Hundred of South Greenhoe: Fouldon

FOULDON,

At the great survey this town occurs by the name of Fulgaduna, Fulendun, and Phuldon, and takes its name from the plenty of wild fowl which frequented it, it being seated in the midst of fens, and morasses; fugol in Saxon signifies wild fowl, and in some antique writings it is wrote Fugeldune.

The Earl Warren's Manor.

"In Fulgadun thirty-four freemen held in the time of King Edward the Confessor 6 carucates of land, and they now hold the same under the Earl William, and he has one carucate valued at 20s there were then under them 16 villains and 16 bordarers, and so now; here were two fisheries, the whole is accounted one mile long, and half a mile broad, and pays to the geld 16d.; it was in King Edward's time valued at 3 li. now at 6li. Earl William says, he held this land by exchange." (fn. 1) Roger (probably de Paveley) seems to have held this lordship under William, the second Earl Warren, and gave the tithe of his lands here to the abbey of Castleacre, founded by the Earl Warren; (fn. 2) and Robert de Freville gave by deed sans date about the reign of Henry I. two parts of the tithes of his demesnes lands here, to the said abbey. After this, Fulk de Beaufo held it in the time of King John; this Fulk had four daughters, and by their marriage, this lordship was parcelled out and divided, as may be seen in Hockwold, vol. ii. p. 177.

By an inquisition taken the 24th of Henry III. Michael de Ponyngs, a descendant of Sir Luke de Ponyngs, (who married one of the heiresses of Aquillon by Agatha daughter of Fulk,) held here and in Bodney, one fee and a half of the Earl Warren; Petronilla de Thurne held this of Thomas Cok or Coke, about the 48th of Henry III. and he of Ponyngs; (fn. 3) and the said Thomas held of the Ingaldesthorps (who married another of Fulk's daughters) part of a fee here, called Blount's fee, held of the manor of Skulthorpe in Norfolk, which the Earl Warren held in capite; at the same time Robert de Blount held lands of Robert de Scales, into which family also a daughter of Fulk's was married, (fn. 4) and in the 52d of the said King mention is made of a mill here called Beck-Myln, and the little stream that runs by the hall bears that name at this day.

William, son of Alexander Coke of Fuldon, held a manor here in the 18th of Edward I. which he settled on John de Brandon and Aveline daughter of Peter le Newman, (fn. 5) and the said Aveline granted to the aforesaid John Brandon the same, with all her homages, rents, customs, services, wards, reliefs, eschaets, marriages of her tenants, and all her turbary, to which Edmund de Inglethorp was witness in the 15th of Edward I. and one Edmund de Inglethorp had the assize of bread and beer in this town, and frankpledge, together with Luke de Ponyngs, and Robert de Scales. (fn. 6) Also in the 33d of the said King, Edmund de Inglethorp, and Ivetta his wife, had by fine levied between them and Robert de Fuldon, lands here settled on them in tail, remainder to Thomas, brother to Edmund, remainder to John de Mundeford and Sibill his wife, and the heirs of Sibill, sister of Edmund, and daughter of Sir Thomas de Inglethorp.

In the 17th of Edward II. Michael de Ponyngs and his tenants held 7 fees here, in Bodney, Wilton, &c. and Walter de Norwich held 7 fees here, and in Didlington, Northwold, &c. (under the Ingaldesthorps) of the Earl of Pembroke, as of the castle of Acre; (fn. 7) and in the following year, Robert, son of Robert Lord Scales, being under age, Egeline, widow of Robert, had a grant of the custody of his manor here.

In the 20th of Edward III. Thomas de Cressingham, Ralph de Thirne, &c. held the 3d part of a fee of Richard Holdich and William de Hockham, and they of John de Norwich, which Petronilla de Thirne formerly held, and Roger le Mey, &c. held half a fee of John de Didlington, which John de Burhall formerly held. (fn. 8) There is a field westward of the town, called at this day Burhall-Field, probably from this John, who lived in the time of Henry III. At the same time a fine was levied between John de la Rokele, son of Ralph de Rokele, Knt. and Joan his wife, querents, and Edmund de Ingaldesthorp, defendant, of 10 marks rent in Hockwold, Wilton, and Mundeford, and the manor of Fuldon, settled on John in tail.

