BRADFIELD.
This town does not occur in the Book of Domesday, being part of
the manor of Trunch, or Gymingham, belonging to William Earl Warren, and therein accounted for.
John Earl Warren, was lord in the 12th of Edward II. he settled it
on Thomas Earl of Lancaster, and his descendant, Henry Duke of
Lancaster, on his accession to the Crown, held it, and it is part of that
dutchy at this time, and in the Crown.
Simon Atte Chirche of Gymingham, in the 35th of Edward I.
granted to Sir Walter de Norwich, the yearly rent of 2s. 3d. q. of his
tenants, with 3 of his natives, cum totis sequelis. (fn. 1)
William de Repps held lands of the Earl in the 9th of Edward II.
In the 16th of Elizabeth, Ed. Germyne held the manor of Bradfield,
of the Queen, in capite, and Ambrose Germyne was found to be his
next heir. Escheat.
The tenths were 6l. 14s.—Deducted 3l.
The temporalities of Walden abbey in this town, were 40d.; of St.
Bennet's at Holm, 32s. 8d. ob.; of Coxford, 3s.; of the Sacrist of Bury,
44s. 1d. ob.
The Church had two medieties, or portions; one belonged to the
priory of Coxford valued at 5 marks; there were 16s. rent here belonging to 10l. per ann. given to Bury by King Richard I.
The abbot, &c. of Bury had the other mediety, valued at 5 marks;
and a manse, with 2 acres of land belonged to it in Edward the First's
time;—Peter pence 9d. and the church was dedicated to St. Giles,
and is a rectory; the present valor is 6l. and is discharged.
Rectors.
In 1310, William de Wytheresfeld was instituted, by papal provision,
the presentation being in Bury abbey.
1313, Jeff. de Clara, by the abbot of Bury.
1314, William de Whitcherche. Ditto.
Bartholomew de Banham, rector.
1324, Simon de Foxton.
1342, Sim. de Thirlow.
1348, Robert Overee.
1361, Nicholas Thyn, by the King, in the vacancy of an abbot.
1373, Roger Locksmith.
1384, Ralph Gunton.
1389, John Hervey.
1393, John Dalling.
1395, John Skarlet.
1406, Henry Wilton.
Walter Banyard, died rector 1422.
1442, Thomas Alyard.
1447, William Emmyng.
1491, Edmund Coke.
1503, Richard Coke.
1512, Robert Barton.
1540, Christopher Baxter.
1558, Robert Cocks, by Thomas Duke of Norfolk.
In the 4th of Edward VI. May 20, John Dudley Earl of Warwick,
had a grant from the King, of Coxford portion, &c. and the reversion
of that to the Duke of Norfolk, with the patronage of the church.
1564, William Fasset. Ditto.
1582, Christopher Tracy, by William Dix, &c.; in 1603, he returned
113 communicants; the late Earl of Arundel was patron of one moiety
as he certified, and another moiety was impropriate and held by John
Kemp.
1629, Edmund Gay, rector.
Thomas Rolfe, rector.
1661. Thomas Campbell, by William Playters, &c.
1677, Joseph Ransome, by Henry Earl of Norfolk.
1709, Fran. Gardiner, by Thomas Duke of Norfolk.
John Gallant, presented by Charles Duke of Somerset, and
the University of Cambridge.
1716, Mr. John Gallant, and rector in 1747.
1755, Valentine Lumley, by the Earl of Effingham.
1758, William Williams, by ditto.
The roofs on the east part of the isles have been curiously painted
with the history of the Saints, whose chapels were there.
In the church were the guilds of St. Giles, and St. Erasmus.—The
maydens light, that of Solmess, and I find a legacy to the making of
the steeple in 1503.