Grafton Regis is an ancient settlement occupying the high ground
on the west bank of the river Tove. It has a triangular layout with
two roads coming off the A508, meeting just west of the Manor
House. The name Grafton Regis comes from when King Henry VIII
stayed at Grafton Manor on more than one occasion.
The church of St Mary, occupies the end of the ridge overlooking
the Tove valley to the north and east. No records exist of the
church's original foundation. The earliest recorded date was in the
11th century. We can, however, speculate that the church was
established much earlier than this.
The church of St. Mary consists of a nave, chancel, north aisle,
north chapel, west tower and south porch. The earliest feature is
the 12th century font which was re-modelled much later.
Re-furbishments and additions are documented in the 13th, 14th 15th
and 16th centuries. St Mary's was re-roofed in 1840 and again
re-furbished in 1889. The church decayed over the first part of the
20th century and by the 1970's was in a poor state. Restoration
work was carried out in the 1980's particularly on the roof,
windows and tower. The bell tower contains 4 bells; one of which
was re-cast in 1906.
The church occupies an interesting point in our country's
history. Local girl Elizabeth Woodville was the first commoner to
marry a sovereign when she secretly wed Edward IV in 1464 in the
church. The royal couple produced two heirs; "the princes in the
tower". The wedding was later made illegal to disinherit the
princes and to make their uncle Richard Duke of Gloucester, Edward
IV's successor as Richard III. The Tudors had no reservations about
the marriage. Henry VII took Elizabeth's daughter as a wife and she
was the mother of Henry VIII.
The cache is a small box and is placed with permission.