The Cavendish Connection: From the Stour Valley to the Dukes of Devonshire

Walking around the pretty village of Cavendish in the Stour valley, we wondered if there was any connection to the Dukes of Devonshire, who share the same surname.

We were astonished to learn that it was once home to Sir John Cavendish, an ancestor of the Devonshire aristocracy

This knight was involved in suppressing the Peasants Revolt of 1381. Wat Tyler, the leader of the rebellion was arrested for threatening King Richard II. As he fought his captors, Cavendish’s son, also John, ran the rebel through with his sword thereby putting an end to him. The younger John Cavendish fled home, claiming sanctuary from the pursuing peasants by hanging onto the door of St Mary’s Church.

Phew, it’s now a much calmer and admired Suffolk village with this pretty corner one of our county’s most photographed locations!