Mitford Hundred and Half: Whinburgh

WHINBURGH.

Hermerus de Ferrariis was lord of this town, by grant of the Conqueror, on the expulsion of Turchetel, who possessed it in the reign of King Edward, when there were 3 carucates of land, and an acre and half, held by 9 villains, and 8 borderers, with 8 servi, 4 carucates in demean, and 3 among the tenants, &c. 16 acres of meadow, a mill, 2 runci, 8 cows 47 swine, 100 sheep, lacking 2, 60 goats, a church endowed with 6 acres, valued with Gerveston, at 6l. but at the survey at 7l. and was measured with that town, and joined in payment of the gelt.

Also Hermerus had a socman with 32 acres of meadow, and a carucate and a half valued at 16s. &c. but after at 8s. (fn. 1)

From Hermerus, who was lord of Wirmegey, it came, as may be there seen at large, to the Lords Bardolf, lords of the honour of Wirmegey; and in the 18th of King John, Hubert de Burgo, chief justice of England, had that King's protection for this manor and that of Stow Bardolf, in Norfolk, granted him at Lynn, on October 9: he married Beatrix the widow of Dodo Bardolf, lord of it in her right.

In the 58th year of Henry III. William Lord Bardolf impleaded Thomas le Parker of Saham, &c. for entering his park, and taking his beasts, and for fishing in his ponds here, and taking his fish; the sheriff returned that it was in the liberty of the Bishop of Ely, and therefore a non omittas was awarded; and in the said year William had free warren in his demean land; and his park is said to contain 500 acres of land.

In the 4th of Edward I. the rent of assise of the free tenants was 25s. 9d. that of the villains 13l. 14s. 3d. 140 hens, and 700 eggs.

There was a messuage with 85 acres of land, 13 of meadow and pasture, with a park, and a windmill, and paid 2s. per ann. to the Bishop of Ely's manor of Shipdam.

In the 15th of Edward I. the Lord Bardolf claimed view of frank pledge, assise of bread and beer, a weekly mercate on Thursday, and a fair yearly, on the vigil, the day of St. Simon and Jude, and the three following days.

I find, that in the 12th of the said King, he claimed a grant for a mercate, on Wednesday, and a fair on the eve and day of St. Margaret, and the day after, which I suppose set aside the aforementioned one.

Hugh Lord Bardolf held it in the 34th of Edward I. and paid castle guard to Norwich, 7s. per month.

John Lord Bardolf was found to hold it in capite, as part of the barony of Wirmegey, in the 45th of Edward III. and to have a water-mill, with a pool called Le Ley, and a fishery called Le Motte.

This lordship being thus a member of the honour of Wirmegey, had always the same lords.

In the 4th of Henry VIII. on June 23d, it was granted with the advowson of the church, late Francis Lord Lovell's, to John Carr, Esq. who conveyed it in the said year, to John Burney, and Ralph Berney, &c.

After this, it came to Sir Richard Southwell, knight, who possessed it in 1544, and it was by them conveyed to the Cranes, of Wood Rysing, then to the Claytons, about 1662, and William Clayton, Esq. in 1758, was lord and patron.

The town gave name to the family of De Whinburgh, of Whinburgh. Henry Whinburgh, Gent. by his will, dated the 31st of October, 1544, had lands in this town, Yaxham, Gerveston, Reymerston, and Thuxton. (fn. 2) Ann his wife, survived him, by whom he had James his son.

John Whinburgh, Gent. of Norfolk, was lord of Benacre in Suffolk in 1577. Their arms were per fess indented, argent and sable, three bears passant, counterchanged.

In the 4th of Edward III. Roger, parson of Lucham, conveyed by fine to Osceline de Quinbergh and Elizabeth his wife, lands here, in Gerveston, Reymerston, Westfield, &c.

The Church is dedicated to St. Mary, and was valued at 11 marks, paid Peter-pence 16d. The present valor is 6l. 18s. 6d. ob.

In the reign of Edward I. the rector had a manse and 30 acres of land.

Rectors.

In 1305, Gilbert de Belhaghe, instituted, presented by Thomas, son and heir of Sir Hugh de Bardolf, Knt. deceased.

1355, John Calion, by John, Lord Bardolf, of Wirmegey.

1360, William de Alby. Ditto.

1383, Richard Waghet, by William Lord Bardolf.

1391, John Alpliore, by the King, guardian of Thomas Lord Bardolf.

1390, John Lincoln. Ditto.

1391, John Fysher, by Sir Thomas Mortimer.

1397, John Kaninges, by the King, on the forfeiture of Sir Thomas Mortimer, who held it in right of the dower of his wife, the Lady Agnes, relict of William Lord Bardolf.

Richard Church was rector in 1608, and returned then 63 communicants to be in this parish; rector also of Gerveston, and the heirs of Sir Robert Southwell, lately dead, was lord and patron.

1636, Richard Tedder.

1638, Rouse Clopton.

1647, Richard Lightfoot.

Robert Neave occurs rector about 1660.

1723, Thomas Bott, on the death of Peter Burgess, by William Clayton, Esq.

1729, John Coleman. Ditto.

1753, George Thomas. Ditto.

In the church was the guild of St. John Baptist. St Mary's and St. Nicholas's light.

The temporalities of the priory of Wimundham, 12s. 6d. ob.

In the church were the arms of Whinburgh, and azure, on a bend cottised, argent, three martlets, gules, Matherbe.