BLANCMINSTER, WHITCHURCH

St. Chad’s Church, Hanmer and the Hanmer - le Strange Family Connection

The Hanmer Sword

Interesting little story from my Mother, (dau. of Viola le Strange) upon entering the Church in 1990’s she saw a ‘le Strange’ sword mounted on the church wall. Sir John Hanmer had exhibited his ancestral sword in the millennium exhibition so this may well have been it. It was said to have been used by an ancestor of his in Ireland, possibly Londonderry. It had been in the church since the 19th century and rescued, damaged after the 1889 fire. Sir John’s heirloom remains in his Family today.

St. Chad’s Church, Hanmer, Whitchurch - Graveyard

There is a tomb on south outside of St. Chad’s Church wall dubiously attributed to a le Strange ancestor. The tomb has inverted candles which indicates the end of a family line.

One of the le Strange lords of the Marches is credited with directing the rebuilding of St Chad’s Church after its destruction in 1463 by the forces of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk. The lords connected with the church during this period were the 6th, 7th, and 8th le Strange Lords of Knockin.

The 8th Lord, who was married to Jacquetta Woodville, would most likely have overseen the area at the time of the reconstruction, given both his position and his standing within the region.