In 1522, Suffolk was the seventh wealthiest county in England; the rapidly expanding population led to an increased demand for food, which, together with low rents and wages, ensured rising profits for farmers and landowners.

We can see this reflected in sixteenth century Bardwell in the building of new houses, many of which still stand today, and in the alterations made to existing ones. Extensions were built to create additional rooms, chimneys were inserted into the old hall houses, and the open halls boarded across to create upper floors, as the thriving class of yeoman farmers used their prosperity to improve the comfort of their homes. An example of this is the splendid house now known as Mothersoles, thought to have been built as a hall house in the fifteenth century by the Seffrey family. The will of John Seffrey in 1499 bequeathed this house to his wife for her life, and afterwards to his two sons, who may have been responsible for the alterations.

Two houses, called Betons and Inglonds, had been left to the village by the wills of their former owners to create income from their rents; the Church Warden's Accounts of 1511 to 1547 reveal that these houses were also undergoing improvements during this period. In 1518, the Wardens had a chimney built at Betons, and in 1524 they added a chimney and an oven at Inglonds. They also paid for thatching and hedging at both of these houses, and for building a stable at Betons. This house, which was bequeathed to the village by William Beton in 1460, is still standing in Low Street now.

The gild of St.Peter, which we first encountered in the late Middle Ages, was flourishing in the first half of the sixteenth century. They were able to afford to pay a chaplain, a cook for the feasts, and two minstrels to provide the entertainment. They had an ample stock of plates, drinking vessels and cooking utensils, which had been donated by several gild members, and they also bought a substantial item of silver, which was probably a standing loving cup. This was something that every social gild aspired to own, and the people of Bardwell must have been very proud when it appeared on the table at their feasts in the Gildhall. The days of the gild, however, were numbered; in 1545, Henry VIII, having appropriated the wealth of the monasteries, turned his attention to the gilds. These were finally abolished in 1547, and their possessions taken by the Crown, including, no doubt, the prized silver loving cup of the gild of St.Peter. The Gildhall was subsequently converted into almshouses to accommodate twelve needy parishioners.    

A new chapter of Bardwell history began in 1558 with the death of Sir John Crofts of West Stow. He left his park and lands in Bardwell to his second son Thomas, thus beginning six generations of this family's residence in the village. Although no mention of a house or manor is made in Sir John's will, Thomas Crofts, either at this time, or shortly afterwards, became lord of the manor of Wykes, and occupied the now vanished house by the river with its moat, gardens, and tree-lined driveways. The subsidy return of 1568 lists Thomas Crofts as the wealthiest landowner in the parish, with £30 worth of lands. Stephen Moryell, who was probably lord of the manor of Wyken Hall at this time, ranks as second on the list, with lands valued at £7. Thomas Crofts was clearly part of the village community, and not an absentee landlord; the parish register records the burial of his wife in 1560, following the birth of their younger son, Thomas, and the burial of his daughter Alice only a day after that. Two of his children married in Bardwell church, his grandchildren were baptized there, and he himself was buried in the chancel in 1595.  

Sixteenth century England had no standing army, and the defence of the realm relied on a system of county militias, which could be called upon when required. All able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were liable for military service, and they had to provide their own weapons and armour according to their income. Each parish had to keep a roll listing the number of men and the arms available, and the Bardwell Muster Roll of 1584 tells us that sixty-eight men in the village fell within the requisite ages, of whom fifty were able bodied.     In 1588, therefore, when the Spanish Armada sailed for England, the militias were mustered to make up an army, and the Bardwell Church Warden's accounts for that year give us a glimpse of the part the people of the village played in this. Their armour had to be cleaned and repaired, and a new pike and a musket, probably the first one they had owned, were bought to add to the stock of arms. The band of Bardwell men went twice to Bury for training, with all their weapons and armour, and then to Tilbury to join the great camp assembled there. Perhaps they saw Queen Elizabeth when she made her famous speech there, rallying her troops. Of course, the Armada was defeated at sea, and the army never had to be deployed. Once victory was achieved, Queen Elizabeth travelled again to Tilbury, where she rode amongst every rank of her soldiers. So the Bardwell contingent rode home, touched by history but unscathed, and surely with stories to tell their grandchildren in years to come.

Researched and kindly provided for this web site by Ruth Stokes