Loddon Hundred: Mundham

An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 10. Originally published by W Miller, London, 1809.

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'Loddon Hundred: Mundham', in An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 10, (London, 1809) pp. 166-172. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol10/pp166-172 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

MUNDHAM.

Roger Bigot, ancestor to the Earls of Norfolk, held several fees in this town at the survey, wrote in Domesday Book, Mundhaham, and Algamundestuna, from some mound or fence, against the water; thus Mundeford in Norfolk; Wimundham, &c.

Roger had a grant of a fee, which Aluric, a freeman, held under Archbishop Stigand, containing 30 acres of land, with the moiety of a borderer, &c. half an acre of meadow, valued at 5s.

This Aluric, for his services to King Harold, was forced to fly into foreign parts, and was outlawed.

Ulketel, the Conqueror's bailiff or steward, seized the land for that King; and Roger Bigot begged it of the King, who gave it to him.

Alan Earl of Richmond laid claim to it; but Ralph Guader, Earl of Norfolk, held it with his manor of Romboro, (in Suffolk,) and the men of this hundred have heard the said Ulketel acknowledge the same once, about a year before Earl Ralph forfeited, and once after Ralph forfeited, they heard say that the said Ulketel did suit of court at Romborough, and lately the hundred heard him say, that he performed service to Roger Bigot, and that the men of Earl Alan had from that manor, every year, for 4 years last past, 10s. and this they were ready to prove in any manner, but Ulketel then held it.

Also eight freemen of Ulketel had 60 acres of land, 3 borderers, with 3 carucates among them, valued at 8s. but at the survey at 10s. but Roger Bigot had it by the King's grant for 5 carucates.

In Algamundeston, 13 freemen of Ulketel had 50 acres of land, and 7 borderers, 12 acres of land, and there were among them 4 carucates and 2 acres of meadow, valued at 8s. at the survey at 10s. (fn. 1)

In Mundham, Roger, had also the land of a freeman, who held under the commendation of Alwi of Thetford, who could not give or sell it without the license of his lord, and Thorold held it under Roger; there belonged to it 30 acres of land, and in Alwi's time there was one villain, and one borderer, with one carucate, and under him 2 freemen, with the moiety of another, held 8 acres, with two servi, and 2 acres of meadow, and among them all there was one carucate, valued at 5s. at the survey at 8s.

Five freemen, who held under Archbishop Stigand, had 9 acres in demean, with half a carucate and 19 acres, granted to Roger Bigot.

Also a freeman of Earl Godwin, held under his son, Earl Gert, in King Edward's reign, 30 acres of land, granted by the Conqueror, to Bigot; 5 borderers, with half a carucate belonged to it, valued at 40s. and there were 3 freemen of Godwin, who held under Gert, 16 acres of land, and one carucate valued at 5s. which Bigod had. (fn. 2)

All these fees being granted to Roger Bigot, were held in capite of him and his descendants Earls of Norfolk.

The ancient family of De Senges, lords of Seething, had a part of Roger's fee.

Roger Bigot Earl of Norfolk, by deed sans date, gave to Richard de Seinges and his heirs 23 acres of land in Senges, and lands here; and in the 8th of Henry III. conveyed by fine to Ralph de Scheldon, the advowson of the church of Ethelbert, in this town, and Ralph granted him the service of John, son of William, in this town and Seinges.

Sir Ralph Shelton was lord in the reign of Edward I. and patron, and John his son and heir presented to the church of St. Peter's in Mundham Magna, as I find it sometimes called, which seems to have belonged to the fee of Bigot.

In 1334, Walter de Filby was lord and patron of St. Peter's church, but in the following year, Sir Adam de Clifton, lord of Bukenham castle, granted license to Walter de Filby, Sir Stephen, parson of the church of Lound, in Suffolk, and to Sir Thomas de Preston, parson of Colby, to alien one messuage, 8 acres of land, and the advowson of St. Peter's church, to the hospital of St. Giles in Norwich, which they had purchased of Sir John Shelton.

