In June, 2018, members of the Edward Howell Family Association enjoyed 10 days in England and Wales. Vice President Gay Giuliani capably planned the trip. All the places visited had ties to Edward Howell and those he descended from. We started in Oxford and visited the chapel where William Howell (Edward’s grandfather) married Maude Duncombe. The next day, we found ourselves at Great Chalfield Manor, once the home of John Eyre, brother of Anne Eyre, paternal grandmother of Edward.
A highlight of our trip was the June 3rd visit to Westbury Manor, in Marsh Gibbon, where Edward was born, grew up and was Lord of the Manor. We also visted St. Mary’s Church in Marsh Gibbon where many of Edward’s and Frances’ children were baptized. The next day, we visted St. Mary’s Church in Thame, the site of the tomb of Geoffrey Dormer (in the maternal line of Edward) and his wives. Twice married, Geoffrey had a total of 25 children. We visted the Swalcliffe Tithe Barns and Swalcliffe Lea, the delightful private home of Jeff Demmar, with connnections to John Hawten. The Church at Odell where Edward and Margaret Paxten were married and Broughton Castle were other sites visited during our time in England.
A new bus driver drove us to Wales for two days which enhanced our appreciation and understanding of history and gave us clues to the generations that preceded Edward. Our stops included the ruins of Tintern Abbey (still impressive after 500 years), the town of Crickhowel, and Lampeter, where we stayed in the fabulous Falcondale Hotel. The next day we went to Aberystwyth where some of us did research in the National Library of Wales, observing a genealogical scroll dating to 1599 whichhad the Howell crest twice in preceding generations. From there we visited Cardiff, where many enjoyed a guided tour of the National Museum of Cardiff and a few went to Llandaff Cathedral, where the Howell coat of arms appears twice on a tomb.
After 10 wonderful days, we returned to London and Heathrow Airport for departure, with a few prolonging their trip with other travel.