North Erpingham Hundred: Ruton

RUNTON.

Roger Bigot had, at the conquest, livery of a freeman, with 30 acres of land, who held it under bond in King Edward's reign: at the survey, 2 freemen, 5 villains, and 2 borderers, and one carucate of land belonged to it, and an acre of meadow, paunage for 4 swine; valued in King Edward's time, &c. at 8s. and had been after let at 20s. but it could not be paid; so that at the survey it was let at 15s. per ann. (fn. 1)

Felbrigg's-Manor.

In the 4th of Henry III. a fine was levied between Mary de Merlai, petent in dower, and Richard de Felbrigg tenant, of the 3d part of 2 carucates of land in Felbrig, and 40s. in land in this town, with which William de Felbrigg, (son and heir of Richard,) late husband of the said Mary, endowed her, with the consent of his father; and Richard grants the rents and services of several persons, and 13 acres of land in Runton, which Jeffrey le Neve held, together with the said Jeffrey, and his posterity, to Mary and her heirs for ever, paying a rent; and she released all her right in the residue of the inheritance. In the 24th of Henry III. Nigel de London, and Clementia his wife, convey to John de Merlai the 5th part of the advowson of the church of Runton, and lands there, to be held of Nigel and Clementia, and her heirs.

On the death of Richard de Felbrigg, his inheritance came to his daughter and heir, Maud, who married Sir Simon le Bigot, 3d son of Hugh Bigot Earl of Norfolk; and in the 56th of Henry III. it was agreed between the said Maud, and her son Roger, and Roger the prior of Beeston, that the prior and they should present alternately to this church.

In this family it continued till the death of Sir Simon Felbrigg, in 1443; after this, it was sold by Tho. Lord Scales, one of his trustees, to John Wymondham, Esq. as may be seen in Felbrigg, and it remains in the descendants of the said John; Ash Wymondham, Esq. being late lord in 1740, and patron, as was his son, William Wymondham, Esq. who died in 1761, leaving his son and heir a minor.

Beeston-Priory Manor.

Of this priory and its foundation see at large in Beeston-Regis. In the 15th of Edward I. the prior claimed wreck at sea, on his lands in this town, assise of bread and beer, view of frank pledge, which he held of the Earls of Norfolk.

At the Dissolution it was granted by King Henry VIII. in his 37th year, to Sir Edmund Wyndham, and so was united to the manor of Felbrigg, Their temporalities here in 1428, were valued at 5l. 4s. 1d. ob. q.

Pauline Peyvere had also a small fee or lordship in the reign of Henry III. and William his son claimed, in the 3d of Edward I. assise of bread and beer, and other liberties, as in his manor of Thorp Market. This afterwards was given to the priory of Beeston, and so came to the Windhams on its dissolution, and was held of the Earls of Norfolk.

William de Scohies, or Escois had a lordship which Ingulf held under him at the survey, of which Turkel, lord in the Confessor's time, had been deprived, consisting of a carucate of land, 10 borderers, one carucate in demean, and one among the tenants, &c. 60 sheep, and 5 socmen had 15 acres of land, with half a carucate, then valued at 20s. at the survey at 40s. and a church with 6 acres, all measured in Beeston. (fn. 2)

The ancient family of De Norfolk was enfeoffed of this; Gilbert de Norfolk, the last of the family, died possessed of it, and left 5 daughters and coheirs, (as may be seen in Beeeston-Regis,) who inherited it.

It after came in part, by one of these daughters, to Roger de Felbrigg, and so to Richard de Felbrigg and William his son, who dying sans issue, Maud, his sister, brought it by marriage to Sir Simon Le Bigot, whose heirs changed their name to Felbrigg, and on Sir Simon de Felbrigg's death, came, as is above observed, to John Wymondham; and in 1740, his immediate descendant, Ash Windham, Esq. was lord, and his son, William, died seized of it 1761, &c.

Hugh de Montfort had also a lordship, of which Bond, a freeman, was deprived: (fn. 3) there belonged to it a carucate of land and 12 borderers, a carucate in demean, and half a one among the tenants, with one acre and an half of meadow, one runcus, 5 cows, &c. 20 sheep, and 8 socmen, with 24 acres of land, and a carucate, valued at 20s. at the survey at 30s.

In the 9th of King John, Hubert de Burgh purchased of Roger de Burnham, and Julian, his wife, William de Noiers, Robert Fitz Ralph, and Alice his wife, and Robert de Utlagh, their several nine parts of two knights fees in Runton, and Beeston, and Hindringham, for which they paid castle guard to Dover.

Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford possessed it in the 3d of Edward I. and had wreck at sea, &c. who with Alice his wife, gave it in the 13th of that King, with the advowson of the church, to William, son and heir apparent of John Earl Warren, on his marriage with Joan, their daughter; and in the 9th of Edward II. the Earl Warren, was lord. See in Beeston.

The tenths were 3l. 6s. 2d. Deducted 10s.

The temporalities of Coxford priory were 10s. Of Bromholm, 5s. 7d. and of Beeston, 5l. 4s. 1d. ob. q. The town is called Runton by the sea, and East Runton.

Run is the name of a river; thus, Runwell in Essex; Runwick in Gloucestershire; Runham and Runhall in Norfolk.

The Church is a rectory, dedicated, as said, to the Trinity. Ancient valor 26 marks. Peter-pence 6d. In the reign of King Edward the rector had a manse with 22 acres of land; and the prior of Bromholm a portion of tithe valued at 2 marks. The present valor is 10l. and is discharged.

Rectors.

In 1300, Robert Bigod instituted rector, presented by the prior of Beeston.

1312, John de Wy, by Simon Felbrigg.

1325, Nicholas Mareys, by the prior; the prior and the lord of Felbrigg presented alternately.

1376, Robert Stulle, by the prior.

Thomas Makk, rector, 1428.

William Fleming, rector.

John Firmery, rector, succeeded about 1590.

William Clapham, rector in 1603, returned 153 communicants.

Roger Flynt, died rector, 1675; see Blomfield's History of Norfolk, vol. iv.

Thomas Smith, occurs rector, 1683.

James Banfield, rector, died 1743; and

Ellis Bullemer was presented by Ash Windham, Esq.

1746, John Ellis. Ditto.

The church has a nave and 2 isles, covered with lead, and a chancel tiled. In the church the arms of Felbrigg; Albiny Earl of Arundel, and Walcot.