Katharine Brews, (daughter of Sir John Norwich,) a nun at Dertford in Kent, held in the 3d of Richard II. Broomes fee, which afterwards descended to the Uffords Earls of Suffolk; and in the 8th of the said King John Brandon of Fouldon grants to William de Thyrne, John, vicar of Fouldon, and John Geson of Lyndford, all his messuages, lands, tenements, and faldage, with the appurtenances here, and in Didlington; and in the 6th of Henry VI. Sir Thomas Erpingham, Sir John Carbonel, Sir William Berdwell, &c. by virtue of a feoffment made to them, remit and grant to John Harpley, Esq. the aforesaid messuages, &c. called Brandon's, with the wards, eschaets, &c.; (fn. 9) and in the 16th of the said King, Richard Schrag and John Machon of Cockley Cley, were infeoffed in the same.

In the 3d of Henry IV. Sir John de Weyland, William Thurne, John le Veile, &c. held here, three parts of a knight's fee of Thomas Holdich, he of Sir Robert Knolls, and Sir Robert of the Earl of Arundel; (fn. 10) parcel of his honour of Castleacre, and at the said time, the heirs of Robert le Maye held half a knight's fee here, as did Robert Gedge and Roselyn, one knight's fee here and in Didlington, of the aforesaid Earl.

Margaret, relict of Edmund Bedingfeld, Esq. sister and heiress to Sir Thomas Tudenham, died seized of the manor here, (which descended to her from the Weylands and the Limeseys,) in the 15th of Edward IV. held of the Holdiches; and in the 6th of King Edward VI. Sir Edmund Bedingfeld leased out his lands, pastures, faldcourses, &c. at 4l. 3s. 4d. per ann. Soon after this, the whole of this Earl Warren's fee was in the family of the Holdiches, lords of the whole town, as will be shown.

Latimer's Manor.

In Fulendun, Ribald held under Alan Earl of Richmond, half a carucate of land, which Alstan held in the Confessor's time, and is valued in Swaffham, and two freemen held one carucate of land, valued at 20s. and now at 40s. and is measured with the land of the Earl Warren. (fn. 11)

From the above Ribald, who was lord of Midleham in Yorkshire, descended the Neviles Lord Latimer, lords of this fee under the Earls of Richmond. On an inquisition taken the 24th of Henry III. Richard Dikeman, and the heirs of Walter Faukener, held the 6th part of a fee of Mary de Nevile, and she of the Earl of Richmond, and Thomas Vincent, and John de Brandon, held of her the 3d part of a fee.

In the 20th of Edward III. Ralph de Nevil and his parceners held the 3d part of a fee late Vincent's, &c. and John Dikeman, and the heirs of Faukener, held the 6th part above-mentioned; by the parceners of Nevile, the Holdiches are most probably meant: that they had possessions here before this time is certain; in the 9th of Edward II. a fine was levied between Gilbert de Holdich, and Ralph his son, and Florence the wife of Ralph, querents, and Richard son of Gilbert, defendant, of messuages, and lands here; (fn. 12) and in the 29th of Edward III. Richard Holdich had free-warren granted him, in all his demesne lands in Fouldon, Didlington, South Pickenham, and Congham.

In the 3d of Henry IV. the heirs of Dikeman and Faukener, held the 3d part of a fee, of Sir Robert Knolls, and he of the honour of Richmond; and at a court held the 7th of Henry VI. Thomas Holdich, late deceased, was found to have held half a fee of the Lord Nevile, and Thomas his son was 30 years old; and in the 21st of the said King, Thomas Holdych, Esq. leased his lands, messuages, wards, reliefs, eschaets, &c. for 13l. 6s. 8d. per annum.

