Hundred of Depwade: Taseburgh

An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 5. Originally published by W Miller, London, 1806.

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Citation:

Francis Blomefield, 'Hundred of Depwade: Taseburgh', in An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 5( London, 1806), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol5/pp210-217 [accessed 14 December 2024].

Francis Blomefield, 'Hundred of Depwade: Taseburgh', in An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 5( London, 1806), British History Online, accessed December 14, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol5/pp210-217.

Francis Blomefield. "Hundred of Depwade: Taseburgh". An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 5. (London, 1806), , British History Online. Web. 14 December 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol5/pp210-217.

In this section

TASEBURGH.

The name of this town shows its original to have been the burgh or fortification on the river Taus or Tees; (fn. 1) and according to Dr. Gale in his Commentary on Antoninus his Itinerary, (fn. 2) tells us, this river was called Taü, and that the station ad Taüm, mentioned in the Pentingerian Tables, was here; and indeed the parish church stands in the fortification, the dimensions of which are still very visible; and an advantageous situation it was, to guard the pass of the river, leading to Castre: being on the very summit of a high hill, which surveys the adjacent country, and hangs over the river, which turned eastward by it, and made a commodious sinus or bay for such vessels as came up hither; and though for many years this stream hath declined through neglect, it would be an easy matter to make it navigable for lighters and such sort of vessels, up to this village, which would be an advantageous thing to all the neighbouring country; this good project hath been twice attempted, and as often miscarried, rather through want of conduct and a proper application, than ability of the undertakers.

The entrenchment or burgh here is square, and contains about 24 acres; it seems to be that encampment of the Romans, which by the Chorographical Table published by Mark Velser, is called Ad Taum. This place hath given name to the ancient family of the Taseburghs, who being lords of the town, had anciently their seat there; but after their removal hence, had their chief seat (and that a very pleasant one) just out of the county, on the bank of the river Waveney, which parts this county from Suffolk, not far from the abbey of Falixtown, commonly called Flixton, in Suffolk: The house is a grand ancient building, and fronts the road from Bungeye or Harleston. (Atlas Norf. p. 333.)

The church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, who had her gild here; the steeple is round and hath four bells in it; (fn. 3) there is a north porch; the nave is leaded, and the chancel tiled. (fn. 4)

On an altar tomb on the south side of the church,

Bludworth, chequy arg. and sab. on a bend of the 1st, three eagles displayed of the 2d, impaling

Baxter, arg. on a pale within a bordure sab. three bezants.

And this on a brass plate on the top,

Elizabetha Filia et Heres Georgij Bludworth Gen. et Uxor Thome Baxter Gen. per quem habuit duos Filios et tres Filias, obijt 8° Die Octobris Ao Dni. 1587, et. Ætatis sue xxxviijo.

On the side of the stone, Elizabetha Uxor Thomæ Baxter.

On a brass in the middle of the church,

Burman, barry of six, a chief wavy, quartering two talbots between two flaunches, impaling Drury. Crest a greyhound.

Here under lieth the Body of Dorothy late wife of John Burman Doctor of Law, and Daughter of Anthony Drury of Besthorp Esq; by Anne his Wife, she died 14 July 1642, leaving issue, John, Anne, and Dorothy, whose pious Example, God give them Grace to follow.

Under the screen between the church and chancel on a flat stone,

Tirrel impales Burman.

Here lieth Elizabeth late wife of James Tirrel of the Inner Temple, Esq; one of the Daughters of John Burman Doctor of the Civil Law, by Dorothy his wife, the Daughter of Anthony Drury of Besthorp Esq; she died in Child-Bed April 4, 1638, leaving no issue behind her, æt. 21.

Henry Dod 27 April 1693. Susanna wife of Francis Bransby Gent. Aug. 3 1729.

On a brass plate in the chancel,

Under this Stone lieth the Body of Robert Meeke, who in his Life-time and after his Death for ever, gave liberally to the Poor of this Parish; he was buried the 26 of Aug. 1598.

On a brass nailed to a seat in the chancel, are Baxter's and Bludworth's arms, and this,

Hic jacet Elizabetha prima Filia Thomæ Baxter Generosi qui obijt innupta 3° Die Junij Ao D. 1586, æt. 16.