In the next year, the master, &c. of the said hospital, presented to that church. In 1330, the King had granted license to Walter de Filby, and Edmund, parson of Lound, to settle on the said hospital, a messuage, 15 acres and a half, 2 acres of meadow, with 44 acres of juncary, or reed ground, in Norwich, Sithing, &c. purchased of Ralph de Burghwode: and in 1332 to settle what is before mentioned, purchased of Sir John de Shelton; and the said hospital is in possession of it at this time,

Another part of these fees was granted by Roger Bigot Earl of Norfolk, in the 28th of Edward I. to his kinsman, Sir John le Bigod.

Ralph, son of Sir John Bygod, gave it to Sir William Calthorp, in the 14th of Edward II. and in the 20th of Edward III. William Calthorp held the 20th part of a fee, late Sir John Bigot's; and in the time of Henry IV. it was in the same family.

Thomas de Mowbray Lord Mowbray, in the 3d year of that King, (as heir to the Bigots,) held here, &c. in capite, the manor of Bigot's by the 20th part of a fee; and from the Mowbrays it came to the Howards Dukes of Norfolk.

Robert, son of Corbun, had the grant of a lordship, which Godwin a freeman of Edwin, was deprived of, who was lord of it before Godric, the King's steward, held it, and Nigell was enfeoffed of it by Robert Corbun, and held it at the survey; there belonged to it 30 acres of land, one carucate in demean, &c. 4 acres of meadow; and 11 freemen of Edgar had, in King Edward's reign, 30 acres, with a carucate and a half, valued then at 10s. at the survey at 20s. and the King and the Earl had the soc.

In the said town, Robert, son of Corbun, had the grant also of a lordship which Algar, a freeman, held under Stigand, consisting of one carucate of land, and 4 villains, with 2 carucates in demean, half a carucate among the tenants, with half an acre of meadow, one saddle-horse, kept at the hall, two cows, &c. 20 sheep, and 4 socmen, and the moiety of another, held 5 acres and a half of land; and a freeman under Algar's protection had 6 acres; among them all there was one carucate valued at 10s. and Anger held it under Corbun.

Mundham was 20 furlongs long, and 10 broad, and paid to the tax or gelt, 2s.

Corbun had the grant also of 10 acres of land, which a freeman of Godwine was deprived of, with one borderer, and valued above. (fn. 3)

On the death of Robert, son of Corbun, these fees came as an escheat to the Crown, and were granted to William de Albini, (the King's butler,) by King William II. ancestor of the Earls of Arundel.

The ancient family of the Ingloses, of whom see at large in Inglose manor, in Loddon, were anciently enfeoffed of part of the Albiney's fee.

Ralph de Inglose had an interest here in the 27th of Edward I. and John de Inglose in the 30th of the said King.

John de Dunham conveyed by fine to William Gerberg, vintner, lands belonging to this fee, in the 1st of Edward I.; and in the 14th of Edward III. a fine was levied between John Gerberge, and Alice his wife, querents, William Gerberge, parson of Wodnorton All-Saints, and John de Beckham, parson of Islington, deforcients, of 10s. rent in this town, Tweyt, &c. with the homage and service of Sir William de Calthorp, Knight, of this manor here, settled on John; remainder to Roger his son.

In the 20th of that King, Walter de Calthorpe and William de Gerbrigge, held a fee of the honour of Rising.

In the 33d of the said reign, Nicholas, son of John de Hekingham, and John de Wykes, and Margaret his wife, pass by fine to Walter Hillary and Mary his wife, the advowson of the church of St Ethelbert, with three messuages, 60 acres of land, 2 of meadow, 4 of marsh, and 4s. rent here.

After this, in the 2d year of Henry IV. John de Norwich, and Maud his wife, conveyed in trust to Edmund Barry, and Ralph Casteleyn, this manor and advowson, with lands, &c.

In the following year the Earl of Arundel is said to hold one knight's fee, called Gerbridge, belonging to his manor of Mileham.