William Methwold was found in the 32d of Henry VIII. to hold a capital messuage here of the Lord Latimer, and John was his son; and in the 35th of the said King, Richard Holdich held the manor of Fouldon-Hall of the King in capite, his father Henry dying that year, or as some say his brother; (fn. 13) and it is probable, this family possessed, in the 34th of the said King, the whole Richmond fee here, a fine being then levied between Robert Holdich, querent, and John Nevile Lord Latimer, and Catherine his wife, defendants, of this manor.

In the sixth of Queen Elizabeth, Miles Holdich, son and heir of Richard, was lord, and held it by the payment or service of one rose yearly to the Queen, and after him John Holdich. After this, it came by the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Henry Holdich, Esq. to Sir John Sidley, and his son Sir John Sidley, Bart. sold it to Robert Long, Esq. of the family of Reymerston in Norfolk, whose son Robert was lord, and his son sold it to the Lady Bennet, widow of Sir Levinus Bennet.

In Phuldon, Walter Giffard holds one carucate of land valued in the Confessor's time at 8s. (fn. 14)

This Walter was Earl of Buckingham, his estate descended to the Earls of Clare and Gloucester; of this I meet with no further account, so that it is probable it was united, being purchased by the lords of the other fees, or else was possessed by the prioress of the nunnery of St. George, in Thetford; who in the 9th of Edward II. is said to have a manor here, and a fald-course belonging to it; (fn. 15) and in the 7th of Edward III. Nicholas de Gonvile was found to hold certain tenements here of the prioress; at the Dissolution this was granted, together with the site of the aforesaid nunnery, &c. to Sir Richard Fulmerston, of whom see in Thetford, vol. ii. p. 57, and in the 31st of Henry VIII. license was granted him, to alienate it to Richard Holdich, and his heirs; and so it was united to the other manors abovementioned. But some of the lands belonging to this nunnery were held in the time of Queen Elizabeth, by Sir George Howard, and Fulk Crofts, and in the reign of Charles I. by Edmund Bacon of Heggeset in Suffolk, Esq.

Here was also a manor held of the Honour of Wirmegay or Wrungey, by William de Lerling, in the 27th of Henry III. who had free-warren here; this came to the Gonviles afterwards, as appears from a fine levied in the 16th of Edward III. between Roger de Herdegrey of Norwich, querent, and John de Gonvile, and Joan his wife, defendants, with its lands, the homages and services of divers persons; (fn. 16) and William Lord Bardolph of Wirmegay was found in the 13th of Richard II. to hold three quarters of a fee here, in Lerling, and Rushforth; this descended to the Herlings, and was held of the said honour in the 5th of Henry VI. This also, it may be presumed, came afterwards to the Holdiches.

The Lete is in the lord of the manor, and the Tenths of the town were 8l. 19s. deductions 2l. 5s. remainder 6l. 14s.

The church is a regular pile, having a nave, with a north and south isle of flint, &c. in length about 52 feet, and in breadth with the isles about 44 feet; the nave is laid with freestone, as are the passages between the north and the south doors, at the cost and charge of Mr. Raymond; the roof of the nave is of oak, and covered with lead, (as the whole church is) supported by tall octangular pillars, which form 8 lofty arches, four on a side; above are six windows, three on a side, over the pillars. At the west end of the nave is a four-square tower, of flint, &c. with quoins and embattlements of free-stone, and on them 8 stone pinnacles carved. In this tower hang five small tuneable bells, and the treble was the gift of Mr. Raymond, and bas his arms cast on it; against the north-east wall of the nave, near to the chancel, is a monument of gray marble adorned with foliages, and on the cornish is this shield,

Raymond, sable a chevron between three eaglets displayed, arg. on a chief of the second, a bendlet ingrailed between two martlets of the first, the crest a cat sejant arg. On a black marble in the centre, this inscription in letters of gold;

Under this Pew lyeth buried the Body of Sarah, only Daughter of Humphrey, second Son of Humphrey Mosely, of Ousden-hall in Suffolk, Esq; the most endearing and beloved Wife of Burham, eldest Son of Thomas Raymond, the first sole Keeper of the Papers of State and Councel at Whitehall, to King Charles the II. she lived and died very religiously, July 1st 1700, the disconsolate Burham, to his most endearing and beloved Consort, has caused this Monument to be erected, in Token of his sincere and lasting Love to her deserv'd Memory.

