Beauchamp

The Beauchamp are one of the families with the earliest verifiable link to Chewton Mendip apart from royalty or members of the church. Bello Campo is an alternative spelling of what is usually translated as ‘beautiful field’. John de Beauchamp married Cecilia de Vivonia c1270. This was origin of the Beauchamp family holdings in the northern part of Somerset and perhaps when the acquired Sock Dennis in what is now Ilchester.

Cicely de Bello Campo purchased land in Chewton Mendip and other manors from Sybil de Rupe Cawardi in 1326. She also obtained lands held by the Abbot of Glastonbury via William Fortibus.

There are references in the poor law records to a an estate called ‘Bechamps’ in the West End of Chewton Mendip in the 18th century which may be an archaic link to Beachamp lands or a corruption of the Beaumont name.