Urien Brereton

Urian is a Celtic noble male given name (also Urien, Uryen, Uren, presumably derived from British Urbgen). It is recorded in 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in a reference to a "John, son of Urian". In the twelfth century Geoffrey of Monmouth used the latinized form Urbianus for the semi-legendary British king Urien, who marries the pseudo-mythical Arthur's sister (often Morgan le Fay, but sometimes another sister is named). He, like the kings of several other lands, initially opposes Arthur's accession to the throne after Uther's death. Urien and the others rebel against the young monarch, but upon their defeat, the rebels become Arthur's allies and vassals.

Urien Brereton of Chester
Urien Brereton (c1495-19th March 1578) was the ninth son of Sir Randle Brereton (c.1469-1505) and a Groom of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII. Despite living in those most turbulent of times, being a member of the kings household and either an associate or relative of many who were less fortunate, he managed to avoid being executed. Just how he did this is not exactly clear

The role of a Groom to the king seems to have been a popular one with the sons of the gentry of Cheshire, as Piers Dutton had previously held such a post. The post of Gentleman of the Privy Chamber was created around 1518 by amalgamating the posts of the two earlier officers - "Esquires of the Household" and the "Knights of the Body". The duties of these gentlemen consisted primarily in giving company to the sovereign and in dressing and undressing him, though they performed a varierty of chores. The Gentlemen were assisted by the Grooms of the Privy Chamber who, under the supervision of the gentlemen ushers, initially attended to the cleanliness of the rooms. The "Groom of the Stool" was responsible for the latrines: it is a matter of some debate as to whether the duties involved cleaning the king's bottom, but the groom is known to have been responsible for supplying a bowl, water and towels and also for monitoring the king's diet and bowel movements.

In the early years of Henry VIII's reign, the title was awarded to court companions of the king who spent time with him in the privy chamber (the king's private quarters). These were generally the sons of noblemen or important members of the gentry. Grooms ranked below Gentlemen of the Chamber, usually important noblemen, but above Yeomen of the Chamber. They were mostly well-born, and on a first rung of a courtier's career. In time they came to act as personal secretaries to the king, carrying out a variety of administrative tasks within his private rooms. The position was advanrageous in that it allowed unobstructed access to the king and if they demonstrated competence and loyalty they could expect advancement.

In 1526 Urien was appointed "Ranger of Delamere Forest". It is not clear what this role entailed. The principal role was the "Master Forester" and dated back to the time of the Norman Earls of Chester. This hereditary position was given by the Earl of Chester Ranulf de Meschines to Ranulf or Ralph de Kingsley in 1123, and it passed by marriage to the Launcelyn family and later to the Done family of Utkinton and Tarporley. Sixteen Dones then held the position over nearly four centuries, until in 1662, the master-forestership passed to the Crewe family. In 1526 he also appear to have been made "Escheator of Cheshire". The Escheator's duties were to maintain the king's rights as overlord of all land held by tenants in chief, which reverted to him on the death of such a tenant. It was the Escheator's job to enquire into land of doubtful status, and to administer land over which the king had rights. He could do this either on his own initiative or on the authority of a writ.

In 1530 Unrien married Margaret, the daughter and sole heiress of William Handford (or Hondford), Esquire, of Handford. Urien's son, grandson, and great grandson, were all of the name of William; and it is the latter (Sir William Brereton, Baronet) who was the distinguished Parliamentarian General who organised the siege of Chester in the Civil War.

Urien Brereton had a close personal relationship with Anne Boleyn, to the extent that she may have named one of her dogs after him.

While in the role of Groom of the Privy Chamber his older brother, the 7rh son, William Brereton (c. 1487 – 17 May 1536), was executed along with other supposed conspirators for high treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn (see: Dutton). William Brereton was probably collateral damage when Thomas Cromwell (c.1485 – 28 July 1540) moved against the Boleyn faction and decided to get rid of him in the same coup. Cromwell appears to have become frustrated with the problems that William Brereton was causing in the opposition to Cromwell's plan to centrallise the government of the Palatinate of Chester.

A Wiiiam Brereton had backed the restoration of Abbot Birkenshaw at the Cathedral.

In 1538 Urien was appointed Sheriff of Flint, and in July that year he became attorney to the King. This was the time between the execution of his brother (1536) and the fall of Cromwell, when Cromwell was still in a powerful position and before his difficulties following Henry's disasterous marriage to Anne of Cleves. Thus, despite both the Queen's and his brother's execution Urien continued to enjoy the King's favour, receiving the bulk of William's Cheshire estates — amounting to over 200 acres — from the King.

The convent at Chester
The earliest known charter connected with the House of Benedictine nuns of St Mary dates from about the year 1150, though it is known the nuns were in Chester before that date, possibly at another site. Further information can be found on the page relating to Nicholas Street. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the King granted Urien Brereton the assets of Newnham Priory (in Bedfordshire) and the former Chester Priory of the nuns. Henceforth the Breretons of Handforth occasionally resided at "The Nunnes".

Leith
Following its break with the Roman Catholic Church, England attacked Scotland, partly to break the "Auld Alliance" and prevent Scotland being used as a springboard for future invasion by France, partly to weaken Scotland, and partly to force Scotland to agree to a marriage alliance between Mary, Queen of Scots (born 8 December 1542), and the English heir-apparent Edward (born 12 October 1537), son of King Henry VIII. Major hostilities began with an attack on Edinburgh on 3 May 1544. Henry declared war in an attempt to force the marriage between Edward, who was six years old at the start of the war, and the infant queen.

Urien Brereton was knighted in 1544 by the Edward Seymour (then the Earl of Hertford) for "valour" during the Burning of Leith. He would have then been approaching fifty years of age. Evidently very little valour would have been needed as the people of Leith had abandonned the town and fled to Edinburgh - as written at the time: "the which we found all desolate, for not a soul did we find in the town."

Handforth
Handforth Hall had an inscription over the doorway reading:


 * "This halle was builded in the year of our Lord 1592 by Urian Brereton, knight, whom married Margaret, daughter and heire of William Handford of Handford and had issues 6 sonnes and 2 daughters"

This was a later "Urian" and not the "Urian" of Chester.

Family
Unrien married Margaret, the daughter and sole heiress of William Handford, Esquire, of Handford. His son, grandson, and great grandson, were all of the name of William; and it is the latter (Sir William Brereton, Baronet) who was the distinguished Parliamentarian General

Related pages

 * Brereton;
 * Dutton;
 * Nuns Road;
 * Nicholas Street;
 * Vale Royal: for the Nums Grave;
 * Grosvenor Park: for the sole remains of the nunnery;

Online

 * House of the Benedictine Nuns;
 * The Nuns of St. Mary's, Chester;
 * Handforth Hall;