Her Love to him, his Sorrow for her Death Were equal, for they end, but with their Breath.

Here also lyeth the Body of Burham Raymond, Husband to the aforesaid Sarah, who died December 30, 1728, Aged 30 Years.

On the opposite wall, on the south side is a stone pedestal, where some favourite saint once had his station. On the top of the west window of the south isle is a small shield almost obscure through time, or, on a fess between three garbs gul. as many flowers de-lis of the first; and in a little pannel under it, the effigies of a person in complete armour, with a broad sword hanging in a rich scabbard by his side, and a long spear in his right hand of gold headed azure, and spurs of gold; part of his arms and his face are broken. (fn. 17)

A large arched monument is raised on the foundation of the south isle facing the churchyard, of free-stone; under this arch on the ground lies a flat marble gravestone partly covered by the arch, and partly by the wall. These arched monuments, and this immuring of founders, was practised in ancient days: and this seems to be built about the reign of King Edward I. At the east end of this isle is the stone stair-case which led to the rood-loft; joining to this south isle is a porch covered with lead, and over the door a pedestal for some image: the church is divided from the chancel by a screen, which hath been curiously carved and painted, ornamented with canopywork and images; this chancel is in length about 38 feet, and in breadth about 20, hath a good roof of oak, covered with lead. In the east window, in two places, and in one, on the south side is

Bateman, sab. a crescent ermine in a bordure ingrailed arg.

And was thus born by Bateman Bishop of Norwich, executor to Edmund Gonvile, founder of the college of that name in Cambridge.

In the upper window, on the south side, in a roundle is the word Jesu, in another, Mercy. The windows of this chancel have been beautified with the portraitures of the 12 Apostles, 3 in each window, standing on pedestals; that of St. John the Evangelist, in the lowest window, is now the most entire, having a palm branch in one hand, and in the other a fiery dragon, issuing out of a cup, the rest of the Apostles, generally bearing in their hands the instruments of their martyrdom; it may not be improper to consider the reason of this bearing or these insignia of St. John, which I conceive is to set forth his miraculous escape from some poison which he had drank; and his raising to life two persons which had drank of the same poisoned cup.

Against the north wall of this chancel is a very large and lofty mural monument of black and white marble, adorned with foliages, having two black marble pillars of the Corinthian order, with their capitals gilt with gold, supporting the cornish; on that the busto of an angel with wings of gold; above that, the figure of an angel, winged as before; and on the summit,

Longe, gules a saltier engrailed or, on a chief of the second, three croslets pate of the first,

And on a black marble in the centre of the monument this epitaph in letters of gold;

Quod superest Ornatissimi Viri Roberti Longe Armigeri, sub Cortice marmoreo hic propè posito, jacet reconditum. Vixit non minus Patriæ, quam suorum Commodo, Annos Sexaginta et Octo, obijt, (proh Dolor) Decimo Septimo Die Septembris, Anno Redemptionis 1656, habens ex unicâ Uxore Elizabetha, tres Filios, Robertum, Henricum et Richardum, et quinque Filias, Elizabetham, Margaretum, Susannam, Mariam, et Sarah, prognatos et superstites, hujus merito amoris sui fidelissimi memoriæ, sacrum hoc dedit pignus, Elizabetha predicta jam mœrens Vidua.

On the pavement lies the gravestone of marble thus inscribed,

Robertus Longe, obijt 17 Septemb. 1656.

Elizabetha Longe, obijt 10 Octob. 1666

On the pavement near the east end of the chancel is a marble gravestone thus inscribed,

Hic jacet Corpus Susann: Uxoris secundæ Roberti Longe de Foulden, in Com. Norff. Armig. et Filiæ secund. Clem. Heigham de Barrow in Com. Suff. Armig. obijt Vicessimo Sexto Die Aprilis, Anno Domini 1689.