On a tomb against the south chancel wall, (fn. 5)

Thomas Baxter Patronus hujus Ecclesie obijt 3 Dec. Ao Dni. 1611, æt. suæ 75.

(He built Ranthorp-hall.) It hath three shields,

1st, Baxter as before. Crest, a pelican vulning herself proper.

2d, Baxter and Talmach, gul, a fret or.

3d, Drake, az. a wiverne or.

On the north side is a monument for Newce of Ranthorp-hall.

Newce, sab. three pallets wavy arg. on a canton erm. a mascle gul. impaling

Seabright, arg. two cinquefoils gul. a crescent for difference sab.

Newce impales Leventhorp.

Vir quo nec probitas Probior, nec Justior Ipsa Justitia, Antiquæ et Archetypus Fidei, Thomas Newce jacet hìc, Titulus Generosus avitis, Delicium Populi, dulce Decus Patriæ; Conditur hoc etiam Tumulo lectissima conjux, Margareta, (fn. 6) Viro, par Genere, et Genio, Fœlices ambo pariter vixêre, et utrumque Et Charum, et clarum Vita beata dedit, Mortis iniqua Manus sejunxit Corpore Costam, (4to, Feb. Anno. Dom. 1629, Ætatis 68.) Adjunctum Costæ Latus est, Urnâque in eadem; (24 Novembris Ao Dni. 1632, Ætatis 69.)

Hic subito expectant, Tubæ se Voce sonantis Conjunctos Cœli scandere ad astra poli, Unicus est natus, soboles Generosa Parentum Icon; Qui Patris Nomen et Omen habet.

Rectors.

1274, Rog. de Taseburgh, Lord of Uphall manor, sold the advowson from the manor, to Sir Rob. de Tateshale, Lord of Bukenhamcastle, who in 1299, presented

Eustace le Brett.

1326, Sir William Bacoun. Sir John de Cove, in right of Eve de Tateshale, his wife.

1333, Will. Ynge. Lady Eve le Tateshale, in 1339, Adam de Clifton, John de Orreby, and Robert son of William de Bernak, were her heirs.

1361, John Grene of Atleburgh. Sir Adam de Clifton, Knt.

1416, Nic. Noth, res. Maud Cromwel, Lady Tateshale.

1451, John Davy. Sir Andrew Ogard, Knt.

1452, Jonn Davy, ob. Ralf Lord Cromwell.

1491, Rich. Hanworth. Sir Will. Knevet, Knt.

Henry Hanworth, res. Ditto.

1503, John Mannyng, A.M. res.

1503, Nic. Craven.

1543, Sir Will. Burgess, chaplain. Sir Edm. Knevet, Knt.

1561, John Skeet, res. Lapse.

1563, John Beare, ob. Thomas Chapman, this turn.

1566, John Blomevill. James Bigot, Gent. lord of Rainthorphall.

1586, Will. Temple. John (fn. 7) and William Matchet this turn, by grant from James Bigot. In 1603, he returned answer, that he had 120 communicants, and that Tho. Baxter, Esq. was patron.

1629, Henry King. Tho. Newce, Esq. He was sequestered.

1654, Richard Laurence. By the Usurpers.

1661, Edw. Bainard, A.M. ob. on King's cession. Tho. Nuce, Esq.

1679, Edw. Bosworth, res. (fn. 8) Edmund Bedingfield, Esq.

1682, William Barlow. Ditto: buried under a marble in the chancel, July 1, 1693.

1693, Will. Smith, res. Tho. Seaman, junior, this turn.

1709, William Stevenson, united to Moringthorp. Israel Fielding, Esq. this turn; at his cession in

1723, John Bourne was presented by Walter Bateman, lord of Rainthorp-hall, who sold the advowson to Miles Branthwayt, Esq.

1735, William Bentham. (fn. 9) Thomas Warkehouse, Esq. this turn. At his death,

Mr. Evan Bowen, the present rector, was presented by Miles Branthwayt, Esq. the present patron, and now holds it united to the third part of Atleburgh, as at p. 525, vol. i.