John de Norwich was also lord in the 22d of Richard II. and then granted to Roger de Haylesden, &c. in trust, this lordship, in this town called Heckyngham's, (with the advowson of St. Ethelbert's church,) and its appertenances in Seething, Thwait, &c. and sealed with a lion rampant, bruised, with a bendlet over all.

In 1428, by the name of John Norwich of Yoxford, he wills to be buried in St. Peter of Yoxfords chancel, and that his manor here should be sold; (fn. 4) dated March 20, and proved in Sept. 22 following.

In June, 1451, Sir Henry Inglose died seized of a lordship, called Mauclerk's, which by his will he orders to be sold.

In 1430, John Berney, Esq. of Reedham, presented to St. Ethelbert's church; and in 1437, Sir John Fastolf; in the 29th of King Henry VII. he sold the manor and advowson to Hugh Acton, master of St Gyles's hospital, for 200 marks, where it remains.

John Spooner of Seething was lord of the manor of Mauclerk's, late Inglose's, in the reign of Henry IV. and died lord in 1514, and Richard Sponer was his son and heir, who was to marry Cecilia Willis; and Thomas Spooner, Gent. was lord in the 40th of Elizabeth.

In Mundham, the King had a lordship, which William de Noiers had the custody, or care of for the King; seven freemen had been deprived of it, being a beruite to the lordship of Ditchingham; three of these freemen were under the protection of Archbishop Stigand, 2 under Edwin's, one under Algar's, and one under Tohla's, (the Viscount, or the sheriff of Norfolk,) and they held 60 acres of land, and 3 carucates. Robert son of Corbon, claimed 4 of them, with 24 acres, and had livery of them from the King, as the hundred witnesses, but afterwards Roger Bigot added them to his lordship of Earsham, with 52 acres, and held it at the survey, when the King and the Earl had the soc; and it was valued with Earsham. (fn. 5)

The King is also said to have the moiety of a church, as belonging to his lordship in Seething, as I take it.

Godric, the King's steward had a grant of 8 acres of land here, and held by three freemen of Edwin, with other lands in Seething, and Washingford, which they ploughed with 3 oxen; the soc was in the hundred, and what these freemen held, (and what other freemen held in Seething, &c.) was valued at 20s.

This, with what Godric held in the aforesaid towns, is said to be 6 furlongs long, 3 broad, and paid 6d. gelt. A moiety of the church aforesaid, with 10 acres, belonged to this manor.

On the death of Godric it came as an escheat of the King, and was after granted to the Bigots Earls of Norfolk, and so joined to their lordship in this town.

Gosceline de Lodne at the survey had one socman who held 30 acres, with a villain and a borderer, half a carucate, valued at 32d.

This lordship belonged before the conquest to Bury abbey, and Baldwin the abbot enfeoffed his brother Frodo of it, and under Frodo, Gosceline held it with Loddon, as may be there seen at large.

Roger Fitz Renard had a small fee with 20 acres of land, which the church of St. Etheldreda (Ely) held before the conquest, in demean, with 2 borderers, valued at 3s.

Ralph, son of Hagan, had also 20 acres at the survey that belonged to the said church of Ely, valued at 3s. held in demean.

There was a family that took their name from this town, and had a considerable interest herein.

In the 9th of Richard I. Alan de Mundham granted to Peter de Eggefeld, half a Knight's fee, for 15 years; after that to return to Alan for ever; and in the 52d of Henry III. Jeffrey Parris granted lands in this town, to Alan, son of Gerrard de Mundham.

Here were certain lands called Holme's. Catherine de Hulmo released to Warine de Hulmo a messuage, with 80 acres of land, held, as is said, of Constant. de Clifton, of the Arundel fee, ao. 3d Henry IV. Reginald de Holme, senior, of Lodne, confirmed to Philip Bozard of Ditchingham, all his lands and tenements in Mundham, Seething, &c. in the first of Henry VII.

The tenths were 5l. 10s. 8d. Deducted 1l. 4s.—Temporalities of Langley abbey 7s.