About the centre of the area there lies an ancient marble stone, once ornamented with a cross florè, and two fillets of brass about the verge; between these fillets was the inscription in letters of brass; by the nichings and incisions cut to let the letters in, part of the inscription seems to have been thus,
Hac sunt in Fossa Caro, Thome Palmer et Ossa.

The rest cannot be recovered, the stone being much worn; this is no doubt in memory of Palmer, the last rector, who lived in the reign of King Edward III.

This church is dedicated to all the Saints, as appears from several wills: (fn. 18) there was also in the said town, in a place called BurhallField, a chapel dedicated to St. Edmund, (fn. 19) long since demolished; and there is a close there called Chapel Close at this day.

In this church there were formerly these shields painted on the glass; sable, florettè de-lis or, in a canton gul. a frett azure, Mortimer, and a star of six points.

Rectors.

1265, John de Pikenham.

John de Sheffend occurs rector, 24th of Edward I.

1316, Reginald de Cusancia, presented by the Prior and convent of Lewes in Sussex, and probably given to that abbey by one of the Earls Warren, or one of his dependants; in 1326, he had license to be absent on account of his own affairs, and those of his church, for one year. This Cusancia was most likely an Italian; foreigners were in these times admitted to livings, insomuch that a petition was made by the commons in parliament, 21st of Edward III. that all alien monks do avoid the realm by Michaelmas, and that their livings be disposed of to young English scholars, and that such aliens as are advanced to livings, they being in their own countries but shoemakers, tailors, or chamberlains to cardinals, &c. may depart the realm before Michaelmas, and their livings be bestowed on poor scholars. Barn's life of Edward III. An^o 1347.

1335, William de Monte Acuto, or Montague, he had been rector of Fincham St. Michael. Ditto.

1344, John Mayduit. John Earl Warren and Surrey, the advowsons of all the livings in the presentation of the Prior of Lewes being given to him by the King, on account of the wars with France, this being a priory alien.

1349, Thomas Palmere, by the Prior of Lewes.

About this time Gonvile-Hall or college in Cambridge bought, with the license of Richard Earl of Arundel, lord of the fee, the patronage of this church, with the glebes, &c. of Sir Edmund Hengrave, and Hugh de Chintriaco, prior of St. Pancrase of Lewes: (fn. 20) and 16th of June, 1350, the Bishop of Norwich appropriated this church to that college; (fn. 21) it was bought with this proviso, that the Prior of Lewes should enjoy the pensions here, till he should be in possession of the moiety of the church of Walpole; witnesses, Sir John de Norwich, Sir John de Ufford, Sir John de Benhale, &c. and the Prior and convent of Castleacre, in the 39th of Edward III. granted to the said college in perpetual farm, two parts of the tithes of the demesnes of Robert Frevile of Fouldon, (fn. 22) being about 300 acres, at the annual rent of 1l. 6s. 8d. which is now paid into the Exchequer.

Vicars

April 4th, 1362, Thomas Selys, the first vicar, was presented by the Society of Gonvile-Hall in Cambridge.

1379, John Crane. Ditto. By his will, dated Wednesday before the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, 1421, he desires to be buried in the churchyard of Fouldon All-Saints, and gives legacies to the gilds of All-Saints and St. John Baptist here. Crane was elected by the Bishop of Norwich, two being presented to him by the College, according to a composition.

1421, John Harleston, by the master and fellows of Gonvile-Hall, in which society the advowson now remains.

1421, Nicholas Essex; he was vicar of Narburgh, and exchanged with Harleston.

1443, Richard Powle, by his will, dated 26 March, 1479, desires to be buried in the new porch on the north side of the church, and gives to every gyld here 12d. to his successours a new messuage, (likely the present vicar's house,) which he bought of Nicholas Blok in Fouldon, in recompense of dilapidating the old vicarage; also a messuage and 12 acres of land to Gonvile College, on condition they keep his obit on the 1st of May for ever, and pray for his soul, (he was fellow of that college.) Regr. Gelour.

1479, John Oudolf, on the death of the last vicar. Richard Roberts, by will dated the 12th of January, 1489, gives legacies to St. Edmund's gild, sepulchre light, the light of the perk here; and William Estgate, by will, 18th June 1493, gives to Trinity gild, &c.

