Goddard Oxenbridge

The tomb of Goddard Oxenbridge, otherwise known as the Brede Giant, in St George's Church, Brede, East Sussex, England

Sir Goddard Oxenbridge (c.1478 - 10 Feb. 1531) was an English nobleman of the Tudor period who became the subject of the legend of the Brede Giant.

He lived in a fine house known as Brede Place in Brede, East Sussex which had been built in the 14th century, but which he improved and extended.[1] He was three times sheriff of Surrey and Sussex,[2] in 1506, 1512, and 1519, and appointed to Commissions of the Peace in 1511 and 1512.[1] On 23 June 1509 he was made Knight of the Bath to honor the coronation of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.[1] His tomb is in St George's Church, Brede, and bears his armoured effigy.[3]

His first wife was Elizabeth Etchingham by whom he had a son, Thomas.[1] His second wife Anne Fiennes was the mother of his daughter Lady Elizabeth Tyrwhitt who was Catherine Parr's lady-in-waiting and the author of Morning and Evening Prayers (1574). Their first son Sir Robert Oxenbridge was a member of parliament and constable of the tower.[2] Other children include William, Margaret and Mary.[1]

Legend of the Brede Giant

During his lifetime rumours were spread about him. The likely source were smugglers who were secretly using Sir Goddard's estate as one of their bases. Oxenbridge was said to be invulnerable to metal weapons and only wooden weapons would kill him. He had great stature, was described as a giant of a man, and referred to as the Brede Giant and the Sussex Ogre. This helped to make these stories more cogent to some of the local populace. The rumours had it that he devoured a child every night for supper. Several children had disappeared from the locality. Gossip and the smugglers spread the rumour that Goddard was a cannibal, but he was observed to be a pious Christian so the rumours were discounted by most people. The story says that Goddard Oxenbridge's life was ended when in a drunken state he was sawn in two with a wooden saw at Groaning Bridge by children who believed in the rumours. It has been suggested that these stories were spread about the Catholic Oxenbridge by Protestants during the Reformation.[1][3][4]

Another telling of the story suggests that the legend originated some 200 years after his death. Brede Place was purchased in 1708 mainly for the land, and the house allowed to fall into disrepair. It was then that smugglers took over the house and spread rumours that it was now haunted by Oxenbridge's ghost, and either concocted the tale or built upon it about his former child-eating habits.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Felch, Susan M., ed. (April 2008). "Introduction. The Life and Times of Elizabeth Oxenbridge Tyrwhit". Elizabeth Tyrwhit's Morning and Evening Prayers (PDF). Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-0661-1. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 "OXENBRIDGE, Sir Robert (1508/9-74), of Brede, Suss. and Hurstbourne Priors, Hants.". The History of Parliament Online. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 "The story of the Sussex Cannibal". The Argus. Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd. 8 December 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Brede". Villagenet. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Chantler, Bob. Rother country. p. 98. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
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