Launditch Hundred: Dillington

DILLINGTON

Was part of the lordship of Scarning, held by the Franshams, and on the death of Jeffrey de Fransham in 1414, his inheritance; and divided between his five sisters and coheirs: this came with Scarning to Alice his 2d and to Agatha his 5th sister and coheir, and so to their posterity as may be there seen at large.

Also the manor of Drayton-hall in Searning extended into this town, of which see there.

Heringeshawe, and Dikewood Manors.

The monks of Castleacre had a manor here belonging to the Earl Warren's fee, &c.

In the 4th of King John, Peter de Watlington granted by fine to Lambert prior of Castleacre 60 acres of land in Dichwede and Lawendich, before G. de L'Isle, Reginald de Dornwall, Reginald de Argenton, the King's justices; (fn. 1) and in the 5th of the said King, Elfer and Alice his wife granted to Philip, prior of the said monastery, 40 acres of land in Heringshage, by fine, before Geff. Fitzpiers, Richard de Heringeshawe, Simon de Pateshull, and Eustace de Fauconbergh, the King's justices.

King Henry III. by a charter dated at Walsingham, March 15, in his 40th year, granted to the said priory free warren in all their demean lands in Heringeshawe and Kempston: witnesses, Walter Bishop of Norwich, Guy de Lezynian (the King's brother) William de Grey, Ralph de Bagepuz, Peter Everard, Bartholomew le Bygot, William de St. Ermin, William Gernon, Philip de Bukeland, &c.

In 1265, Simon Bishop of Norwich confirmed to the monks the tithes of Great and Little Dytchwood, of the demeans, formerly of Reginald, son of Elwold, as well as of the fee also of Giffard, as of the fee of William de Franchevile, said to be in Wendling.

In the Register of Castleacre priory, lately in the Lord Oxford's library, are many grants, sans date, of lands here, to the sad priory. Roger de Tony gave the grove of Haringeshae, with all the lands and assart; witness, A. his mother, Isabell his daughter, &c.

John son of Richard de Lettun, for 4 marks and a gold ring, gave lands in Heringeshae, formerly Ulkhetel Cronai, his grandfather's Richard de Cambois, a wood called Dickwde, belonging to Middleton, for the soul of the Earl Gilbert. William de Pelevill, with the consent of Peter his son and heir, gave a part of Dichwde grove for the souls of Hugh de Muntford, Robert de Muntford, Simon de Molendinis, and Adeliza his wife, Robert de Ver, and for his own and his wife's souls, &c.

Robert de Ver, constable, and Alice his wife, daughter of Hugh de Montfort, gave the wood and land of Landic: William de Francheville, 10 acres and an half of land at Heringeshae, by Great Dichwde, and all the land which William Lenwise held of his fee at Dichwde in Fransham.

Reginald, son of Elwold, gave all the tithe of his fee in Great and Little Dichwde, as well of the fee of Gifford, as of the fee of William de Franchevile.

Richard de Wendling, son of William, formerly priest of Fransham, 5 acres in Dichwde, by Heringshae.

Walter, son of William de Watlington, released to them a tenement in Dichwde, which he bought for 6 marks and a palfry; witnesses, Robert de Watlington his brother, and Robert, son of Robert de Watlington.

Thomas de Hereford. and Beatrix his wife, daughter of Henry de Gressenhale, gave lands here.

Richard de Cambeys, by deed, sans date, gave for the soul of Gilbert Earl of Gloucester, and his own soul, Dychewode.

It appears that Dykwood was also a manor belonging to the said priory, and was conveyed as such, by Thomas, prior of Castleacre, by fine, in the 29th of Henry VIII. to that King, with the manor of Heringshawe, by fine; and in the 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary, were held by the Duke of Norfolk, to whom (as I take it) King Henry granted them in his 29th year.

Heringshaw and Dikewood manors were afterwards possessed by Sir Thomas Gresham, Knt. and his lady left them to Sir William Read, her son, by her first husband, who, in the 4th year of King James I. settled them on Mary his wife, on marriage, and are then said to be in Wendling parish: she after remarried Sir Edward Spencer, who was lord in her right in 1634.

There were then a court-leet, court-baron, and about 20 suiters, some free, but most copyholders, belonging to it.

The fines and profits of court were, at that time, 3l. per ann. and Sir Edward Cook, impropriator of Wendling, received 5l. in lieu of tithes.

Mr. Smith of East Derham is the present lord, bought by him of Mrs. Susan Thompson, together with the manor of Heringshaw.