John Vachell

John Vachell is considered to be the purchaser of the lands now known as Coley Park, Reading, Berkshire from Thomas Siward in 1309.

An unusual family motto and a ghostly figure of a Monk owe their existence to the story that John Vachell and the Abbot of Reading Abbey were in dispute of rights of way across the estates of John Vachell. The Abbott sent a monk with a load of corn to test these rights and John, in a fit of rage killed the monk. As a result he was excommunicated, fined and given the motto "Tis better to suffer than to revenge". Part of his Tilehurst estate was also forfeited to the Abbey.

Useful site:

http://www.coleypark.com/cp_history03.html