- William Hollyes
Sir William Hollyes (or Holles) of Haughton was born in 1471 and died in 1542.
He rose from apprenticeship to a mercer, and then master warden of that company. In 1539 he was created
Lord Mayor of London .William invested his fortune in purchasing land mostly in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, but also in Staffordshire, Middlesex and Essex. This property portfolio passed down through several generations of the family and became the basis of the property owned by the
Earl of Clare . He left the bulk of the estate to his grandson William (grandfather ofJohn Holles, 1st Earl of Clare ).He left £200 in his will to pay for the
Coventry Cross which was built in 1544, and taken down in 1771. A replica was unveiled in 1976. The original cross had twenty niches with figure statues. In the lower section were statues of Henry VI, King John, Edward I, Henry II, Richard I and Henry V. In the middle section were Edward II, St Michael, Henry II, St George and Richard III. The upper section held St Peter, St James, St Chrisptoher and two monks. The lantern held allegorical figures such as liberty and justice.Family
He married Elizabeth, daughter of
George Scopham . The children were
* (Sir)William Holles (1509-91) married Anne, daughter ofJohn Denzel ,Denzel ,Cornwall
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