1497, William Ryghtwys: he had a bull from Pope Alexander, to hold two benefices incompatible, dated from Rome 1495, and was rector of Hockwold. About this time, 1499, September 13th, Robert Tassell, of this town, by will desires to be buried in the churchyard, leaves to the hey altyr for oblations and tithes not paid 6s. 8d. to the reparations of the church 40s. to the Trinity Gild here 4 bushels, of barley; to the White Fryers of Lyn, 4 bushels of barley; to the Grey Fryers there 4 bushels, &c.; to the Fryers Preachers there, 1 bushel; to the Awston Fryars there 1 bushel; and to a priest to pray on hoyl yer 8 marks.

1502, Robert Carlton, A. M. on the death of Ryghtwys; the first fruits at this time were 5l. Resigned.

1508, Robert Mynte, ob.

1519, Richard Ledar, buried 10 October, 1540.

1540, Sir Gregory Maptid, (fn. 23) lately a religious man in Bury, called also Gregory Illey, from the place of his birth; he was rector of Cressingham-Parva.

1566, Robert Spurgynne, on the resignation of Maptid, rector also of Colveston, ob.

1582, Thomas Reve, A. M. resigned.

1583, John Tayler; in his answers to King James's Enquiry in 1603, he says there were 214 communicants in this parish, ob.

1625, Henry Warden, A. M. ob.

1627, Francis Hobman, A. M. afterwards rector of Weting; he resigned this in 1651, (as I take it,) being rector of the Weetings; on the 26th of August,

1654, Mr. John Riseing was buried, as appears from the Register, probably vicar.

Thomas Leader, vicar.

1662, Thomas Robarts, S. T. B. on the cession of Leader. The King by lapse. He was vicar of Swaffham, ob.

1678, Henry Milsop, A. M. ob.

1682, Edmund Booth, inceptor artium; he was born at Norwich, educated at Caius college, vicar also of Gooderston, ob.

1702, Thomas Ringsted, educated at Caius college, vicar of Gooderston, buried in the chancel of Fouldon.

1719, The Rev. Mr. John Brundish, A. M. on the death of Ringsted, was presented by the Master and Fellows of Caius college in Cambridge; he was educated at Corpus Christi college in Cambridge, and holds it united to the vicarage of Didlington.

This vicarage is valued in the King's Books at 10l. 1s. 8d. but being computed but at 25l. per annum clear value, is discharged of tenths and first fruits, and is capable of augmentation. The rectory is leased to the vicar, and consists of the corn-tithe, 26 acres of pasture, 44 of arable infield, 40 acres and 2 roods outfield, in all 110 acres and 2 roods, paying per annum 9l. 14s. 6d. also seven quarters (of wheat,) three bushels and two pecks of malt; seven quarters and an half and 2 bushels, and an outrent to the King as above observed of 1l. 6s. 8d. synodals, 2s. 4d. procurations 7s. 7d. ob.

William Earl Warren, who died in 1141, confirmed to the priory of Castleacre, (fn. 24) the tithes of Wimer his sewer, of his demesnes here.

In the time of Edward I. this rectory was valued at 32 marks had a manse with 40 acres of land belonging to it, the Peter-pence paid were 15d. (fn. 25) The church of St. Edmund, is said to be a motherchurch, and the eldest, to which a mediety of the township belonged; and at that time there were burials there, but no baptism; and was formerly the parish church of all the township, and had 100 acres of land; at that time it had a tower, or belfry, with 2 bells, and 2 altars, besides the principal altar, and was called a chapel, improperly, by some negligent rector; yet it appears from the Register of the abbey of Lewes, &c. that Roger de Pavely, of whom we have before made mention, in his grant of tithe to Castleacre or Lewes, (Castleacre being a cell to Lewes,) calls it the chapel of St. Edmund.

The priory of Lewes was taxed for their spirituals at 5l. per annum. Castleacre 4 marks. The prior of Bromhill, for his temporalities at 7d. and Thetford monastery 10s. for spirituals.