In 1280 the Manor of Loudham was held by John de Loudham, of the family of de Loudham or de Lowdham. John's son William de Lowdham gained Frenze, Co.Norfolk in 1297.  William's grandson Sir John de Lowdham (b.c1308 d.1355) gained Kelvedon, Essex by his marriage to heiress Joan de Kelvedon. From Sir John de Lowdham the manors of Loudham, Frenze and Kelvedon passed by descent to his great-grandson John de Lowdham (b.c1377/8).

 

John's only daughter and heir Joan de Lowdham (b.c1409/10 d.20-Jun-1501) as a child married in 1422 or earlier to Thomas de Heveningham, who died soon after, in 1422. She married secondly in 1423, at the age of 14 years, to Ralph Blenerhayset esquire, of Carlisle, Cumberland, they becoming ancestor of Blennerhassett of Co.Norfolk, Co.Suffolk, Co.Fermanagh & Dublin. Thus the manors of Loudham, Frenze & Kelvedon passed to the Blennerhasett family.

 

Following his marriage Ralph Blenerhayset and his wife resided first at Loudham, later at Frenze. On his death in 1475 he was interred in the church of St.Andrew the Apostle at Frenze, where his monumental brass and others of his family may still be seen. From Ralph Blennerhassett the three manors passed by descent to his son John, his grandson Sir Thomas Blennerhassett of Frenze (Minister, Seneschal, Steward or Principal Household Officer for the 2nd Duke and 3rd Duke of Norfolk), his great-grandson George Blennerhassett of Kenninghall, Norfolk, and his great-great-granddaughter Mary Blennerhassett of Loudham.

 

Mary Blennerhassett married firstly Thomas Culpepper of Bisshe Court, Co.Kent (son of Nicholas Culpepper of Wakehurst, Co.Sussex), and secondly Francis Bacon of Hessett, Suffolk. Francis Bacon died in 1580, interred in Pettistree church, where his monumental brass has portraits of himself and his two wives. Mary Bacon died 17-Sep-1587, interred in Frenze church, where she has her own brass without portrait. A probate inventory of her personal effects, dated Sep-1587, is archived at Norfolk Record Office.

 

Mary's 2nd cousin Samuel Blennerhassett Sr (b.bef.1597 d.1625) resided at Loudham Hall c1591 to c1615 and most probably until his death in 1625. He was son of Thomas Blennerhassett of Barsham, Co.Suffolk and grandson of Mary's uncle, John Blennerhassett of Barsham.

 

Samuel's son Samuel Blennerhassett Jr (b.1602 d.1639/40) in 1627 sold the manor of Loudham out of the family, to Sir Henry Wood, a rich man who already possessed considerable estates in Suffolk and did not take up residence at Loudham until after the reformation. Sir Henry was close to the Royal family, being Treasurer of the Household of the Queen Dowager Henrietta, one of the Council of Queen Catherine and Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth.  He died 25-May-1671, interred in the south aisle of Ufford church.

 

Samuel Blennerhassett Jr., with his brother Edward Blennerhassett (b.c1604 d.1641, bur. in Campsey Ash church) & others in 1636 jointly sold the manor of  Frenze out of the family, to Richard Nixon Sr (b.c1589 d.1666).

 

Sir Henry Wood by his second wife had a daughter Mary Wood (b.1664), betrothed at the age of seven to Charles Fitzroy (b.1662 d.1730) one of "Barbara's Brats" (the illegitimate children of Barbara Villiers, the King’s mistress). Charles was given the title of Duke of Southampton. Mary died very young on 15-Nov-1680 and the property passed to Henry’s sister whose name was Cranmer. Sir Henry’s great-nephew Charles Cranmer on inheriting the property changed his name to Wood, and it is believed he may be the man who made extensive alterations to the house starting c1730 ["Suffolk Houses" by Eric Sandon].

 

Following Sir Henry’s death in 1671 his brother Thomas, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, resided for nine years in the house, and during this period there were court cases involving the Duke of Southampton and certain sums of money.

 

In the late 1700s the Loudham estate was acquired by Jacob Whitbread, half brother of the Cardington benefactors, remaining in their hands until 1921.

 

The house was once again sold in 2009.

 

 

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