Here were 2 parishes, one called St. Peter's, from its church, also in some old writings Mundham Magna; it was a rectory, valued at 12 marks, paid Peter-pence, 10d. carvage, 7d. had a manse, with 30 acres of land, in the reign of Edward I. and Sir Robert Shelton was then patron.

Rectors.

John occurs rector in the 14th of Edward I.

1305, Edmund de Ufford instituted, presented by Sir Robert de Schelton.

1309, John de Ely, by John de Schelton.

1311, John de Stantone. Ditto.

1312, Jeffrey Stannard. Ditto.

1334, Bartholomew Birks, by Walter de Fileby.

1335, Ralph de Trimingham, by the master of St. Gyles's hospital.

On the 30th of June, 1340, Anthony Beke Bishop of Norwich appropriated this rectory to the said hospital, and a vicarage was endowed, valued at 6 marks and a half per ann.

Vicars.

1342, John Blome, vicar. Ditto.

1349, Robert Atte Cherch. Ditto.

1358, Stephen de Strumpshagh, vicar. Ditto.

1362, Walter Bele. Ditto.

In 1600, I find it served by Mr. Robinson, a stipendiary curate, and so remains, nominated by the mayor, &c. of the city of Norwich; and in 1603 he returned 144 communicants.

The King, in 1332, licensed Walter de Filby, Thomas de Preston, rector of Colby, and Stephen, rector of Lound, to settle a messuage, with land, and the advowson of this church of Mundham St. Peter, on the hospital.

This church seems to have belonged to Corbun's fee abovementioned, and was held of the Lord Tateshale, as of the Albini fee, in 1305, by the Sheltons; Sir John de Shelton, Knight, conveying the advowson, &c. to Walter de Filby, &c. and in 1340, the Bishop appropriated it; 6 marks and a half per ann. reserved for the curate.

In the reign of Edward I. Sir Robert de Schelton, was patron of the rectory of St. Ethelbert's church of Mundham Parva, valued at 10 marks; paid Peter-pence 7d. carvage 2d.; had a manse, but no land.

Rectors.

Sir Robert presented in 1305, William de Glemham.

1326, William Sewale, by John de Hekyngham.

1329, Nicholas de Heckyngham. Ditto.

1377, Roger de Leynthale, by John, rector of Hadesco.

1396, John Stalham, by George Zwyksale,

1399, John Mayster, by John de Norwich.

1400, John Randolf, ditto, in right of his wife.

1400, John Almon. Ditto.

1403, Mr. William Barret. Ditto.

1416, John Waller. Ditto.

1419, John Navesby. Ditto.

1424, Jeffrey Lodne, by Robert Norwich.

1427, Robert Aylmer, by John Manning, and John Domlyn, clerk.

1430, John Norwich, alias Drury, by John Berney, Esq. of Redham.

1437, Thomas Prentys, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1446, David Houchenson, by Sir John Falstoff, Knt.

After this, it came to the St. Giles hospital; and so to the city of Norwich.

In 1593, I find it served by a curate, and so continues, nominated by the mayor and corporation of Norwich.

A gravestone,

In memory of William Harborne, Esq; who died November 7, 1617.

Reader, the dust inclos'd beneath this pile, A life unspotted liv'd; devoid of e'ery guile, Plain in his manners, sincere to his friend, A pattern of virtue with honesty combin'd, Shewn thro' e'ery action while here on earth, 'Till unerring fate had stopt his breath.

Sir Walter de Senges, lord of Seething, whose lordship extended into this town, gave by deed, sans date, to Sibeton abbey in Suffolk, lands here, to which deed Sir William de Senges, Roger de Diclebur, Robert de Hedenham, &c. were witnesses.

This Sir William de Senges confirmed by his deed, sans date, about the 30th of Henry III. and we find this family to have an interest in the church. Richard de Seinges, by fine, conveyed his right in the advowson of St. Ethelbert's church, to Ralph de Schelton.

