Tunstede Hundred: Witton

WITTON.

Godric farmed this lordship (or was steward of it, when Domesday book, was compiled) of the King, where we find that a certain priest was deprived of it, who held 30 acres in free alms, and there were 9 socmen with 12 acres of land, and 2 carucates and 2 acres of meadow, and he held it of King Edward by singing 3 masses for the King and Queen daily, and paid then, or was valued at 2s. it was one leuca long, and half a one broad, paid 10d. gelt, whoever was lord of it. (fn. 1)

This lordship that Godric held, came soon after to the Earl Warren, and so was united to the following.

At the survey, William Earl Warren had a lordship, out of which a freeman had been ejected; to it there belonged 30 acres of land, 10 borderers, with 2 carucates, and 4 socmen with 20 acres, and one carucate and 2 acres of meadow; and there was a church endowed with 10 acres, The whole valued at 50s but at the survey at 20s.

Of this freeman Almar Bishop (of Elmham), in King Edward's reign, and in the Conqueror's, had a moiety, and William Mallet the other moiety.

John Earl Warren, was lord in the 15th of Edward I. and had free warren, the assise, &c.

In this family it remained, till John Earl Warren settled it on Thomas Earl of Lancaster, in the reign of Edward II.

One of the coheirs of this family brought it by marriage to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, and his son Henry IV. King of England, held it, and is at this time part of the dutchy of Lancaster.

The abbot of Holm had a manor belonging to that abbey in King Edward's time, one carucate of land held by 2 villains, and 2 borderers, one carucate in demean, and the moiety of one among the tenants, valued at 3s.

This, as I take it, was held by the Glanviles of the abbot, and after by John de Gymingham, and Thomas Peche, in the reign of Edward I. and in the 3d of Henry IV. by Roger Boys, as in Honyng.

The temporalities of this abbey in 1428, were 44s. 8d.

The prior of Bromholm had a lordship in this town of the priory of Castleacre in the reign of King Richard I. when a controversy arose; (fn. 2) the prior of Bromholm used to pay to that of Castleacre 13 marks, 8s. 8d. per ann. for the same, but having improved the said farm and lordship, it was agreed that for the future, 14 marks and 5s. 4d. should be paid for it per ann.

To this agreement William de Glanville, patron of the priory of the priory of Bromholm, set his seal, and was witnessed by Eudo de Arsic, Walter de Capravill. &c.

Ralph, son of Richard de Witton, gave by deed, sans date, several lands here to the priory of Bromholm.

Laurence Attehill de Witton, released to the said prior, all his right, with certain free tenants, and a piece of common; and Roger Baxter, of Witton gave lands to the said prior of Bromholm, who was returned in the 9th of Edward II. as lord; and the temporalities were valued at 9l. 2s. 9d. q. with those of Castleacre, to which Bromholm was a cell.

On the 5th of June, in the 37th of Henry VIII. Thomas Woodhouse had a grant of this manor of Bromholm, and Henry Woodhouse had livery of it about the 15th of Elizabeth; in the 17th of the said Queen, he had license to alien it with its appertenances, to Thomas Crofts of Felmingham.

Robert Mallet's lordships of Bacton and Dilham, and the manor of Ridlington, extended into this town.

Sir John de Veile and Letia his wife, lived here in the reign of Henry III. and in that of Edward I. he released to the prior of Bromhold, all his right in the advowson of this church for 13 marks of silver. (fn. 3) Reginald de Dunham inherited it as heir to the de Veiles, and died seised of it in the 27th of Edward III.

In the 29th of Edward III. William de Kettleston and Margaret his wife, conveyed to Laurence Drake, a lordship in this town; and in the 17th of Henry VI. Thomas Walsham, and Margaret, convey to William Baketon, four messuages, with lands and 20s. rent, here and in Edythorp.

In the 10th of Henry III. Thomas Walle passed by fine to Sir Robert Brandon and Catherine his wife, the manor of Gorges in this town, Bacton, Edythorpe, &c. which Catherine was (as I take it) an Inglos; Edward Ingles held it in the 17th of the said King, and his father Sir Henry died lord of it December 20, Ao. 8, of that King.

Thomas Duke of Norfolk, on June 20, in the said reign, sold all his lands, rents, &c. here, late Brandon's, and which the said Duke purchased of Sir George Throgmorton, to Leonard Spencer of Blofield, Gent. called the manor of Gorges and Thuxton's.

Thomas Spencer held it in the 4th of Elizabeth, and had a prœcipe, to deliver it to Francis Southwell, Esq.

By an inquisition taken at Norwich castle, August 17, in the 16th of Charles I. before John Knap, escheator of Norfolk, Robert Gosling, Gent. was found to die seised of the manor of Witton, August 26, in the 15th of that King, with free warren, several messuages, &c. the Red-House and White-House, and Thomas was his son and heir, aged 30.

John Norris, Esq. died lord in 1701, and gives it to his son John, by will; and in 1762, John Norris, Esq. was lord.

The tenths were 3l. 10s. 8d. Deducted 10s. 8d.

The Church is dedicated to St. Margaret, and was a rectory, valued at 25 marks, and appropriated to the priory of Bromholm; and there was a vicarage valued at 2 marks. Peter-pence 10d. ob.

In the reign of Edward I. a messuage, with a carucate of land belonged to the prior as rector. The present valor is 4l. 13s. 1d. and is discharged.

Vicars.

In 1252, Richard occurs vicar.

1300, Stephen de Thorp Market, instituted vicar, presented by the prior of Bromholm.

1330, Richard at Medwe.

1349, Henry de Folsham.

Hugh Woodherd, vicar.

1352, Robert Spacy.

1360, Thomas Trendyl.

1361, Henry Campybon.

1380, Richard Malet.

1383, John Snow.

1390, John Bec.

1392, Nicholas Swetyng.

1395, Simon Moyser.

1400, John Bond.

1406, Henry Benacre.

1421, John Biskyll, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1421, Thomas Offeld.

1428, Richard Attehill.

1445, Steven Ivys, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1447, William Luys.

1490, John Pottenham alias Burnham, ditto, a lapse.

1500, William Kays.

1502, Henry Helmesley.

1522, John Holgate.

1526, Thomas Wake.

1557, Robert Bury; in 1603, he returned 140 communicants.

1611, Hugh Collis, by the Bishop of Ely, to whom the impropriated rectory came in Queen Elizabeth's reign, on her taking several manors from that see.

1615, Arnold Suckermann.

1665, Joseph Hoogan.

1683, Michael Ferne.

1693, Noah Violas.

1694, Henry Francis.

1712, George Monk, by the Bishop of Ely.

1750, Thomas Herset. Ditto.

Henry Rose buried in the church in 1525, and gave money to its repair; and to the repair of our Lady's chapel there.

On a plate of brass by the communion table on a gravestone,

Thomas Parmenter and Frances his wife, who died in 1631, and his wife in 1627.

John Norris, Esq. buried in the chancel in 1761.