Launditch Hundred: How

HOW

Is an hamlet belonging to, and in the parish of, East Derham, and belonged to the abbey of Ely, founded by St. Audrey, or Etheldreda, and was held by Ralph, son of Ivo, of the abbot, and afterwards of the King, as appears from the book of Domesday, consisting of one carucate of land, 8 villains, 10 borderers, 3 carucates and 8 acres of pasture, paunage for 100 swine, a mill, with all customs, and valued in Derham.

The soc belonged to the King's manor of Mileham, with 2 socmen, who held 28 acres of meadow, to which appertained half a carucate: this part was valued at 4s. per ann. The abbot had the protection and the right of foldage. (fn. 1)

This lordship was held by the Walpoles of the see of Ely. James de Creike and Sarah his wife were sued in the 34th of Henry III. by Walter de Denever and Alice his wife, to restore certain goods and chattels valued at 10 marks.

Hen. de Walpole, father of Alice, having granted to her the wool of his flock, 300 sheep in his manor of Howe, to be received yearly till the marriage of Alice, which was detained from her by James and his wife, who had the custody of Henry, son of Osbert, son of the said Henry de Walpole.

In the 3d of Edward I. the Bishop of Ely claimed the assise of bread and bear, soc, sac, thol and them, infangthief, view of frankpledge, return of writs, as belonging to his manor of East Dereham. See there.

In the see it remained till in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it was with other lands of that see, granted to the Crown.

Hamon L'Estrange, Esq. was found to die seized of the manor of Heymer in Hoo, October 7, in the 22d of Elizabeth, held of the Bishop of Ely by fealty, and 12d. rent; and Nicholas L'Estrange held it in the 25th of the said Queen.

King James I. in his 7th year, September 30, granted to Edward Ferrers and Francis Philips, a watermill, with the house in Hoo, and an osier ground adjoining, containing one rood, and a fishery beginning at the head of the mill, and extending itself near to Chapel-Mill, in the tenure of Henry Browne, being part of the manor of East Derham, and of the possessions of the see of Ely, of the rent of 4l. per ann. See in East Derham.

Sir Walter de Hoo, Knt. gave lands in Hoo, and Thomas his son confirmed it by deed, sans date, to the monks of Castleacre; witnesses, Richard Branch, seneschal of the Earl Warren.

Mr. Alexander de Walpole held of the Earl the manor also of Hereford Hall in Gressenhale, that extended here; and John de Hoo held the fourth part of a fee in the 18th of Henry III. of William de Stutvile.

Thomas de Hereford was lord in 1277; and Warin de Hereford and Margaret his wife, had frank pledge, assise of bread and beer, &c. in the 15th of Edward I. in right, as is said, of the dower Margaret, of the inheritance of Richard de Boyland.

In the 20th of Edward III. William Attechirch held the fourth part of a fee of Hugh de Hastings, which Sampson de Hoo formerly held.

After this, Hereford Hall was held by the Ferrours, in King Edward's reign, &c. as in Gressenhale.

Thomas Utber Esq. lord of Hoo, of the Middle Temple, London, sold in 1661 to Matthew Helcot, tanner, of Lutcham, 160 acres of land, called Eastfield Closes, and in 1688, the manor of Hoo and Hereford, was possessed by William Frith, Esq. of Horn Church in Essex, who sold them to Alderman Farington of London.

In the 7th of James I. Thomas Gooch held lands in Hoo, in capite, and in 1659, Thomas Gooch, Gent. was taxed at 125l. per ann. in the militia rate for his estate.

To this hamlet belongs a chapel with a nave or body, a north and south isle, and a chancel covered with lead, with a square tower and 3 bells; and the cure is served by the vicar of East Derham.

In the middle isle before the pulpit, on a gravestone,

Orate p. a'i'a. Willi. Skarlet q; obijt xx die Maij Ao. Dni. mcccclxxxiiii cuj; a'ia. p'pitietr. Deus.

On another,

Orate p. a'i'ab; Johs. Dunha de Hoo, Gentilema, Alicie ux'is ejus, et Marg'e filic corunde' Johs. et Alice, qui quidem Johs. obijt xxii die Novembr. Ao. Dni. mcccclxvii quor. a'i'ab; p'pit. Deus, cu' hiis qui oderunt pacem erat pacificus, et cum loq'batr. illis impugnabant se gratis.

In the north isle at the east end, was a chapel; in the window, drgent, a lion rampant, sable, crowned, or, Morley; also the figures of a person lying as dead on an altar tomb, and 5 priests as praying by him, in a north widow; in the east window of the said isle is a representation of the crucifixion; and here was probably a clerk's chantry, there being at the bottom of the said window,

Orate p. a'i'ab; Johs. Clerk agnet. et Alicie uxr. ej; et p. q'ib; tenentur.

On a gray marble stone,

Here lyeth the body of Thomas Utber, gent. deceased, Nov. 25, 1641.

One,

In memory of Margaret, late wife of Thomas Utber, gent. decessed, 17 Apr. 1622.

On an altar tomb, of black marble, with the arms of L'Estrange, impaling argent, three chevronels, sable, Lane; with this motto,

Mihi parta tueri.

Depositum Susannæ L'estrange uxoris secundæ Rogeri L'estrange generosi, unius de filiabus et coheredidus Franeisci Lane de Thuxton, in hoc agro Norfol. generosi; quæ annos nata xxxvii, denata est xii cal. Martij 1687, cui ob. pietatem, virtutem et eximiam erga suos benevolentiam, ut posteris etiam pietatis, virtutis, et benevolentiæ exemplar innotesceret, hoc monumentum, L.M.Q.P. conjux fidissimus.

And on a mural monument against the east wall here, the arms of Lestrange.

In vicino pulvere quiescunt exuviae Rogeri Lestrange, (fn. 2) generosi hujus loci nup. incolae, qui illis vixit virtutibus ornatus quae maxime conveniunt sapienti. Per universam vitam is erat qui amicis charus, pauperi munificus, vicinis gratiosus, suor. memor et providus ut esset, et negotio sibi dedit et effecit, sacris interesse nunquam drestitit. Æqui attentissime observans litis perosus. benevolentiae fere prodigus. Hunc itaq; tam integre et pie functum ijs officiis quae graviter ad omnes spectant, et illis maturum praemijs, quae solum optimis erogantur; Deus quasi jam emeritum sibi in coelum vendicavit, salutis 1706, ætat. 63, Oct. 29. Sic parentabat Leuknor Lestrange.

He was his son by his 2d wife. Roger's first wife was —, daughter of— Hastings; his 3d wife, Amy, daughter of — Tyrell, remarried to — Crow of Bilney.

In a north window of the chancel are the arms of the see of Ely, and quarterly, gules, three goats heads, erased, argent, attired or, in the first and fourth, and in the 2d and 3d ermine,—Morton Bishop of Ely.