he records it as being 'loose in the vestry'. I wonder where it is now.?

The Story of the GARNEYS of Kenton Hall
John Garney (1464) HRH Charles's 14-Great Grandfather. PM Churchill's 13-Great Grandfather. Lady Diana's 14-Great Grandfather.
The main family manors were Kenton, Redisham , Roos and Boyland Hall
Robert was feudal Lord of the Manor of Soham Hall in Bereford, Norfolk, (1384), and was no doubt descended from the Robert Garnoise who in 1194 held lands in Chippenhall in Fressingfield Suffolk.
Robert of Heveningham of Beccles purchased Redisham Hall (1394). He married Aveline; then (1400) Catherine of Heveningham (daughter of John Blanchard of Huntingfield, Suffolk). Catherine died 1405, and Robert died May 1411. Both were buried at Beccles where there was once a memorial inscription.
Piers (son of Robert & Catherine) married Anne (daughter of Ralf Ramsey by his wife Alice, who was daughter of Sir Roger Wellisham) .Piers Garneys died 1451.
Thomas (eldest son of Piers) of Kenton Hall, married Margaret (daughter and one of the heirs of Sir Hugh Francis of Giffard's Hall, Wickhambrook Suffolk, Thomas died December 1458,
Thomas Garneys and Margaret Frances had four known children, 1 son died without issue, and 1 daughter who married into a noble family.
Richard, Who married Elizabeth Toppesfield. He was of Mendlesham, Suffolk, and Lord of the Manor of Boyland Hall, Morningthorpe, Norfolk. He died on May 14th, 1515

John was born c.1464. He succeeded as Lord of the Manor of Kenton (1492 after his mother died). He also held the Manor of Hammonds in Mickfield (1515), He married Elizabeth Sulyard, the daughter of Sir John Sulyard of Wetherden, Suffolk, who was Chief Justice of England. He died age 80 (June 1524). His wife Elizabeth died c.1527. Both were buried at Kenton.
John Garneys and Elizabeth Sulyard had twelve known children: 2 boys who died without issue. And seven daughters, who all married into noble families, except for one Agnes, who became a Nun.
Robert Garneys of Kenton Hall , eldest son and heir of John , succeeded to the estates at the decease of his father, and married Anne , second daughter and co-heir of Thomas Bacon , esq. of Baconsthorp , in the county of Norfolk ,
John Garneys (Son of Robert) married Anne Rookwood, the daughter of Edmund Rookwood of Euston, Suffolk, He died about 1553
John Garneys and Anne Rookwood had eight known children: 3 boys died without issue,and 3 daughters who married into noble families, and two sons who inherited the hall in turn.
Thomas Garneys of Kenton Hall , eldest son of John Garneys of Spexall , who, as before stated, died without heirs. His wife was Frances , daughter of Sir John Sulyard , knt. of Wetherden Hall aforesaid, by whom he had an only child and heir, Elizabeth Garneys , who was three years old at her father's death. She married Philip Strelly of Strelly , in Nottinghamshire. On the decease of Thomas Garneys without issue male, which occurred on the 20 Dec 1566 , the Kenton estates devolved, by virtue of an entail, on his brother,
Nicholas, who was baptized at Spexhall, Suffolk, on July 27th, 1546, and died about 1623. He married Anne Clere. Nicholas inherited Kenton at the death of his brother, Thomas.
Nicholas and Anne had 9 Children
Oldest son Charles GARNEYS c: 25 Sep 1570 in Kenton,married Elizabeth Wentworth of Somerleyton. He died in Kenton in 1678.
Charles Garneys c.25 Sep 1570 of Kenton and Boyland Halls , eldest son and heir of Nicholas , was sheriff of Norfolk in 1652 , and married Elizabeth , daughter of John Wentworth of Somerleyton Hall, Suffolk , and sole heir of her brother, Sir John Wentworth , knt. of the same place. Charles died. 30 Jan 1657, and was succeded. by his son.

