The Cross at Drayton, Norfolk

On the village green at Drayton, outside Norwich, is a remarkable medieval cross.

It carries an inscription asking people to pray for the souls of William de Beaumont and Joan his wife. The inscription being in French, this is not likely to date from the 12th century, that would have been in latin.

Nevertheless this has been associated with William de Beaumont who married Joan of Barsham in 1185, and moreover they had no connexion with Drayton. 

However the name of the wife of the mid 13^th century William de Beaumont who was connected with Drayton is not known, and thus might have been Joan. 

There is no doubt that all the old historians, even Blomefield, have been muddled about the family tree of these people. I hope to put some of that right in later articles.

References:

In Norfolk Archaeology Vol 25, is an article on Norfolk Crosses. That at Drayton is covered pp. 306-8 and there is a photo facing p.307.

Blomefield, Vol x, page 413 described the cross as then (?1814) "almost quite defaced" and quoted it - VOUS CHE PRIE PUR L'AM WILLIAM DE BELLOMONT..... JOHANNE SA FEMME...... PATER NR ...... AVE MARIA ...... DE PARDONA AVERA 

- translated loosely as "You who pray for the souls of William Beaumont and Joanna his wife saying a Paternoster and an Ave Maria will earn ... days pardon."

The cross is still there, or was when the Google street-view car went by.