Grafton Manor

Grafton Manor (13 miles north-east of Worcester & 2 1/2 miles south-west of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire) was established before the Norman Conquest. For a time, in the reign of Henry II to Edward I, it was subject to forest law as part of the Forest of Feckenham.

The Lords of the Manor were influential figures in mediaeval and early modern Worcestershire, with a number becoming High Sheriffs or Members of Parliament for Worcestershire. A few were also national figures, especially the Talbots and Earls of Shrewsbury. Grafton was connected with Catholic worship in the County after the Reformation.

The house is now a listed building containing a hotel and restaurant, in the modern Civil parish of Dodford with Grafton in the Bromsgrove District of Worcestershire.

The current L-shaped building dates to the early 1500s and was extensively altered around 1567. A fire in 1710 destroyed parts, and restoration work took place in 1860 by David Brandon and the later 20th century.

Above the parlour window, there is an inscription:

Plenti and grase
ti in this plase
whyle even man is plesed in his degre
there is both pease and uniti.
Salaman saith there is none acorde
when every man would be a lorde.

The adjacent Chapel, originally annexed to the Parish of Bromsgrove, was granted by the Bishop of Worcester, William of Blois to the sacrist of St. Mary's, Worcester, who had to burn a taper before King John's tomb in the Cathedral. Disputes are recorded over the inheritance of the revenues (advowson) and the costs of maintenance took place between John de Grafton family and the sacrist of St Mary’s. Eventually, the advowson was in the hands of the Stafford family at Grafton, and was passed to the Talbot family.

The chapel was the “headquarters of a Roman Catholic mission” and there is a small burial ground next to it. It was disused and ruined by the end of the 1700s.

Members of the families holding the manor are frequently listed as holding positions as local MPs and as the High Sheriff of Worcestershire.

...
Wikipedia