Stoodleigh
Beacon is situated about 2 miles west of Stoodleigh village. It was anciently known as
Warbrighsleigh,
Warbrightley,
Warpsley, etc., also the name of the high hill on which it stood. The beacon was ordered to be set up by King
Edward II (1307–1327) "when he doubted of the landing of his queen
Isabel and Sir
John (
sic) of
Henold" (
Risdon) This refers to Isabel's
Invasion of England in 1326, having betrothed her son
Prince Edward to
Philippa of Hainault, the daughter of
William I, Count of Hainaut, from whom she received a substantial dowry and several warships. In the 16th and 17th centuries the estate of Warbrighsleigh, etc., was the seat of the Broughton family. ==References==