East Flegg Hundred: Scroteby

SCROTEBY.

William de Beaufoe Bishop of Thetford held in his own right as a lay fee, the land of 7 socmen here, who had 20 acres, and a carucate, valued at 32d. and they belonged to the manor of Hemesby, (held by Earl Algar) in King Edward's time.

Here was also a church endowed with 36 acres, valued at 3s. Ten freemen were in this town under the commendation of Almar Bishop of Elmham, before the Conquest, who possessed 2 carucates and 5 acres of land, with 5 carucates, and 3 acres of meadow, then valued at 26s. at the survey at 30s. (fn. 1)

Bishop Almar held these in King Edward's reign, and after him Bishop Erfast, but now Wm. de Beaufoe, the Bishop, but one of them only was under the commendatiou of the abbot of Holme, in King Edward's time.

Richard, son of Alan, held the lands of 6 of these freemen of the Bishop, and the Bishop had the rest. Bishop Beaufoe gave it with other lordships, to be held of the see.

The Lady Joan, late wife of Ralph (Pellipar) married William de Aguillon; she was in the King's custody, having lands here valued at 7l.

Robert Aguillon, a parliamentary baron, held of the see of Norwich in the reign of Henry III. and his daughter and heir Isabel brought it by marriage to Hugh Lord Bardolf of Wirmegay, with the lordship of Gretham in Hampshire; Watton in Hertfordshire, and Edelmeton, (Edmunton) in Middlesex, which she died seised of in the 17th of Edward II.

This lordship continued in the Lord Bardolf's family and descendants, as in Cromer; and on the attainder of the Lord Viscount Beaumont, was granted in the 13th of Edw. VI. February 11, to Anthony Earl Rivers.

William Lord Viscount Beaumont, being restored in blood in the reign of Hen. VII. and dying lord in 1508, s. p. the lordship came to the Crown; and on June 5, in the 6th of Henry VIII. was granted to Sir Wm. Arundel, Lord Matrevers, and the Lady Anne his wife; and Henry Earl of Arundel his son, inherited it: but in the 2d and 3d of Philip and Mary, it was granted by fine to that King and Queen; and in the said year, January 2, was granted to Sir Nicholas Hare, and John Hare.

Soon after this it was in the Cleres, and Edw. son of Sir John Clere, (his father who died August 21, 1557,) had livery of it in the said year.

In this family it continued, Sir John Clere, Bt. being found to die seised of it January 16, in the 13th of King Charles I. and Abigal was his daughter and heir, aged 2 months and 10 days; she married John Cromwell, Esq. alias Williams, of London, who in her right was lord in 1663.

The abbey of St. Bennet of Holme had in King Edward's days, and at the survey, a lordship, consisting of 109 acres, 3 borderers, and a carucate in demean, with half a carucate among the tenants, 2 acres of meadow, valued at 10s. The town was one leuca long, and 5 furlongs broad, and paid 20d. gelt. (fn. 2)

In the 15th of Edward I. the abbot of Holm claimed as lord, a gallows, the assise, and wreck at sea.

On the dissolution of this abbey, and exchange of lands made between King Hen. VIII. (who held it) and Bishop Rugg, was granted to the see of Norwich, and so united to the manor that the Bishop held, as abovementioned, and so held by lease, as I take it.

Here was also in this town a freeman who owned 10 acres, and half a carucate and an acre of meadow, valued at 10d. Alan de Tedfort, who seems to have the care of this under the King, and of several freemen that the Conqueror had seized on, and joined this to the manor of Ormesby at the survey. Almar, son of Godric, took care of it. (fn. 3)

This was united to the King's manor of Ormesby, and so passed with it.

The Church is a rectory, dedicated to All-Saints, and appropriated on the decease of Ralph Putterel, rector, to the priory of Norwich, for use of the sacrist, by John Grey Bishop of Norwich, in 1205, saving a pension of 5s. to the cellarer, and a vicarage was appointed.

In the reign of King Edward I. the rectory, together with the vicarage, was valued at 24 marks, and was exempted from the payment of procurations, being an exempt from the archdeacon, as one of the prior's manors; but the archdeacon had the jurisdiction over all the parishioners dwelling on the manor of the Lord Bardolf.

The Peter- pence were 20d.

Vicars.

Thomas de Possewyk died vicar in 1311

In 1311, Thomas de Scrowteby, instituted vicar, presented by the prior and convent of Norwich.

1321, Peter Herman.

1349, John de Methwold.

1349, John de Tofts.

Richard Perkin vicar.

1355, Adam Hert.

1358, Henry Pye.

1388, William Tuffin.

1396, Nicholas Julles.

1421, John de Halle.

1434, Simon Alleyn.

1438, John Cok.

1446, Thomas Clark.

Thomas Barfoot.

1452, William Stox.

1473, John Whyte.

Walter Queyntrell vicar.

In 1505, the prior allowed the vicar 55s. per ann. for his portion.

1506, John Heryson.

1508, James Raksond.

John Arskyne.

1526, Rob. Mathew.

Gilbert Kinsman.

1533, Stephen Lynsey.

Thomas Bradley, vicar.

1548, Robert Allen, he was the last vicar; being this year consolidated or united to Ormesby, and the church was licensed to be demolished. The vicarage was valued at 5l.

The family of Scroteby had a lordship in this town. Bernard de Scroteby and Ralph, were living and had lands, as had John, son of Simon de Scroteby, and Isabel his wife, in the 53d of Henry III.

About this time Alice de Scroteby was living, and claimed the assise of her tenants, as held by her ancestors.

Thomas de Thorp and Isabel his wife, grant to the prior of Norwich, Walter de Kirkeby, &c. all the lands and tenements here and in Hemesby, (fn. 4) with the messuages, rents, services, common, pastures, &c. of the inheritance of the said Isabel, together with the land which Egidia, late wife of Nicholas de Scroteby held in dower, of the inheritance of the said Isabel, Alice, Maud and Alice, sisters and coheirs of the said Nicholas, the reversion of which belongs to the part of the said Isabel.

Witnesses, Sir Robert de Castre, Sir William de Stalham, Sir Bartholomew de Somerton, Sir Hugh de Cayly, &c.

Adam, son of Robert Wenge and Alice his wife, grant to the priory of Norwich all their right which came to them on the death of Nicholas de Scroteby, father of the said Alice, in messuages, &c.

Witnesses, Sir John de Lovetot, Sir Robert de Berry, Sir William de Hakeford, Sir Barth. de Somerton. Ao. 56 Henry III.

Stephen de Somerton and Eufemia his wife, gave lands to the prior; and Roger, son of Ralph Clerk, rents out of land here. (fn. 5)

William Colle of Scroteby, held lands of the sacrist of Norwich, with Roger his brother, and were to perform 8 days work for it, &c. in autumn, and to have 8 loaves and 14 herrings, Ao. 35 of Edward I.

The temporalities of the priory of Norwich were valued in 1428, at 14s.

Rd. Gerald de Worthsted quitclaimed to Robert de Langley, prior of Norwich, &c. lands and tenements, late Roger de Bokenham's, and Jeffrey his son's. Witnesses, Roger de Ormesby, William Sneck of Ormesby, Roger de Somerton, Thomas de Acre, &c.

Robert de Somerton, and Nicholas his brother, sons of Stephen de Somerton, granted lands to the said prior. Witnesses Roger Begevile, Roger de Ormesby, &c. dated ao. 15 Edw. II.