Eynford Hundred: Alderford

ALDERFORD.

This village is not mentioned in the book of Domesday, it being wholly included and accounted for under the lordships of Walter Giffard Earl of Bucks in Wichingham, which extended herein, and also under Giffard's manor of Swanington.

In the 10th of Richard I. William de Hunting feld, and Isabel his wife, convey by fine to William Batail, 60 acres here and in Swenington. with his right in those churches, and that of Felthorp, to be held of Huntingfeld, and the heirs of Isabel, by the sixth part of a fee, and the service of 40s. per ann. payable to them, and 20s. to W. Briton, for life. This was before R. archdeacon of Ely, William de War, Robert Fitz-Roger, William Dawbeney, &c. the King's justices. Ralph de Batail of Sweynington granted in the 5th of Edward I. the advowson of the church of Alderford to the prior and convent of Norwich; and William Lord Roos of Hamelak confirmed in the 30th of that King, to Simon Est, and Joan his wife, the suit of a water-mill, with the mill-dam and water-course, here and in Wichingham.

Alan Hovell, or Holywell, had free warren here and in Swanington, in the 2d of Edward II. and held in those towns, &c. half a fee of the honour of Clare.

Roger Mortimer, lord of Chirk, by deed, dated on the feast of St. Matthew anno 9 Edw. II. granted to Sir Walter de Norwich, and his heirs, all his lands in Alderforth, and appointed Symon de Herdersete his attorney, to deliver seizin; and in the said year, the prior of Longvile, William de Breton, John, son of Walter de Wichingham, and Roger de Antingham, had lordships there, that extended into this village.

Sir John de Norwich, Knt. conveyed to Robert Mayn, of Crouch Stoke, all his lands, &c. which Sir Walter his father had purchased of Sir Roger de Mortimer, in Alderford, the Wichinghams, Swenyngton and Attlebrigg, dated on Monday next after the feast of St. Martin, in the 22d of Edward III.

In 22d of Richard II. Roger Mortimer Earl of March had half a fee here, in Swenyngton, &c. part of the manor of Clare, held by Alan Holywell.

Henry Richers was lord in 1570, and Robert Richers in 1572. John Richers, Esq. lord in 1609.

The tenths were 1l. 15s. 8d.

The Church is dedicated to St. John Baptist, and is a rectory. The old valor was 8 marks and an half, Peter-pence 8d. The present valor 4l. 6s. 8d. and is discharged; the presentation is in the dean and chapter of Norwich.

Rectors.

1297, Gilbert Lamberd, rector, by papal provision.

1332, Gilbert de Melton, by the prior and convent of Norwich.

John Schirloe, rector.

1337, Oliver de Wytton.

1353, William de Aldeby.

Hugh Smith, rector.

1359, Robert de Burghwode.

1368, Robert de Thurgarton.

1390, Thomas Smithe.

1395, John Turvey.

1398, Ralph Gerard

1401, John Hancock.

1421, John Anghouse.

1444, John Samson.

1454, Nicholas Dallyng.

1506, William Cartlinch.

1540, Robert Nuttell.

1550, Richard Skippe.

1557, John Skot, by the assigns of the dean and chapter of Norwich.

1568, Lanc. Robinson.

1591, Richard Foster.

1594, Robert Kendall.

In 1686, it was consolidated to Attlebridge.

Alexander Croshold occurs in 1690.

1713, John Stewley.

1729, Lynn Smear.

The church has two small isles, and three bells: here was the guild of St. John Baptist.

On a gravestone was a brass inscription, now broke off, also 4 escutcheons, only one remaining, gules, a fess nebuly, between six billets, argent, Chape: (as I take it) impaling gules, on a chevron, argent, three crosses pattee fitchee, of the first, Wilton.

On another,

Tho. Wolman, attornat. de communi banco.

Also one for John Wilton, impaling, azure, an escotheon, and orle of martlets, argent, Walcote.

Orate p. a'i'a. Rici. Angos qui obt. 20 die mens Decemb. 1523, (fn. 1) — By his will, he orders the church to be hallowed at his cost and charge, and all things concerning my Lord Suffragan.

In the windows of the church, the arms of the East-Angles, azure, three ducal coronets, or. Of Edward the Confessor, azure, a cross patonce, between 5 martlets, or. Berney, impaling Allington, also impaling Southwell, and Jenny.

Robert Mayn gives by will, a chief messuage in the town, to the building a porch in Alderford church, and a window on the south part in the 47th of Edward III. (fn. 2)

The temporalities of Norwich priory were 3s. 6d. in 1428.— Of St. Faith's, 6d.