Charles , the eldest son, succeeded his father at Kenton and Boyland Halls , and Cleve . His sixth son, married. Ann , daughter of John Jolly , of Southwold , and was ancestor of Charles Garneys ,of Headenham , in Norfolk ..
His second son John GARNEYS was born 1608 and was christened 17 Apr 1608 in Somerleyton, He died 15 Dec 1661 in Morningthorpe,Norfolk,England He married Ann Rugge abt. 1630, He married Elizabeth Soame abt.1649
Two of his children eventually inherited the hall.
Mary GARNEYS was born c.1650 in Kenton, was christened 12 Apr 1653 in Kenton and died 1726. She married William SHIPMAN of Morningthorpe, Norfolk. She married William Dutton COLT 2 Aug 1679 in London, Middlesex,. He was born ABT 1650 in the Grange, Dorset, England
Wentworth GARNEYS was christened 17 Jun 1656 in Somerleyton, Suffolk,. He married Ann GAWDY 24 Jul 1679 in Debenham, Suffolk. She was born ABT 1658 in Debenham, and died 7 Sep 1681 in Morningthorpe,Norfolk, He married Mary ABDY ABT 1680 of Felix Hall, Kelvedon,Essex, England. She was born ABT 1657 in Felix Hall, Kelvedon,Essex and died ABT 1739. He had no isuue.
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A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: But Uninvested With Heritable Honours. History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland.
The manor of Kenton descended to Wentworth Garneys , esq. the last heir male of this family, and on his death the greater part of it became the property of Lady Colt , his eldest surviving sister and co-heir, by whose grandchildren, Mary , wife of John Bond , esq. of Grange, county of Dorset , and Mary-Alice , wife of John Westbrook , esq. of Forrest Hall , in Essex , it was sold in 1772 , and 1774 .
Denis Bond , esq. of Grange. This gentleman was M.P. for Dorchester , 7th Anne, for Corfe Castle , 1st and 8th George I. and for Poole , 1st George II. He espoused, in 1729 , Leonora-Sophia , relict of Edmund Dummer , esq. and youngest daughter of Sir William-Dutton Colt , (He was second surviving son of George Colt , esq. of Colt Hall , in Suffolk , by Elizabeth , his wife, eldest daughter and co-heir of John Dutton , esq. of Sherborn , in Gloucestershire , and brother of Harry-Dutton Colt , crested a baronet, 4th William and Mary. (See Burke's Peerage and Baronetage.)) knt. envoy at the court of Hanover , by Mary , his third wife, (of whom she was co-heir) eldest surviving daughter of John , and co-heir of her brother Wentworth Garneys , esqrs. of Boyland Hall , in Norfolk , and Kenton Hall , (This estate was held by Ivo de Keneton , and Alicia , his wife, Anno 1194 , 6th Richard I. and descended in a direct line through the family of Garneys , to the late Mrs. Westbrook , of Forest Hall , in Essex , who was sole daughter and heir of William Stane , esq. of the same place, by Elizabeth Colt , his wife, the elder sister of the said Leonora-Sophia , and was sold by her about the year 1774 .) in Suffolk . This lady was born in Hanover , and obtained her baptismal name from the Electress Sophia , her sponsor. Mr. Denis Bond d. s. p. in 1746 , and the estates devolved upon his nephew,
Mr Joshua Vanneck sold all his estates at Kenton (all freehold, with two Manors) at London in May 1794. Kenton - Hall Farm, containing 242 acres, together with ye Manor and 258 Top Oaks - 121 Timber ashes - 62 Pollard Oaks - 249 Pollard Ashes - 359 small trees - in ye occupation of Messrs. Darbys sold for 5800£

Here follows the Suffolk History, Gazetteer, and Directory, 1844

The 1841 Census
Name: Peter Kersey Age: 40 Estimated birth year: abt 1801
Where born: Suffolk, England
Civil parish: Kenton Hundred: Loes County/Island: Suffolk Registration district: Plomesgate
Street address: Kenton Hall
Head of household: Peter Kersey 40 (Farmer) Mary Kersey 35 (wife)
Children: Henry Kersey 10 ,Joseph Kersey 8 ,Robert Kersey 6 ,Mary Kersey 3 ,Ellen Kersey 1
Guests: living on independent means: Letita Barker 65 ,Maria Barker 20
Servants: William Marjoram 28 ,Joseph Ship 18 ,Eliza Souter 16 ,Sarah Catchpole 20 .

