Blofield Hundred: Catton

CATTON.

Catun abovementioned (as part of Eudo's fees at the survey) appears to have been a town nigh to Posswick; and was a beruite belonging to, and united to, Posswick manor, held by Eudo. There was also another part (at that time) of the said town, which William de Beaufoe Bishop of Norwich held as a lay fee, granted to him by the Conqueror, of which a freeman was deprived, who held it under the commendation, or protection, of Earl Gert, consisting of 60 acres of land; (when Ervast, the Bishop, entered on this see, he gave it to Reinald, one of his men; (5 bordarers were here, a carucate in demean, and half a one among the tenants, &c. one runcus, 12 swine, with 7 acres of meadow, valued then, and always at 15d. (fn. 1)

This part of Catton which Bishop Beaufoe held as a lay fee, at his death, seems to have descended to his family; Ralph de Beaufoe, probably his son, whose daughter and heir, Agnes, brought it by marriage to Hubert de Rye, castellan of Norwich castle, whose descendant Hubert dying in the 18th of Henry II. his inheritance being divided between 2 daughters and coheirs; Roger de Cressi was lord of this town in right of Isabel his wife, daughter of the said Hubert, and thus the lordships of Posswick and Catton were united.

The priory of Norwich had, in the reign of Henry II. an interest in this town, Hubert de Seyncler gave to Tancred, the prior, by deed sans date, his lordship, in Poswyck with the appertenances held of the barony of Rye, which was confirmed by William Turbe Bishop of Norwich, and Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury; (fn. 2) and in 1176, John Bishop of Norwich had a bull from Pope Alexander III. for lands, and meadows which the prior of Ely bought of Lecelina, and Beatrice, of the fee of Posswyke. Thomas de Blomvile, Bishop, confirmed to the priory the charter of Bishop John de Grey, of tithes in Posswyk.

In the 3d of Edward I. the prior had the lete of his tenants, &c. and in the 10th of that King, William Butt conveyed lands by fine to the priory; and in the 14th, the prior sued Hugh le Scot, &c. for lands, &c. In the 19th of that King John, prior of St. Mary's of Walsingham, grants to Henry, prior of Norwich, 5s. rent here, late William Butts.

Adomare de Valentia Earl of Pembroke, released the lands and tenements that the priory held of him, from all payments, homages, &c. and made them free from all services, by deed, dated at Norwich, November 7, A^o. 3°. Edward II.—Witnesses, Sir John de Pakenham, Sir Anselm Marshal, Sir Adomare le Zouch, Sir Walter de Huntingfeld, Simon de Dallyng, Clement de Plumstede, and Andrew de Yelverton. In the 18th of that King, William, son of Egidia, daughter of Adam de Musters, gave lands to the prior, late Adam's, (his grandfather's) in Posswyk, with the homage of his villains.

The temporalities of the priory were valued, in 1428, at 3l. 10s.

After the dissolution of the priory, on the foundation of a dean and prebendaries, the priory manor was granted to that body, and so remains.

The tenths were 3l. 13s. 4d.—Deducted 10s. 4d.

The church of Poswick is dedicated to All-Saints, and was a rectory, valued at 15 marks.—Peter-pence 10d.—Carvage 2d. ob.—The prior of Norwich had a portion of tithe, valued at 4 marks. Eudo, the sewer, lord at the survey, with Rohai his wife, granted to Herbert Bishop of Norwich, and to all his clergy (omni congregatione) of the Holy Trinity church of Norwich, the tithe of Posswyk in corn, money, and all things, as fully as they held it in the time of Serlon; (fn. 3) and they beseech the Bishop and clergy, for the love of God, to receive them and their ancestours, as benefactors, to partake of their prayers, &c. and, on their deaths, to keep their anniversaries in the same manner as they did for a brother, or a sister: the cellarer of the said priory had also a pension of 5s.

Rectors.

Thomas Rowland occurs rector in 1295.

1313, Robert de Rudham instituted, presented by Audomare, &c. Earl of Pembroke.

1320, Richard de Winneferthing. Ditto.

1324, William de Northwell, by the King.

1325, John de Houton. Ditto.

1327, Mr. Will. Bush, by Lady Isabel de Bellomonte, Lady Vescy.

1335, Nicholas de Taunton, by Sir John de Ufford, Knt. (Sir John had a grant of the manor and advowson, on account of the rebellion of David de Strabolgi, against King Edward III. and his taking part with the Scots.)

1346, William de Somerdeby. Ditto.

1355, John Keke. Ditto.

1358, William de Stoke. Ditto.

1360, Mr. Robert de Wentebrygg, Ditto.

1391, William Cotenham, by William Reese.

1404, John Atte-Fenn, by John Halsham, Esq.

John Bron, rector about 1440.

Henry Clifton died rector 1500.

Edward Lane occurs rector about 1600.

Tho. Withe compounded for first fruits in May 1613, presented by Thomas Ward, Esq.

Henry Stepey occurs rector about 1709.

John Russell, senior, rector in 1720.

The Rev. Mr. Arnham is the present rector.

The present valor is 10l. and pays first fruits, &c.

Here was the gild of All-Saints. In March 1440, Thomas Bishop of Norwich appointed the feast of this church, on Sunday after the feast of St. Processus, and St. Marcinianus.

The Church is a single pile, about 24 yards long, and 8 broad, with a four-square tower, and covered with lead, but the chancel is tiled.

In the chancel lie several marble gravestones in memory of the Wards.

Here under this marble stone lyeth the body of Jane, daughter of Edward Ward, Esq. and Jane his wife, who was buried July 22d, 1666. —Here lyeth also the Body of William, the son of Edward Ward of Bixley, Esq; and Jane his wife buried January 30. 1669; and these arms, in a lozenge; quarterly, in the first and fourth checq. or and azure, a bend, ermine, Ward; in the 2d and 3d, gules, on a fess, or, between three bezants a lion passant, sable, Harborn.

John, son of Edward, Ward Esq. and Jane his wife, was buried Janu. 13, 1682, and Anne their daughter, April 22d, 1683.

On another, with the arms of Ward, impaling ermin, on a fess, sable, three lions passant, or, Rant.

Edw. Ward de Bixley, in agro Norfolc. Baronettus, ecclesiœ Anglicanœ filius observantissimus, Regiœ majestatis subditus devotissimus, vir egregiœ indolis, eximiœ virtutis, potestate tam civili, quam militari publica decoratus, in utraq; probatus, obt. 15 die Martii, A^o. Dni. 1685, Ætat suœ 43, et sub hoc marmore a mœstissimâ conjuge posito dormit.

On a stone with a brass plate;

Orate p. aiâ. Hen. Clyfton quod. rectoris isti Ecclie, qui obt. v^o. die Janu. 1500.

Also a mural monument:

In memory of Bernard Russel, who died May 3a. 1723, in the 23d year of his age.

In the church, a gravestone for

Mr. Robert Moss, who died Feb. 8, 1700, in the 67th year of his age, and for Mary his wife, who died July 23, in the said year, aged 65.—I take this to be in memory of the father and mother of Dr. Robert Moss, dean of Ely, &c. who was born in this town.

Near the font;

Here lyeth the body of Sarah, wife of William Moss, who died Feb. 9, 1706, aged 28.

Near to the south door;

Orate p. aiab; Willi. Thyrkyll, et Cecilie uxor; ej; qui ob. 23° die Martis, 1501.