When Norwich Domesday was wrote, the prior of Bromholm was patron, and the rector had a house and 10 acres of glebe; it was valued at 12, after at 14 marks, and paid 2s. synodals, 10d. Peterpence, (fn. 10) and 4d. carvage. The Prior of Thetford monks had revenues here of the gift of William Bigod, (as at vol. ii. p. 109,) viz. temporals taxed at 40s. 2d. a year, and spirituals, viz. the tithes of his demeans and divers other lands held of him, valued to the tenths at 40s. a year, and afterwards compounded for at 16s. 8d. a year, reduced after to 13s. a year, which in 1612, was paid to the lord of Aslacton priory manor, in right of Thetford priory.

It now stands in the King's Books undischarged, and therefore is not capable of augmentation.

8l. Taseburgh rect. 16s. yearly tenths.

This town paid 3l. to every tenth, when the taxes were raised by tenths and fifteenths.

The Manor of Uphall, or Boyland's

In Taseburgh, was the capital manor, and belonged to Bishop Osbern in the time of the Confessor, and was held by Tarolf, a freeman of Bishop Stigand, at the Conqueror's survey, and then it extended into Forncet; at the first survey it was worth 20s. per annum, and 30s. at the last. All Taseburgh was a mile and quarter long, and 7 furlongs broad, and paid 9d. geld. (fn. 11) The successours of this Tarolf, were Richard and Mathew his son, and Ralf, who lived in 1199, and afterwards assumed the name of Taseburgh about 1239.

In 1247, Ralf son of Ralf de Taseburgh, was lord, and had infangenthef, or liberty to try all theft committed by his tenants, in his own court baron and lete here, and to execute them and take their forfeited goods. In 1256, he was dead, for then Robert de Gissing granted to William Esturmi, the custody and marriage of Roger son and heir of Ralf de Taseburgh, and William assigned them to Oliva widow of the said Ralf, and if Roger died before he came of age, then she was to have the custody of Christian and Richolda his sisters; and in 1280, this Roger had sold it to

Ric. de Boyland and Maud his wife, who in 1284 had the lete, paying 6d. yearly to the King, by the bailiff of the hundred; assise of bread and ale, a ducking-stool, pillory, and common gallows; and in 1289, William de Nerford and Petronel his wife, and their heirs, had their free way and passage, under Sir Richard de Boyland's court-yard in Taseburgh, between his said court-yard and his chapel of St. Michael, (fn. 12) to the aldercar of the said William and Petronel; in 1295, it belonged to Sir Ric. de Boyland, and Elen his second wife, (fn. 13) and was then sold to

Ric. de Uphall of Taseburgh, from whom it was called Uphall manor; in 1298, he sold it to

Henry son of Henry de la Sale and Sibil his wife, when it contained 10 messuages, 140 acres of land, 24 of meadow, 10 of pasture, 8 of wood, 2 of marsh, and 6l. 2s. 3d. ob. rent, in Taseburgh, Newton-Flotman, Saxlingham, Wackton, and Hemenhale. It after came to

Ralf de Bumpsted, citizen of Norwich, and then to Thomas his son, (fn. 14) who in 1385 conveyed it to Bartholomew de Appleyerd, Tho. Spynk, and Will. de Eton, citizens of Norwich; and in 1400, Nichola son of William Brooke, late citizen of Norwich, released it to William Rees, Esq. and Tho. Spynk of Norwich. In 1444, it was settled on Thomas Bumpstede, senior, and Ivetta his wife, with remainder to William Bumpstede; in 1445, by the name of Thomas Bumpstede, senior, Esq. he made his will, and was buried in the collegiate church of St. Mary in the Fields in Norwich, by the tomb of Margaret his mother; (fn. 15) Ivetta his wife, and Thomas Crofts, Esq. were executors; he gave Taseburgh manor, with the watermill thereto belonging, to his wife for life; which manor and mill lately belonged to Richard Bodendale, citizen and merchant of Coventry, and Nic. son of William Brooke, late citizen of Norwich, and after her death Thomas his son was to have it. In 1507, a fine was levied between John Jenour and Robert Bray, querents, and John Wiseman and Isabel his wife, deforciants, of the moiety of this manor, which in 1539 was sold by Thomas Wiseman, to

