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From 1440, the three components of the Park were in the ownership of the de la Pole family, coming together in the space of just 40 years.
The Chaucer/de la Pole dynasty was linked by power, wealth and royal blood to the national political struggles of the 15th and 16th centuries, and this led to its eventual downfall. William was impeached, then beheaded by his enemies. His son and heir, John, married Elizabeth Plantagenet and they lived at Ewelme manor. John (and his brother Edmund) supported Lambert Simnel against Henry VII, and after his death at the Battle of Stoke in 1487 their lands and estates were forfeited to the Crown but subsequently part restored, although only for a short period.
In 1501 Sir Robert Harcourt became Steward of the manors and lordships of Ewelme, Swyncombe and others “with the maistership of the game in the park of Ewelme forfeited by Edmund, Earl of Suffolk, rebel”. Parliament passed an Act of Attainder in 1503 against Edmund and all his lands were finally forfeited. From 1504 a succession of Keepers of the park of Ewelme (and Masters of the hunt, Bailiffs, woodwards etc.) were appointed, including William Tyler and Anthony Fetyplace. Sir Henry Norris was appointed Bailiff, woodward and keeper of the Park on 28th January 1520, at a fee of 2 pence per day. By Letters Patent in 1513 the King granted Ewelme manor (and others) and all lands late of Edmund de la Pole, to trustees to hold for the life of his widow Lady Margaret Pole.
In 1515, Henry VIII granted the lands of the earlier Duke to his sister Mary Tudor, the wife of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, including Swyncombe manor, but excepting Ewelme until the grant was amplified in about 1525. That grant specifically mentions “the manor of Ewelme and all messuages etc called .... Heydon Ground .... Swyncombe ... ”, indicating that Heydon Ground was evidently a separate entity from the lands with Swyncombe manor. It was also distinct from the original park as a lease dated 1519 demising the “lands or pastures called Heydone Grounde” described them as lying “next to the park of Ewelme”, but there is no mention of Haydon Park.
The Minister’s Accounts of 1535 refer to “the land called Haydon Ground, now by the Lord the Duke of Suffolk inclosed within the park of Ewelme”. There is also mention of a meadow called Wolvesmede, within the parish, cut for hay spread within the park for the support of the beasts. This merger had occurred since the previous year’s accounts.
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