Hanham itself lies to the west, partly within the urban district of Kingswood, and was probably once a British or Roman settlement situated between the edge of the great Kingswood Forest and the River Avon.

Hanham Abbots has much to interest the historian. Its name is a reference to the Abbots of Keynsham who in medieval times owned most of the area, acquiring Hanham Manor in 1330 for the price of one hundred silver marks.

The original extensive Manor of Hanham was divided, and is now known by the names of East Hanham and West Hanham; the latter being known also as Hanham Abbots." The Creswicke Family of Hanham Manor held West Hanham, and the Newton Family of Barrs Court held East Hanham. Newton however did not know of the distinction between East Hanham and West Hanham. Hanham was in his title and so he claimed to be Lord of Hanham. That he possessed some land in West Hanham was not denied, but when he claimed manorial rights Creswicke was up in arms and went to law. In a long document he stated Newton's infringements. Newton tried to ridicule Creswicke's case, saying in his defence that "Creswicke is only the owner of a farm-house in West Hanham and of some lands thereto belonging, and doth of late give himself out to be Lord of the pretended Manor of Hanham Abbots, to cut a long story short Creswicke won his case.

How Newton tried to avenge himself will be made clear later. When the Creswicke family came to Hanham Court it was with every prospect of a long and happy reign.

In 1638 Francis Creswicke bought part of Hanham from Thomas Colston Esq. It was in 1685 that the young Duke of Monmouth (an illegitimate son of King Charles 2nd) came over to England and made his rash and ill-advised attack upon the forces of King James 2nd. Monmouth had been exiled by William of Orange, together with the Duke of Argyle to Brussels, where together with refugees from England, he plotted an uprising against King James 11 of England.

It was on 11th June in 1685 that Monmouth and Lord Grey, and 100 followers landed at Lyme Regis in the county of Dorset. The Duke of Monmouth was a very popular figure amongst the peasants and working class of England who rallied to his cause in great numbers.

Not long after his landing in England he was recorded to have been in command of some 4,000 men and he immediately raised a standard and pronounced a proclamation of the most violent nature accusing his uncle King James of poisoning his predecessor Charles 2nd and other crimes.

It was in mid june that he arrived in the town of Taunton Somerset and pronounced himself King. It was then that Monmouth decided to try and take the city of Bristol. He advanced towards the town of Keynsham where he camped in Sydenham Mead on the 25th June 1685.

On an warm summer evening in June of that year a great stir and commotion filled the usually quiet and sleepy little town of Keynsham. The news had spread that King Monmouth, as he was already being called by some,and his army, were marching up from Glastonbury, Wells, and Shepton Mallet, into Keynsham and were now just south of the little town. Everyone said that on the morrow he would march in and take Bristol and the whole of the West Country would be his.

The news came to Hanham Court and caused Francis Crewicke to hasten from his home to gain a view, if he could, of Monmouth's army from the top of Cleeve Wood. There before him lay Monmouth's army camping in a large field known as Sydenham Mead.

Now as our Squire Creswicke, perhaps with some of his children stood watching, he probably saw the soldiers gradually spread themselves over the meadow, laying straw down for their beds, and lighting huge bonfires to dry thier sodden clothes for it had been raining hard during their long march.

The news had spread to the local villages who came in large crowds to see the sight. It is likely that Monmouth got many a young country-man, including Hanhamites, to join his army with glowing prospects.

Now Squire Creswicke had two mows of hay on the Londonderry side of Sydenham Mead. Fearing Monmouth's men would use them for their horses and secretly wanting to get a closer view of the army, he walked down over the hill to the camp. Creswicke immediately recognised by an old acquaintance named Captain Tylie who rode out to meet him, saluted him and gave a glowing account of Monmouth's chances of victory and gaining the English crown.

He took out some papers from his pocket and showed Francis Creswicke the battle plan to take the city of Bristol. Creswicke thoughtlessly looked through them and handed them back. But this proved his downfall, for amongst the many onlookers were some of his old enemy, the Newton's of Barrs Court.

Monmouth's men had used most of Creswicke's two mows of hay for their horses and he was promptly accused by the Newton's of having sold them for twenty guineas, and with so many witnesses of his conversations he found it difficult to disprove it.

Monmouth's rout at Sydenham was latter followed by utter defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor nr Bridgwater Somerset where he was captured and later executed.

After this battle King James sent down to the West Country a most cruel man, "Bloody Judge Jefferies". Their hiding places were combed out, and hundreds of the poor simple country folk, who in their folly had followed Monmouth's army or given them food or shelter, were caught and hanged.

Things at this time were very sad in the nearby villages including Hanham. This fate did not come to Francis crewicke, but on the first of July that same year, 1685, Judge Jefferies orderd troops to Hanham Court and arrest Creswicke and take him to Gloucester Jail to be charged with high treason against the King.

Time and time again his trial was postponed because Newton of Barr's Court said that some of the principal witnesses were ill and this seems to be how Newton avenged himself for having lost the West Hanham lawsuit. Prisons in the 17th Century were not noted for their comfort, cleanliness, or warmth, so one can imagine how a gentleman like Creswicke must had felt as time dragged on, so he wrote to the Duke of Beaufort pleading for a short bail.

Here are his own words;~ " I beseech your Grace to permit my return to my home at Hanham for a fortnight on good bail which I will give at Bristol, that I may settle my family in some better order than when I left them, and I will engage to return without trouble or charge at the expiration thereof, and I shall be ever bound to pray for your Grace's happiness".

But other people were working for the release of Creswicke who was almost ruined in health and in pocket. Crewicke's wife was the daughter of a London Alderman who was known to the King. He spoke in Crewicke's favour, but the King was so prejudiced against all who had anything to do with Monmouth that for a long time no reply came from him, but at long last the joyful news came to Hanham Court that Creswicke was pardoned.

It was just after his Christmas in prison that the squire returned home and I have no doubt there was much rejoicing and local festivities. Evidently the King did not now doubt the loyalty of his subject at Hanham for on the 25th of August 1686, the King visited Crewicke at Hanham Court. It was a great honour for Creswicke to receive a visit from the King, but it meant a great expence as with the Monarch there always travelled a big company of lords and servants. To adequately entertain them he had to borrow large sums and further mortgage his house and grounds. His creditors began to press him and at last he was put in prison for debt.

After many years he was again released and passed the rest of his days very quietly at his old home. On the 18th January 1732 at he age of 89 he died and was buried in Bitton Churchyard.

The last of the Creswicke's of Hanham Court "Henry Creswicke" led a most useful life. He was an engineer and surveyor with the famous Isambard Kingdom Brunel, helped build the Great Western Railway. He was subsequently a county engineer of Simcoe in Canada for 40 years. The Creswicke's were the forrunners of the East India Company.

Hanham Court remained in the Creswicke family until 1842. When the Court and grounds were offered for sale in 1920 the catalogue describes Hanham Court and grounds extending to about 48 acres so we see how, over the years the various parts of the estate belonging to the manor had dwindled as various parts were sold off.

I have written at some length about the Crewicke's because they were such a colourful family and occupied the Manor House for 204 years, longer than any other owner to date. The last of this family, Henry Creswicke,married Sarah Ann, daughter of George Burgess, who kept the White Hart Inn, Keynsham. They later left Hanham and went to live in Canada.