Henry III was born in Winchester on 1st October 1207, the son of King John and Isabella of Angouleme and ascended the throne when he was only 9 on 18th October 1216.
The Norman Kings before him had acquired large parts of France by marriage and so were sovereigns of England Ireland and much of France. Indeed by a network of family alliances Richard 1 , his uncle headed a royal dynasty that had sway over France , Germany , Spain, Sicily, and the Holy Land.
Henry though was to be crowned at an unfortunate time, the French had conquered Normandy, Anjou and Poitiers , his father had lost the Crown jewels and his Crown in the Wash and he had to be crowned at Gloucester Cathedral in his mothers torque. Although he was nominally Duke of Aquitaine in fact he only controlled the south part known as Gascony and this was held mostly because of the huge wine trade with England.
At home he was facing rebellion by the Barons when Simon de Montfort took over for a while before being defeated by Henry’s son, the future Edward 1 at Evesham in 1265. After this date Edward effectively ruled the country with his father becoming senile and Henry died at Westminster on 16th November 1272.
Peter de Wintonia’s appointment as keeper of the King’s wardrobe entitled him to a number of favours granted by the King which enabled substantial works on St Firmins and the building of the huge Rectory mansion at Broadmead.