Happing Hundred: Catfield

CATFIELD.

The abbot's manor of Ludham extended into this town, and was part of his barony, and held it by the gift of King Canute. In the reign of Edward I. there was an agreement between Sir Hugh de Vere, and Dionysia his wife, who held a moiety of the town, as heir to the barony of Montchensy, about the right of common here, as may be seen in Ludham; the abbot enjoyed the same privileges here as in other manors; and his temporalities, in 1428, were valued at 40s.

On the exchange of lands, &c. between King Henry VIII. and the Bishop of Norwich, it came to that see, and continues so at this day, as it is held of the Bishop by lease.

Alan Earl of Richmond had, at the survey, 5 acres of land, valued at 6d. of which a freeman had been deprived. (fn. 1)

Edric de Laxfield had a lordship here in King Edward the Confessor's time, it being a beruite to Sutton, and granted to Roger Bigot, who had a carucate of land held by 2 borderers, and one carucate in demean, half a one among the tenants, 18 acres of meadow; a church with 20 acres, and 20 freemen under protection only, had 2 carucates of land, 4 carucates and 14 acres of meadow; the King and the Earl had the soc at the survey. (fn. 2)

Roger Bigot's manor of Sutton extended also into this town, and was held in the reign of Edward I. by William Lord Monchensey, of Roger Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, and was patron of a mediety of the church, which his heirs and descendants enjoyed, as will appear by the presentations.

Walter de Calthorp held in the 17th of Edward II. the 3d part of a fee of the barony of Montchensy, which Adomare de Valentia Earl of Pembroke held.

The tenths were 6l. 14s. Deducted 14s.

The temporalities of the abbey of Cain in Normandy were 5s.

The Church is dedicated to All-Saints, and consists of 2 medieties; —one of them was in the patronage of the abbot of Holm, the rector of which had in the reign of Edward I. a grange and 8 acres, valued at 19 marks. Peter-pence, 17d.

Rectors.

William Cryketot was rector, sans date.

1337, Ralph de Depham instituted, presented by the King, the abbey being void.

1338, Peter de Pakefield, by the abbot.

Adam de Stoke, rector.

1375, John Aleyn.

1395, John Lynstock.

1424, Henry Daweson.

1436, John Gnateshale.

1442, Mr. John Aylesham, S.T.B.

1445, John Teryce.

1460, John Walter.

1479, John Purdy.

1486, Thomas, abbot of St. Bennet, by John Duke of Suffolk, hac vice.

1493, Mr. Peter Greve, by the abbot, &c.

1494, Walter Cottesey. Ditto.

1506, Thomas Lyng.

1518, Peter Duval.

1529, Thomas Barlow, by Thomas Godsalve, hac vice.

1538, Richard Mileson, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1542, James Routh, by the Bishop of Norwich.

Joseph Batteson, rector.

Richard Mileson occurs rector 1698.

1680, John Connould, by the Bishop.

1708, Samuel Bond. Ditto.

1723, James Virtue. Ditto.

1732, Roger Donne. Ditto.

The present valor is 7l. 10s. and is discharged.

The other mediety was also valued at 19 marks, and the rector had a grange with 8 acres. Peter-pence, 17d. in the reign of Edward I. and William Lord Monchensey was then patron.

Rectors.

Landulph de Florentia was rector about 1290.

1303, Robert de Winfarthing, by Sir Hugh de Veer.

1301, John de Kesing, by Sir John de Bromwich, lord of Irchenfeld.

1376, John Simonds, by Sir Giles de Talbot.

1393, Mr. William Frisby, by Richard Talbot lord of Irchingfeld.

1436, Nicholas Gegsbald, by John Lord Talbot and Furneval.

1460, Thomas Chapelyn, by John Earl of Shrewsbury.

1461, Henry Stevenson, by the King.

1463, John Waters, by the King.

1495, Mr. Walter Catesby, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1514, John Lyng. Ditto.

1518, John Asketyll, by the Earl of Shrewsbury.

1537, Thomas Barlow, by the assigns of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

1558, George Thurston, by the Earl of Shrewsbury,

John Holt or Hart, S. T. B. occurs rector in 1593.

1609, Anthony Harrison, by the King.

1638, Daniel Clayton, A. M. by Richard Wenman, assignee of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

1640, William Eaton, by Thomas Earl of Arundel, &c.

1641, Alexander Kirby, by John Earl of Shrewsbury.

Joshua Balleston, rector of both medieties.

1680, John Connould, by Charles Earl of Shrewsbury.

1708, Samuel Bond, ditto, by the Duke of Shrewsbury.

1723, James Vertue. Ditto.

1732, Roger Donne. Ditto.

The present valor is 7l. 10s. and is discharged.

In the cross isle of the church on a gravestone,

Orate p. a'i'a. Rici. Hoo nup. rector de Thorp juxta Norwicum.

In the church was the quartered coat of the Earl of Shrewsbury in a garter; also the arms of Calthorp, Bacon, Wythe, Wachesham, and St. Omer, quarterly.—Bishop Lyhart of Norwich, argent, a bull passant, sable, attired, or, in a bordure, bezantee, azure, two bars, gules; and St. Bennet's abbey, sable, a crosier between two crowns, or, a dexter hand, argent, in the chief sinister point.

Catherine, widow of Thomas Bewfeld, alderman of Norwich, gave 40s. to the church in 1504.

Here were the guilds of All-Saints and St. Thomas; All-Souls light, St. Mary, St. Nicholas, and Holy Cross lights.

In 1510, Robert Clark wills to be buried in the church, and a table of St. Thomas of "Ynde (India) which I have caused to be made, I wol have it stond in Catfeld church"

In the 22d of Henry VIII. Nicholas Grave and Joan his wife, conveyed by fine to Roger Wodehouse, Esq. the manor of Catfield's, alias Cobb's, 4 messuages, lands, and a several fishery here, and in the neighbouring town, with the advowson of St. Michael de Much Pool, (that is St. Michael at Pleas) in Norwich.