North Erpingham Hundred: Mundesley

MUNDESLEY,

In Domesday Book is wrote Muleslai, and was the Earl Warren's manor; Griketel, a freeman, possessed it at the conquest, and had 30 acres of land, with 2 borderers, and a carucate; and the said Earl had 10 acres and a carucate of land, which 3 freemen of Edric held in the time of the Confessor, and was valued at 4s. To this there belonged a church, endowed with 12 acres. (fn. 1)

This lordship belonged to the soc or great lordship of the Earls Warren, (of Gimmingham,) and came from them to the Dukes of Lancaster, and so to King Henry IV. as Duke of Lancaster, and continues in the Crown at this day, as part of that dutchy, as may be seen in Gimmingham; wreck of sea and all royal fishes, between Monesley, Beck, and Loodyard, belonged to it, &c.

Here was also another lordship which R. Malet laid claim to: viz. 19 freemen; 3 of whom were only under protection or commendation; the other paid all customary dues, and lived in this town, Trunch and Thorp Market, but William Earl Warren held it. (fn. 2)

In the 14th of Edward I. Agnes Spriggy was impleaded by Juliana, wife of Simon Peche, to render to her the guardianship of the heir and lands of William Priggy, who held of her a messuage, 18 acres of land in Mulesly, by the service of 8s. per ann. and the payment of 3s. scutage; and in the 33d of Edward I. John Spriggy, son of William, held it.

Oliver le Groos, and Roger Chartres, granted by fine, the manor of Munesle, with lands in Paston, to John Spriggy, in the 9th of Edward II. being settled by them as trustees on the said John, for life; remainder to Laurence Spriggy, and Margaret his wife, in tail.

In the 17th of Edward IV. Robert Elingham of North Walsham was found to die seized of the manor of Rishes or Roses, in this town, held of the dutchy of Lancaster.

John Bradfield of Burnham Thorp, Gent. held it in the reign of King James I. and was father of Edward Bradfield, of Mondesley, and of Troston in Suffolk; he married — daughter of — Coke, of Livermore, in that county, by whom he had John Bradfield, who by Rose, his wife, daughter of Edward Bromley, of Lynn Regis, was father of Edward Bradfield of Lynn, living in 1721.

In this town is a little brook with a mill on it, which runs into the sea, and arises at North Repps; in ancient days probably called Mul; thus, Mulbarton, Multon or Moulton, Norfolk; Moulford in Berkshire; Mulwith in Yorkshire, and Mulby; Mulle is a river in Montgomery in Wales.

The temporalities of St. Bennet's, of Holm, were 4l. 11s. ob.— Of Bromholm priory, 14s. 1d.—Bartholomew de Glanvill confirmed to the monks of Castleacre, the gift of his father, William de Glanvill, of a mill in this town. (fn. 3) The tenths were 2l. 15s. Deducted 15s.

The church is a rectory. In the reign of Edward I. the rector had a competent house, with an acre, and 30 perches of ground, also 12 acres of land; it was valued at 15 marks, paid Peter-pence, 13d. The present valor is 8l. 9s. 9d. ob. and is discharged.

The Church is a single pile, covered with lead, the chancel with reed; there is no steeple, but in the churchyard are 3 bells in a frame.

Rectors.

In 1324, Alexander de Chiqwell instituted rector, presented by John Earl Warren.

1344, Henry Hap. Ditto.

1371, Peter de Wele, by John Duke of Lancaster.

1375, John de Broghton. Ditto.

1380, John de Dalton.

1391, John Collis.

1404, John Slyngesby, by King Henry IV.

1405, William Fourbor. Ditto.

William Edrington, rector.

1411, Alane Thame, by the King.

1426, Thomas Molenes, by Henry Archbishop of Canterbury, &c. feoffees of the King.

1464, Robert Williamson, by the King.

John Wryght, rector.

1484, William Davies, by the King.

1485, Thomas Assehewe, by the King.

1490, William Assehewe. Ditto.

1493, John Rustell. Ditto.

In 1603, Mr. James Matchet occurs rector, and returned 81 communicants.

John Novell, 1637, rector.

John Tomison compounded for his first fruits in April, 1640, and ejected for his loyalty, father of Archbishop Tenison.

John Mountford died rector in 1721.

1721, Edward Bilston, by the King.

1756, William Claggot. Ditto.

Here was the guild of All-Saints, probably the church so dedicated.