Blanche Parry

Blanche Parry (Blanche ap Harry) (1507/8-1590), was the daughter of Henry Myles and Alice (Milborne) of Newcourt, Bacton. She was introduced at Court by her aunt Blanche Herbert, Lady Troy, who was Princess Elizabeth's Lady Mistress. Lady Troy provided a stable, happy environment for the childhoods of Elizabeth and her brother (later King Edward VI). She, and her niece Blanche, may have influenced Elizabeth's religious views for there was a Lollard connection in their family. When Lady Troy retired (when Elizabeth was about 12 or 13 years old) she intended Blanche Parry to succeed her, but Elizabeth's governess, Kate Ashley, was appointed. Blanche remained as second in the household until Kate Ashley died in 1565, and then she became the Chief Gentlewoman of Queen Elizabeth's Privy Chamber and Keeper of Her Majesty's Jewels (she had been in charge of the jewels since the reign of Queen Mary).

Blanche had supervised the rockers of Elizabeth's cradle and regularly slept in the little girl's room. As she rode with the Princess she was allocated food for her horses and stabling. She remained single throughout her life and was so devoted to Elizabeth that she accompanied her to the Tower during Elizabeth's imprisonment there. For Elizabeth's coronation Blanche was given 7 yards of scarlet, 15 yards of crimson velvet, 1¼ yards of cloth of gold yellow with work and ¾ yard cloth of gold black with work, which must have been made into truly beautiful dresses. Her salary of £33 6s 8d remained unchanged throughout Elizabeth's reign.

Blanche's family were closely connected with the Herberts of Raglan Castle and her father was Steward of Dore Abbey. Her family tree was recorded in a poem by the bard Guto'r Glyn. Blanche herself acquired lands in Herefordshire - in Fawley, Bowley, Marden and Wellington - and in Yorkshire - in Rise, Wheldrake and Thorganby Church. In Wales she held Usk (long held by her family), Glasbury and land around Llangorse Lake.

Blanche was in charge of Queen Elizabeth's Privy Chamber (her "Head" Chamber), the Queen's jewels, the Great Seal of England, and the Queen's furs, books and personal linen. She received money on the Queen's behalf, was a conduit for passing information to the Queen, channelled Parliamentary bills and acted as the Queen's confidante. She worked closely with Lord Burghley, her cousin. She may have helped with the publication finances of the Welsh Bible. Her unused monument in Bacton Church, dated before November 1578, is the first known instance of Queen Elizabeth being depicted as Gloriana, as an icon.

Blanche became blind in the 1580s but continued to live at Court. When she died she was buried at Saint Margaret's Church, adjacent to Westminster Abbey. The Queen paid for her funeral which had the status of a baroness. The Tudor stained glass window commemorating Blanche Parry which was originally installed at Bacton Church is now located in St. Eata's Church at Atcham, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. It was moved there in 1811 at the expense of Mary, wife of Henry Burton who was vicar at Atcham from 1780 to 1831. Mary Burton was a descendant of Blanche Parry's family. The stained glass depicts Queen Elizabeth with Blanche at her side. An inscription records that Blanche died in 1589 at the age of 82, her body being buried at Westminster Abbey and "her bowells" at Bacton.

(Sources: Ruth E. Richardson, Mistress Blanche, Queen Elizabeth I's Confidante, Logaston Press, 2007, and information leaflet for St. Eata's Church, Atcham (undated))

Newcourt, Bacton

Newcourt (HER 31186) was built by Harri Ddu ap Gruffudd (Blanche Parry's great-grandfather) in 1452, using local oak trees; it was the family manor house. It was surrounded by formal gardens and a deer park. It lost its status in the 17th century and became a farmhouse. A drawing of 1814 preserves its general appearance. Only the site remains. See Ruth E. Richardson, Mistress Blanche, Queen Elizabeth I's Confidante for a picture and details of Newcourt.

[Original author: Toria Forsyth-Moser, 2003]