Footsteps into History - Burnett
The small, peaceful village of Burnett nestles in a hollow on the banks of the River Chew, not two miles from its bustling neighbour Keynsham.
At the time of the Norman conquest it formed part of the Manor of Keynsham.
But it belonged, surprisingly, not to the monks of the abbey there but to the wife of a man called Ulward, who is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
During King Rufus’ reign the lands were given to Tewkesbury Abbey and remained in its possession until King Henry VIII’s time.
After the break up of the monasteries the manor was sold to John Cutte, a wealthy Bristol wine merchant.
In 1570 he took on an apprentice, John Whitson, a man who would later play an important role in Bristol’s history.
When Cutte died of the plague in 1575 the manor, and his business, passed to his son, Nicholas.
But Nicholas died soon after his marriage leaving his wife Bridget in charge of the family business.
John seized his chance and married the widow.
Born in the Forest of Dean, John Whitson had been orphaned at an early age.
It’s said that he had made his way to Bristol on a sailing boat, a Severn trow, at the tender age of 12.
Already a Merchant Venturer, he was twice elected mayor (1603/4 and 1615/16) as well as sheriff.
He was also five times MP for Bristol.
Whitson helped finance an expedition to North America in 1603 through his shares in two ships, the Speedwell and the Discoverer.
Whitson Bay (now Plymouth Bay) was named in his honour.
After Bridget’s death John re - married, this time to the beautiful daughter of a London alderman.
Their daughter, the story goes, became known as the “Flower of Bristol”.
When he died in 1628, aged 71, Whitson was buried in St Nicholas church, near his town house.
He had been married three times - to three widows.
In his will the merchant stipulated that his monies should be used to found a girls’ school - the Red Maids.
St. Michael’s - the tiny church next to the manor house - dates back to the 14th century.
As it only holds about 60 persons it’s been suggested that it was only ever intended for the lord of the manor, his servants and estate workers.
The Red Maids’ choir perform here every May.
The outside of St Michael’s is somewhat plain and its bell turret, rising from the gable, contains just one bell.
The original was reputed (although it’s very unlikely) to have been stamped with the date 1107AD but, being cracked, it was melted down in order to make a new one.
There is a stone tablet in the church to the memory of Ralph Dyer, a minister’s son, who died in 1652.
But there’s no memorial to the minister himself, who, it’s said, lost his job when King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660.
As an ardent supporter of Cromwell it’s said that he was hanged from a tree in the parish.
But there is a brass commemorating wine merchant John Cutte and his wife Joan.
Dressed in Elizabethan style, they are seen kneeling with their eight sons and four daughters.
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