Blofield Hundred: Limpenhoe

LIMPENHOE.

In the time of the Confessor, sixteen freemen had a lordship, and Alsi held it under Ralph Earl of Norfolk, consisting of one carucate of land, and 13 acres of meadow, and one bordarer, in the whole three carucates and a half, was one leuca long, and ten furlongs broad, paid gelt 20d. and was valued in Frethorp, &c. On the forfeiture of Earl Ralph, it came to the Crown, and Godric took care of it for the King at the survey. (fn. 1)

This was granted from the Crown after the survey, and held by several lords, and the chief manor was given to Flaald, lord of Mileham.

Richard de Dunham, in the 3d of Richard I. owed five marks to have his right for 10l. land here, and in Sudwod (Southwood) against Reginald de Hastings: (fn. 2) see in Thorp and Southwood, in this hundred.

Roger Fitz-Peter, and Edward de Eynford had lordships in the reign of Henry III. as in Frethorp: Gerard de Eynford was lord, in the 14th of Edward II. when a marsh, which he had here, is said in a record to be bounded south on the river Wensum; this I mention, the general part of writers calling it the Yar, or Hier, at this place.

Dionysia de Clere enjoyed it, lately the heirs of Gerard de Eynford, of the heirs of Robert de Ufford; from the Cleres it came to the Berneys, and so to Sir James Edwards, Bart. and to Sir Lambert Blackwell, and his heirs, who were patrons of this church, and that of Southwood in 1742, and to Cartaret Leathes, Esq.

Arnold de Mounteny had also an interest here, as in Frethorp.

William de Scohies had a lordship, of which Harduin was deprived, who held two freemen under his protection only. Adarus held it under Scohies, at the survey, with 34 acres of land, and a bordarer, with five acres of meadow, and a carucate, valued at 10s. but at the survey at 24s. (fn. 3)

William, son of Matthew de Redham, was lord of this, in the 8th of Richard I. and conveyed the advowson of the church, by fine, to Robert Fitz-Roger; and, in the 31st of Edward I. John, son of Gerard, of Redham, granted, by fine, to John Fitz-John, a messuage, fourteen acres of land, two of meadow, six of pasture, and two of turbary, in this town, Southwood and Frethorp; and, in the 9th of Edward II. Gerard de Eynford, Sir Hubert Fitz-John, William de Redham, and the Earl of Arundel, were returned as lords of Limpenhoe and Southwood. (fn. 4)

In the 3d of Henry IV. the heirs of John Steynward had a quarter of a fee of the manor of Mileham, of the Earl of Arundel, which John and his parceners held in this town, and Southwood, in the 20th of Edward III.

The tenths were 3l.—Deducted O. together with Southwood.

The Church is dedicated to St. Botolph. In the 8th of Richard I. William de Redham granted his right in this church to Robert FitzRoger, being then a rectory, and John Fitz-Robert gave it, by fine, to Hugh abbot of Langley, in exchange for the church of Eure in Buckinghamshire; the rectory, with the vicarage, that was settled, valued at 12 marks: Peter-pence 13d. carvage 2d. ob. the present valor 4l. and discharged.

Vicars.

In 1311, Henry de Bynham was instituted vicar, presented by the Abbot, &c. of Langley.

1311, Jeffrey de Carleton. Ditto.

1326, John Bernard.

1342, Ralph Ive.

1349, Henry de Ormesby.

1378, Richard Cook.

1379, John Everard.

1385, John Messager.

1388, William Gladchere.

1393, Simon Pessey.

1396, William Haverpenny.

1398, William Tiffeyn.

1402, Laur. Skot.

In the 14th of Elizabeth, Richard Hills, and W. James, on March 8, had a grant of the appropriated rectory, and patronage of the vicarage, late belonging to Langley abbey, with certain concealed lands, in fee farm.

John Cullimer, vicar about 1600, Sir Edward Clere, patron.

1727, James Dover.

1735, Thomas Morden, by Carteret Leathes, Esq.

Here was the guild of St. Botolph. The church is consolidated with Southwood, and is called a rectory in the institution books.

Under the invasions, we find that Rabell the carpenter, or artificer, as he is called, had seized on the property of 20 freemen, who held here, and in Thorp, in this hundred, one carucate, and 20 acres of land, with 7 of meadow, under the protection of Fincus. At the survey, here were three carucates, and then valued at 11s. and 6d. (fn. 5) Rabell had also a manor in Southwood, and in Mora, in this hundred, (See in Southwood,) and was lord of Filby in East Flegg hundred.