Charles Duke of Suffolk, who in 1542, sold it to

Sir Ric. Gresham, who the year before had purchased the other moiety of John Branch and others, who bought it of Edward Taseburgh and Rose his wife. In 1547, Paul Gresham, Gent. settled it by fine on Thomas Gresham, Gent. and before 1570, it was sold to William Fernley or Farlowe of Cretyng in Suffolk, and by him to Sir Thomay Gawdy of Claxton, (fn. 16) who died seized, and left it to Henry Gawdy, Esq. his son, who sold it according to an agreement made before his father's death, with the manor of Hunts in Taseburgh, (fn. 17) to Gascoign Weld, who left it to Joseph Weld his son, (fn. 18) serjeant at law, whose two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, inherited; Elizabeth married to Richard Rutter (fn. 19) of Kingsley in Cheshire; and Mary to William Starkey, clerk, whose daughter Mary inherited the whole, and carried it to her husband,

John Jermy of Bayfield in Norfolk, Esq. whose only son and heir,

William Jermy, Esq. is the present lord.

Hunt's Manor

Belonged at the Confessor's survey to Almar, who held it of Bishop Stigand, and at the Conqueror's, Roger de Ebrois held it William de Schoies, and Richard de Hadesco held it about King John's time, of the honour of Clare, at the 8th part of a fee; (fn. 20) and in 1235, John Wythe and Roger de Brom had it; in 1266, King Henry III. granted liberty of free-warren to Thomas Rosceline, then lord, by purchase from Ric. le Chamberlain of Hadesco; and in 1270, the said Thomas sold it to Roger son of Walter de Hales; in 1289, Will. de Nerford and Lady Petronel his wife, had it; and in 1315, I find it belonged to Dunmowe priory in Essex, at the dissolution of which, it came to the Crown, and being granted from it, in the 12th of Queen Elizabeth it belonged to Sir Thomas Gresham, Knt. lord mayor of London, and by him was joined to the manor of Uphall, with which it now remains.

The honour of Richmond extends hither, two parcels belonged to Alan, lord of that honour, the one was valued with his manor of Costesey, (fn. 21) and the other belonged to the manor of Swaffham, and in 1632, Mathew Weld, Gent. was obliged by process, to pay 2l. 10s. to the King as his forfeiture, for not paying his Majesty an annual rent of 2d. ob. called war-pound (fn. 22) rent, due to his honour of Richmond.

There was a serjeanty held under Roger Bigot at the survey, by Berard and Asceline, (fn. 23) and afterwards by the Earl-Marshal, who was found to hold it of Richmond honour; an account of which you have before at p. 204.

Ranthorp-Hall Manor

Was held of Roger de Ramis by William, at the survey, and and after him by Jeff. de Rainesthorp, at one fee in 1156; and it is now divided, and in that part in Taseburgh, he was succeeded by John de Rainesthorp, and he by William de Raines, or Reymes; in 1200, Robert de Reymesthorp and Sibil his wife, (fn. 24) had it; she was his widow in 1229; in 1244, Richard de Reymes was lord, and it continued in this family a long time; in 1307, John de Reynesthorp had it, and in 1342, he and Agnes his wife, were living; it after belonged to Will. de Rees, and from that time passed as at p. 66.

In 1550, Anne Chapman held it of Forncet at half a fee; and Thomas was her son and heir, and in 1570, Dudley Chapman his brother had it, and in 1579, sold it to Sir Tho. Cornwaleis, Knt. and William his son and heir; Tho. Baxter had it about 1600; he built the house called Ranthorp-hall, in the windows of which are the following arms:

Howard Duke of Norfolk, quartering Brotherton, Warren, and Mowbray.

Robert, vert, (fn. 25) a lion rampant or, vulned in the shoulder, impaling Kerdeston.

Ditto impaled with arg. on a fess az. three boars heads cooped or.

Az. on a fess arg. three martlets gul.