Here follows the Suffolk Post Office Directory 1875

On the 1851, 61 ,71 and 81 Censuses the Inhabitants of the Hall Were:
In 1851 Robert Symonds a 34 yr old farmer of 400 acres, His wife Susan and their 5 children aged between 9 and 3 yrs old and 4 servants
in 1861 he was a widower with the 5 children and one servant
in 1871 still a widower, 3 children still at home and 2 servants.
in 1881 3 grown up children still at home and 1 servant.
in 1891 Robert Symonds was retired and living in Debenham.

On the 1891 and 1901 censuses the Hall belonged to the Capon family
1891 Ambrose Capon a 45 yr old Farmer with his wife Clara 3 children aged between 11 and 1 , and 2 servants
1901 Clara a widow, 2 grown up children and 1 servant.(2 visitors)
The capons stayed at the Hall until 1940.

EARLY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES IN ENGLAND
In 1934 I was born at St Marys Hospital, Paddington, London, within the sound of the Bow Bells and like Princes William and Harry am technically a Cockney.
My father, Paul Capon, was working on a film called 'Little Friend', starring Nova Pilbeam, and directed by Berthold Viertel, Deborah Kerr's father-in-law. They both sent similar congratulatory telegrams punning on the name of the main character, 'Felicity', whereupon my mother decided, "What better name to give a little girl than 'happiness'" and Felicity-Ann I became.
My mother was very beautiful, with a creamy complexion, red hair and green eyes. She was also deaf. My parents lived in small flats with 'good' addresses, entertaining writers like Christopher Isherwood and other notables, particulary film people. On Saturday nights they gave small, bohemian dinner parties using my mother's inexpensive blue and orange pottery and invariably marigolds. Much laughter and daydreaming went on early in 1934, some of those present became famous in their own fields. My father had 38 books published and did extensive TV work. Chris Isherwood wrote 'I Am a Camera', which was later made into a film called 'Cabaret' and his relationship with the poet W.H. Auden added to his notoriety.
Although my parents came from very different worlds, their mothers had had strikingly similar early experiences on opposite sides of the British Isles. Both had been educated by their brothers' tutors, both had eloped to marry and both had become non-militant suffragettes.
In a non-working period during the Depression, my mother and I were sent to live with my father's parents at Kenton Hall in Suffolk and it was there that my earliest memories were formed. Kenton Hall was a lovely old farmhouse with a rare double moat and was partly situated on Blood Field, where tradition had it that Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni, fought the Romans. When my father was a boy, Roman coins were still occasionally uncovered. The present house had been Elizabethan but when my father was young there had been a devastating fire. The estate horses had been sent to fetch the fire-engine, three miles away, and quite a few of the salvaged contents were looted. Most of the house was destroyed but the beautiful Elizabethan front with mullioned windows was saved. All the books and the great family Bible with the family records were also destroyed.
My grandfather was unable to find an architect to rebuild, preserving the Elizabethan front, so although he was no architect he decided to do it himself, turning farm labourers into building labourers, felling trees, dredging moats and re-laying tennis courts, etc. that had been decimated in the upheaval. Wherever possible, he saved and repaired what had been salvaged, and duplicated all the original rooms, with the addition of modern bathrooms. The library became a double garage off his study. The rebuilding took three years to complete and luckily they had another old house to live in during this time, Winston Grange, now the home of a former Cabinet Minister, John Gummer.
When my mother and I joined them, my grandparents lived alone at Kenton with a married couple to look after them, so my earliest memories were afternoon teas in the Drawing Room with various great uncles and aunts, and then in turn visiting them in their old houses. There always seemed to be one odd fly buzzing sleepily in the background when I was sent for my traditional afternoon rest and the reflection of the moat shimmered on the ceiling of my room. The past was a different country then, to paraphrase L.P. Hartley. By the 1930s it was genteel poverty. The glory days for my grandfather had gone when he used to drive endless Buicks and presented my grandmother with a £500 Citroen; when he persuaded fellow investors to build a railway line that ran past the house, and he and a great-uncle built yet another tennis court between the houses so that neither family had to drive too far for a game of tennis, perhaps five miles!
Finally, it came to an end and in the 1940s the house was reluctantly sold to the Earl of Stradbroke and my grandparents moved back to Winston Grange, a few miles away.
Paul capon was the child of Harry Urban Capon and Bessie Martha Gooderham, So these were the Grandparents who rebuilt the hall. They married in 1907. So the hall burnt down after 1912 (Paul was born in 1912) and before the depression years of 1930"s

