Re: Giffard of Leckhampton

Thanks for sticking with this mystery and the those last two links
Will.

I have found the answer to my cross-legged templar question above. It
seems there is very little significance to Templars and cross-legged
effigies after all. I also found from one source that the sculptor of
John Giffard's effigy is thought also to have sculpted the effigy of
Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley (d. 1321 also a cross-legged
effigy).

It seems that the effigies of Leckhampton still have the best shot of
being John Giffard, the last lord of Brimpsfield and his wife Avelina
de Courtenay. As you point out Will, the first John Giffard of
Leckhampton could be an unknown son of John and Avelina since they
married before 6 Nov. 1311 (thanks CE Wood). The source I originally
listed for Leckhampton Court above, says that construction began
between 1315 and 1325, maybe this was the residence of the displaced
Avelina and her son after her husband's execution. As you mention
Will, this son would be just of age in 1331 and it would be tight
timewise for an unknown nephew of John Giffard of Brimpsfield to be of
age, but still a possibility. I always thought that this John Giffard
of Brimpsfield was an only son, but I will search around for some more
unaccounted for Giffards.

Thanks again,
Doug


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