Tunstede Hundred: Barton

BARTON,

Called in old writings, Barton by Bromholm, and Barton Turf. The principal part of it, or manor, was in the reign of the Confessor, in the abbey of St. Bennet's at Holm, at the survey, with half a carucate of land, and there was a borderer with a carucate and an acre of meadow, valued at 5s. 4d. and one socman held 30 acres and 5 borderers, a carucate, and an acre of meadow, valued at 10s. (fn. 1)

Another part was possessed by 3 socmen, with 33 acres, and 3 borderers, with a carucate, valued at 7s.

There was also in King Edward's time, one socman, who had 16 acres of the abbot, and Ralph, Earl of Norfolk, valued at 16d. and 2 churches with 33 acres, valued at 15d.

In the time of Edward the Confessor, Alfric Modercoppe, a noble, gave Berton (quere if not this town) to St. Bennet's abbey of Holm.— Regist. Niger de Bury, 167.

Odo, the arbalistar, an officer of the cross bowmen, held here, in Wirstede, and Dilham, a knight's fee of the abbot, which Rembert had. (fn. 2)

Albert Grelley, by deed sans date, released to the abbot all his right in lands here; (fn. 3) and in the 14th of Edward I. Odo de Smalburgh held the fourth part of a fee of him, and the manor of the abbot was called Kybald's.

In 1426, the temporalities of the cellarer were valued at 41s. 9d. and those of the sacrist at 26s. 8d.

At the general Dissolution, on an exchange between the King and the Bishop of Norwich for lands, this was granted to the see, and remains so at this time.

Ralph Lord Bainard was also lord of a manor at the survey, which Jeffrey held of him, which 3 freemen possessed formerly, with 90 acres of land, 12 borderers, with 2 carucates and a half, and an acre and half of meadow, valued at 24s. 8d. and the soc was in the abbot of St. Bennet: the whole town was 10 furlongs long, and 6 broad, paid 18d. gelt, one of the said 3 freemen, with 30 acres, was so depending on the abbot's soc, that he could not part with, or leave his land, without his grant. (fn. 4)

This was held by the family of De Skeyton, of the Bainards; in 1290, Sir John de Skeyton, son of Sir Robert, was lord, and died in 1303. Sir Ralph, his son, was lord, and held it of Sir Fulk Bainard, in 1315, and in the 20th of Edward III. Elizabeth, late wife of Henry Page, was found to hold the 5th part of a fee of Reginald le Groos, which Henry Page lately held.

John Jenny possessed it in the 3d of Henry IV. under Oliver le Groos, and John Linford of Stalham, by his will dated August 2, in the 34th of Henry VI. 1456, (fn. 5) orders his manor of Bury, or Burgh hall, in Barton to be sold. Agnes Calthorpe, held it for life in the 9th of Henry VII. and the reversion was in John Wychingham, Esq. and Ann his wife.

In the 3d of Elizabeth, John Gerard, Gent. was lord of Barton, Bury hall, and in the 21st of that Queen, license was granted to Richard Jenkinson to alien the 3d part of the said manor.

This lordship was granted April 13, in the 36th of Henry VIII to Sir William Woodhouse, Knt. with the manor of Linfords in Stalham, &c. part of the possessions of Heringby college in Norfolk, and paying 12s. 4d. ob. fee farm rent per ann.

Hugh Attefen, founder of the said college, gave it by will in 1465.

The manor of Beeston extended into this town, held by John de Leem, &c. of the abbot of St. Bennet's, which John de Cockfield formerly held.

The tenths were 4l. 5s. 6d.—Deducted 1l. 6s. 8d.

The Church is dedicated to St. Michael, and was a rectory in the presentation of the abbot and convent of St. Bennet of Holm, valued at 13 marks; in the 18th of Richard II. it was appropriated to it, and a vicarage endowed, valued now at 3l. 13s. 4d. and is discharged.

The Bishop of Norwich has the rectors appropriated to the see, and is patron of the vicarage.

The priory of Bromholm had a portion of tithes, valued at 4s.

In King Edward the First's reign, the rector had a manse, with 30 acres.—Peter-pence 11d.

Rectors.

1309, Peter de Swaffham, instituted, presented by the abbot of St. Bennet.

Nic. de Creyk, rector.

1347, William de Chevele, occurs rector.

1366, John Woodhall.

1393, Henry Wells, alias Walton.

Vicars.

1398, John Chirne, vicar, presented by the abbot.

1411, Simon Palmer.

1424, And. Cok.

Andrew Ket, vicar.

1456, John Edwin.

1497, John Cubit.

1498, Thomas Cann.

1500, Roger Umfrey.

1503, Thomas Cook.

1517, William Gilbert.

1531, John Coulingham.

John Askettyl, vicar.

1557, John Burrough, by the Bishop.

1567, William Green; in 1603, he certified that there were 130 communicants.

1611, Thomas Bygrde.

1633, Thomas Lushington, S.T.P.

Richard Jackson.

1671, Charles Preston.

Robert Bampfield.

1722, Charles Thomas, by the Bishop.

1727, William Hay, A.M. by the King.

1762, Henry Hoadley, by the Bishop.

Bishop Reynolds augmented this vicarage with 16l. per ann.

In a chapel on the south side of the church,

Here are laid under this stone in the cley, Thomas Amys, and his wyffe Margery. Sometime we were, as you now be, And as we be, after this shall ye. Of the goods as God had, the said Thomas lent, Did make this chapell of a good intent. Wherefore they desire of you that be, To pray for them to the last eternity. I beseech all people far and ner, To pray for me Thomas Amys heartily, Which gave a mesbooke, and made this chapel here, And a suit of blew damask also gave I. Of God 1511, and 5 yere, I the said Thomas deceased verily, And the 4th day of August, was buried here. On whouse soul God have mercy.

In the chancel,

Hic jacet Joh. Idewyn, nup. vicarius istius eccle qui dedit ad usam ejusd. ecclie unum integrum vestimentum de rubro velvet, et qui ob. 25°. die Martij 1497.

In the church were the arms of Falstolf, Kerdeston, Baspoole, argent, a chevron embattled between three lionels sable; and Shardebow. —Baspoole, and Berney; and here were the guilds of Jesus, St. Michael, St. Mary, and St. Thomas, with the lights of the Trinity, St. Nicholas, St. Erasmus, St. Catherine, St. Agatha, and 4 plough lights.

In the steeple are 5 bells.