5. THE PRIORY OF YARMOUTH (fn. 1)
Bishop Herbert, the founder of the great
church of St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, associated
with it a small priory of Benedictine monks,
which he made a cell of the cathedral priory at
Norwich. The parish service was performed by
three chaplains and a deacon, who were nominated
by the prior.
This priory was so entirely dependent on
Norwich, its accounts being included in those of
that cathedral priory, that the references to it
are scanty. The taxation of 1291 mentioned
that the prior of Yarmouth held lands, rents, and
a marsh at Thornton of the annual value of 9s.
In the Valor of 1535 the spiritualities of the
Norwich Priory at Yarmouth are returned at
£31 10s. 4d.
In 1349 Simon de Halle, of Great Yarmouth,
left by will 2s. to each monk of the Yarmouth
Priory; in the same year Thomas de Drayton
left a like sum to the prior and 1s. 6d. to each of
the three parish chaplains. (fn. 2)
The dean and chapter of Norwich held the
priory and its possessions at the dissolution, as the
successors of the cathedral priory; in 1551 they
leased the priory and parsonage of Yarmouth to
Robert Sowel for the term of eighty years.
There are various points of interest in the
account rolls of the Yarmouth cell preserved in
the treasury of Norwich Cathedral. The first
one, for 1355-6, gives the sum of the receipts
as £212 2s. 11d. One of the largest items was
£33 5s. 6d. as the offerings in the popular chapel
of St. Mary on the west side of the churchyard.
The offerings at the image of St. Nicholas and
others in the great church amounted to 93s. 5d.
The customary altar oblations brought in the
large sum of £62 6s. 4d. The expenses of the
year, however, considerably exceeded the receipts,
being £235 5s.
The roll of 1442 shows £15 11s. as the
oblations at the four principal feasts, together
with Easter dues. Oblations and masses for the
dead produced £11 0s. 10½d.; marriage offerings, 60s. 11d.; and purification offerings,
47s. 1d. In 1451 the sum of 8s. 11d. occurs
among the expenses as the charges incurred for
the castigation and reforming in the church of
Yarmouth of those who fought against the
citation of the lord bishop.
At the visitation of Norwich Priory in 1514,
Henry Langrake, prior of Yarmouth, was
examined by the bishop as to the state of his
cell; he said it was in good repair and not in
debt, and that he annually produced his account
before the prior and auditors. (fn. 3)
John de Hoo occurs as prior about 1400. (fn. 4)