Holt hundred: Bruningham, or Burningham

BRUNINGHAM, or BURNINGHAM,

So called as seated on meadows, by the river Bure.

The greatest part of this town was granted to William de Beauford Bishop of Thetford, by the Conqueror, to be held as a lay fee, and in his own right, out of which 4 freemen of King Harold had been ejected, who possessed 2 carucates and a half of land, and Roger Lungusensis held it under the Bishop, 9 villains, 13 borderers belonged to it, and there had been 3 carucates in demean, and 2 carucates and an half among the tenants, paunage for 30 swine, 6 acres of meadow, and a mill, &c. 5 skeps of bees, 3 socmen had 12 acres and half a carucate, valued in Harold's time at 50s. at the survey at 4l. was one leuca long, and 8 furlongs broad, and paid 13d. gelt, and there was a church endowed with 12 acres valued at 12d.

There was also another lordship, or part of land, with 6 acres, with a church, endowed with 12 acres valued at 12d. which R. the Earl, (that is Ralph Earl of Norfolk) held, and forfeited it on his rebellion, as I take it, and after him A. the Earl, (Alan Earl of Richmond probably) as the hundred witnessed, was lord. (fn. 1)

The family of De Mealton, of Melton Constable, were early enfeoffed of these tenures, by the Bishops of Norwich; and on a division of their estate among the daughters and coheirs, this became the inheritance of Sir Thomas de Estlee, by the marriage of Edith, one of the said daughters, and Thomas de Asteleye presented to this church in 1328, in which family part of the aforesaid tenures remain.

Part of the said tenure, in the 20th of Edward III. was found to be held by John de Wesenham by the 6th part of a fee, of Ralph de Estle, which Lucy de Bryningham formerly held.

In the 3d of Henry IV. the Lady Catharine Braunche possessed the said 6th part, and Robert Braunch, Esq. by his will dated January 13, 1502, proved April 6, 1505, died lord of it, leaving Jane his wife, and John his grandson, son and heir of Henry Braunche, his son, heir to the said Edward.

John Braunch, Esq. conveyed it in the 28th of Henry VIII. to John Bozoun.

Robert Bozoun, Esq. of Stodey, by deed dated in the 14th of Elizabeth, sold it to Sir Nicholas Bacon, Knt. Lord Keeper of the seal, and Nicholas Bacon, Esq. his son and heir, in this family it remained till Sir Edmund Bacon of Garboldisham sold it to Edmund Britiff, Esq.

Edmund Britiff, Esq. was lord about 1720.

Welby's Manor.

Another lordship was granted to Alan Earl of Richmond, out of which Turber, a freeman, under the protection of Herold, was ejected, who had 30 acres, and I villain, one borderer, with a carucate, paunage for 3 swine, and 2 acres of meadow, valued then at 10s. at the survey at 5s. and Geffrey held it of Alan. (fn. 2)

In the 8th of Edward I. Thomas son of Gilbert de Hindringham, held half a fee here, in Bathele, &c. of the honour of Richmond.

John Wilby was lord of it in the 3d of Henry IV. &c.—See in Batheley and Dalling.

The tenths were 3l. 10s. 0d. Deducted 13s. 6d.

The temporalities of the hospital of Lazers at Chosel 8s. 10d.

Reginald de Meauton, son of Peter le Constable, gave to Walsingham priory 6d. rent here. (fn. 3)

The Church is dedicated to St. Maurice; the ancient valor was 13 marks. Peter-pence 16d. ob.; it is a curacy.

Curates.

1328, Robert de Asteleye instituted, presented by Thomas de Asteley.

1329, John de Asteley. Ditto.

1349, Thomas de Wolterton, by Sir Ralph de Astele.

1350, Mr. Thomas de Wolterton, by Mr. Richard de Ling.

The King granted license this year to appropriate it to Trinity Hall in Cambridge, and the Bishop of Norwich, William Bateman, who was the capital lord of the fee, and of this town, appropriated it on October 15, 1350, to the said hall, of which he was the founder. Richard de Ling was his chancellor, and many times also chancellor of the University of Cambridge, &c.

The Bishop reserved a pension of one mark per ann. payable to the see, and it was to be served by a stipendiary curate.