Footnotes

  • 1. Tre Rogeri Bigoti—In Mundaham ten. Aluric. lib. ho. sub. Stigando. T. R. E. xxx ac. tre. et ibi e'. dim. bord. mo. i car. silva. iiii por. et dim. ac. pti. sep. val. v sol. Iste Aluric. utlagat. et p'.posit. Regis Ulketel seisivit t'ram in manu Regis et Rog. Bigot rogav. a Rege et concessit ei, hanc calup'niat. Comes Alan. qd. ten. Comes R. ad Roboro man. suu. et hoes hundreti audier. istu Ulketel cognoscent. una vice p. i annu. antequ. R. se forisfecit et p'eaq. forisfecisset una vice similiter qd. iste Ulketel deserviebat in Roboro. et ad ultimu. audivit hund. istum eund. dicentem qd. deserviebat erga Rogeru. Bigot. hoes. hund Comitis Alani uno quoq. anno habuer. inde x sol. p. iiii annos ultimos et hoc vol'nt probare qo. libit mo. et tenet Ulketel. In Mundaham viii lib. hoes Ulketelli lx ac. ac. tre. et iii bord. et tenet Ulketel sep. iii car. int. o'es. tnc. val. viii sol. mo. x sol. hac. h'et Roger in v caracatis quas Rex dedit ei. In Algamundestuna xiii lib. hoes Ulketellij de l ac. tre. et vii bord. de xii ac. tre. sep. int. o'es iiii car. et ii ac. pti. tnc. val. viii sol. mo. x.
  • 2. Tre. Rogeri Bigoti.—In Mundaham i lib. ho. comd. Alwi. de Tetford xxx ac. tre. qua. tenet Turold sed nec dare nec vendere poterat sine licentia. semp. i vill. et i bord. tnc. i car. mo. dim. et sub. eo. ii lib. ho's et dim. de viii ac. et ii ser. et ii ac. pti. sep. i car. int. o'es tnc. val. v sol. mo. viii. In Mundaham ix ac. in dnio et v lib ho's ejusde' de xix ac. sep. dim. car. ide' ten. viz. Rog. In Mundaham i lib. ho. Goduinj sub. Gert. T. R. E. xxx ac. tre. mo. ten. ide' sep. v bor. sep. dim. car. app'tiat. e xl sol. In eade iii lib. ho's ejusd. sub. Gert. xvi ac. tre. sep. i car. sep. val. v sol. hoc tenet ide.
  • 3. Terre Robti. filij Corbutionis— In Mundaham tenet Nigell qua' ten. Goduin. T. R. E. i lib. ho. Edvini, comd'. antecess. Godrici dapiferi xxx ac. t're. sep. i car. in d'nio. silva ad ii por. et iiii ac. p'ti et xi libi. ho'es. Etgari xxx ac. sep. i car. dim. tc. val. x mo. xx sol. Rex et Comes soca. In Mundaham tenet Anger' quam ten. Algar'. lib. ho. sub Stigando i car. t're. p. man. T. R. E. sep. iiii villi tnc. et p. ii car. in d'nio. mo. dim. car. sep. dim. car. ho'um et dim. ac. p'ti. sep. i eq. in aula tc. ii an. mo. null. tc. viii por. mo. iiii tc. xx ovs. mo. v et. iiii soc. et dim. de iiii ac. t're. et i lib. ho. Algari comd'. tantu' vi ac. t're. intr. o'es. i car. sep. val. x sol. In Mundaham i lib. ho. Goduini comd'. de x ac. t're. et. i bor. app'tiat. e. superius ht. xx qr. in longo et in x lato et de gelto ii solidos.
  • 4. Regist. Surflete Norw.
  • 5. T're Stigandi Epi. quas custodit, W. de Noiers in manu regis— In Munhaham vii. libi. ho'es p'tinentes isti b'uite (viz. Dicingham) de his fuer. iii Stigandi, et ii Edvini com'dat. et i Algari et i Tohla vice comitis h'nt. o'es. lx ac. t're. sep. iii car. quatuor ex istis calumniatr. Rob. filius Corbutionis ex lib' atione Regis xxiiii ac. t're. teste hund. sed p'ea addidit eos R. Bigot in Ersam.