The railway episode
The line was intended to run from Haughley to Halesworth, with a second branch running from Kenton station to Westerfield near Ipswich. The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, or Middy as it became affectionately known, was built to provide transport to the rural Suffolk communities who had no reliable transport links. It was built in accordance with the 1896 Light Railways Act, which allowed for cheaper construction methods in return for a speed restriction of 25 mph. The railway was built as cheaply as possible: the buildings were constructed using corrugated iron, and the route followed the natural contours of the land to minimise the need for embankments and bridges.
The railway was built too late, long after the great railway boom that had affected the country in the Victorian age, and soon came into financial difficulties.
After just 6 years the branch was already in decline and the extension to Cratfield was closed. Originally there were cattle docks provided at every station except Haughley, but these also fell into disuse as agriculture turned from cattle to corn. In World War l, part of the link to Kenton and Debenham, which had been started, was lifted because the materials were more urgently needed elsewhere and this effectively ended any hopes of completing the original scheme.

Other articles
Just north of here, the remarkable Mid-Suffolk Light Railway ran on its way from Haughley Junction to Laxfield (it was planned to reach Halesworth, but this never materialised). This early 20th century enterprise was the setting for the novel Love on a Branch Line, and is still remembered fondly by older Suffolkers.

The time of the First World War, a spur was built from Kenton Junction to a field just north of Debenham. It was an expensive and hare-brained extension, for permission to carry passengers along this stretch was never obtained, and nor was the last stretch into Debenham itself ever built.

Although very little evidence of this company's railway survives today, there are substantial remains of a bridge and embankment of the Kenton-to-Debenham spur on the road to Aspall, about a mile north of the church. The traffic rushes by, but to clamber up on this overgrown ridge is to consort with ghosts.

The Earl of Stradbroke, (The Rous family were an unsavoury bunch, enough to give nobles a bad name. In their long unsavoury family history, Kenton Hall was not mentioned, though they owned many properties in many different counties.)
George Edward John Mowbray Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke was born on 19 November 1862. He married Helena Violet Alice Fraser, daughter of Lt.-Gen. James Keith Fraser, on 23 July 1898. He died on 20 December 1947 at age 85. He gained the title of 3rd Earl of Stradbroke

George Edward John Mowbray Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke KCMG CB CVO CBE VD TD (19 November 1862 - 20 December 1947) was a British noble and the 15th Governor of Victoria, Australia.
He also served in the British Parliament, holding the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1928 until the defeat of the 1924-1929 Conservative Government. Was the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk 1935-1947 At some time he also served in the British Army, rising to the rank of Colonel.
He married Lady Helena Rous, Countess of Stradbroke, DBEHelena Violet Alice Fraser (b. 18?? - d. 14 April 1949), daughter of Lt.-Gen. James Keith Fraser married George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke on 23 July 1898.
She was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1927; she died on 14 April 1949.
Children
Lady Betty Helena Joanna Rous (b. 24 April 1901 - d. 19??)
Sir John Anthony Alexander Rous, 4th Earl of Stradbroke (b. 1 April 1903 - d. 1983)
Sir William Keith Rous, 5th Earl of Stradbroke (b. 10 March 1907 - d. 1983)
Major Hon. Peter James Mowbray Rous (b. 23 January 1914 - ????)
Ref: Mary Terbrak - 2019

Robert married Agnes PALLE [31264] [MRIN: 11078] on 15 Jan 1542 in Thorndon SFK. (Agnes PALLE [31264] was born circa 1520 and was buried on 30 Mar 1544 in Thorndon SFK.)

Robert next married Joane [26507] [MRIN: 9518] in 1545. (Joane [26507] was baptised on 1 Jan 1539 in Kenton SFK and was buried on 29 Aug 1551 in Kenton SFK.)

Robert next married Margery [31767] [MRIN: 11575] after 1555. (Margery [31767] died on 14 Aug 1590 in Kenton SFK.)