North Erpingham Hundred: Trunch

TRUNCH.

William Earl Warren had the lordship of this town, (fn. 1) of which 3 freemen were deprived; one of them belonged to Herold, late King of England, another to Ralph Stalre, and the 3d to Ketel, who held 90 acres of land, and 14 borderers belonged to it, with 5 carucates among them; there was a church endowed with 10 acres, &c. 3 acres of meadow always valued at 30s. and there were also 5 freemen of Edric in King Edward's time, who had 34 acres of land, with 2 carucates, 2 acres and an half of meadow, always valued at 7s. 4d. (fn. 2)

This town also belonged to the Earl Warren's capital manor of Gimmingham, and paid suit and service to it. In the 34th of Henry III. Maud de Norwich granted by fine, to Richer, son of Nicholas, a messuage, 48 acres of land, a mill, and the sixth part of another in this town, Swathefeld and Bradfeld. In the 15th of Edward I. the Earl Warren claimed a weekly mercate, on Saturday, in this manor; and on the death of John Earl Warren, in the 21st of Edward III. the mercate was valued at 10s. per ann. the manor came after to the Earl of Lancaster, (as is before observed,) and so to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, and King Henry IV. and is still in the Crown, as part of the dutchy of Lancaster.

The tenths were 4l. 10s. deducted 15s.

The Church is dedicated to St. Botolph, and is a regular pile, with a nave, 2 isles, and a chancel covered with lead, and has a tower with 4 bells.

In the chancel, on a little monument,

Lancelotus Thexton cappellanus Regis Edw. VI. sacre theologie baccalaureus, et rector de Trunch obt. 25. Febr. 1588, and this shield of arms, quarterly, in the first and fourth a cross between four lions heads erased, gules, in the 2d and 3d, ermine, fretty, azure.

In a window here, argent, a fess between two chevrons, sable.

On a gravestone

Hic jacet Magr. Robt. Cantell, quo'd. rector isti. ecclie, qui. obt. 1 Sept. Ao. Dni. 1480.

Gravestones

In memory of Thomas Worts, gent. who died November 13, 1693, aged 45, with his arms, three lions rampant, - - - — William Worts. gent. who married Elizabeth, daughter of Riches Brown of Fulmodeston, Esq. died August 25, 1694, aged 60, with the arms of Worts impaling Brown; two bars, between three spears heads, - - -

The patronage of the church was granted to the priory of Castleacre, by William Earl Warren, the first on his founding that priory. In the reign of Edward I. the rector had a manse, and 13 acres of land valued at 16 marks, Peter-pence 13d. and the prior of Castleacre had a pension or portion of tithe valued at 40s. the present valor is 10l. 13s. 4d. and pays first fruits, &c. the Norwich registers say that William, the second Earl Warren, granted the patronage, and Eborard Bishop of Norwich, confirmed it; and that Simon the Bishop confirmed the pension in 1268.

Rectors

In 1338, Robert Joye instituted, presented by Bartholomew de Stanhow, assignee of the prior of Castleacre.

1338, Thomas de Lewes, by John Earl Warren.

1339, Ralph Bigot. Ditto.

1349, John Veysel, by the prior.

1349, Ralph Bigot, by the prior.

1352, John Edward. Ditto.

John. Wyneston occurs rector in 1365.

1401, Richard Hildegard, by the prior.

1405, Mr. John Wysebech.

1438, Mr. Robert Cantell.

1481, Richard Mytton.

1504, Robert Lake.

1505, Mr. Bartrand Wodehouse, L.L.B.

1548, Thomas Powle, by the King.

1554, Richard Gatefeld, by Thomas Duke of Norfolk; in the 29th of Henry VIII. Thomas, the prior of Castleacre, granted by fine to that King, the advowson; and the King in the said year, on December 22, gave it to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk.

1556, Mr. John Salesbury, S. T. B. by Peter Read, Gent. He was suffragan Bishop of Thetford, dean of Norwich, &c.

1572, Lancelot Thexton, S. T. B. by the Queen, prebend of Norwich.

1589, Robert Thexton, by John Duke, Gent. in 1603, he returned 152 communicants.

1619, Robert Thexton, by the assigns of the master, &c. of Catharine hall in Cambridge.

1660, Robert Thexton, by the King.

1709, John Jeffrey, by the master and fellows of Catharine-hall.

1748, Henry Stebbing. Ditto.

Here were the guilds of St. Botolph and St. Mary.

The temporalities of Bromholm priory were 4s. 7d. ob.

The deanery of Repps, included all the churches in the hundred of North Erpingham, and was taxed at 2 marks.

Deans.

In 1304, Richard de Snelesham was collated to it by the Bishop.

1308, Robert de Bosco.

1311, Mr. Gilbert de Meleford.

1330, Richard de Barwe.

1337, Thomas de Norwich.

1339, William de Hiltoft.