Appleyard and Thornbury, arg. on a bend or, a lion rampant between two cotizes az.

Baxter impaling Drake, quarterly, 1, az. a wyvern or. 2, Stocker, girony of six A. B on the first three martlets vert, 3, party per pale A. G. a chevron between three trefoils counterchanged.

Baxter and Bludworth.

Bludworth and Crosse, quarterly gul. and or, in the first quarter a cross paté ar.

Baxter and Bludworth quartered, impaled with Bowyer, 1. arg. a lion rampant between three cross croslets fitché gul. 2, az. three shovels arg. shod or. 3, az. two bars and two plates in chief arg. 4th as 1st.

Baxter and Sherman, az. a pelican or.

Ditto and Flynt, sab. on a chevron arg. between three crescents erm. two lions combatant gul. quartering, party per pale sab. and az. a chevron party per pale sab. and gul.

Tho. Baxter, Esq. sold it to Tho. Newce, Esq. of Hodsdon in Hertfordshire, Stephen Bowyer and Thomas Heyward, Esqrs. being trustees; at his death it went to his only daughter, married to Morgan Jenkyn, whose only son, Newce Jenkyn, sold it to Mr. Ric, Carter, senior, attorney at law in Norwich, and his son Richard had it, whose widow sold it as at p. 67. (fn. 26)

Footnotes

  • 1. See vol. iii. p. 3, 4.
  • 2. Gale's Commentary on Antoninus, &c p. 109. He tells us of coins found, here with 1C. DVRO. T.
  • 3. The steeple was rebuilt in 1385.
  • 4. In 1694, the rector had license to sell the lead off the chancel, and cover it with tiles.
  • 5. In the chancel window, the lower part of the arms of Tateshale remain, az. chequy or and gul. the chief erm. being lost. I find by the register, that Nic. Bohun of Fresingfield, Esq. was buried here in 1572. That George Benedick, Gent. and Thomasine Gooche, were married in 1475, and that he died the same year. In 1559 Robert Flint, Gent. and Mary Baxter were married. In 1617, Anne, daughter of Henry Reppes, Esq. and Anne his wife, was buried. 1628, Mrs. Margaret Newce of Hedenham, wife of Mr. Tho. Newce, buried 1628, Susan, daughter of Thomas Newce, Gent. and Mary his wife, baptized 1657. Mrs. Adriana Knevet, daughter of Mr. Nathaniel Knevet, buried 1658. In 1511, Nic. Deye buried here, gave a vestment to the church, and legacies to the gild of our Lady here, and to her gild at Tharston; Margaret his wife and Robert his son, were executors, and Thomas Deye of Ashwellthorp supervisor. 1505, Henry Spawnton gave a new covering to the font.
  • 6. She was daughter of John Shawberry of St. Edmund's Bury.
  • 7. 1626, Sir Will. Segar, Knt. Garter King at Arms, certified under seal of office, that he found by authentick books and collections of worthy antiquaries, that John Matchet, Gent. deceased, some time rector of Lambhithe in Surrey, did bear party per salter az. and or, on a fess gul. three de-lises of the first; and for his crest, a demi-lion or, langued and armed G. which he confirmed to his posterity.
  • 8. See vol. i. p. 18.
  • 9. See vol. iv. p. 25.
  • 10. No procurations appear in Domesday. In 1459, the mortuary of this parish, by custom was 5s. Regr. Brusyard, fo. 202. In 1680, a license passed to the rector, to pull down a malt-house belonging to the rectory.
  • 11. Terre Osberni Episcopi. Hund. Depwade, Doms. fo. 163. Taseburc tenuit Tarolf liber homo Stigandi xxx. acr. semper i. bord. et i. car. in dom. et iiii. acr. prati viii. va. pars molendini et vi. lib. hom. x. acr. com. tantum T. R. E. et semper dim. car. In Fornesseta i. liber homo Stigandi xxx. acr. &c. as under Forncet. Tunc valuit xx.s. post et modo xxx. Tota Taseburc habet x. quar. in longo, et vii. in lato, et ixd. de gelto.
  • 12. This was a free-chapel belonging to the manor-house, and was for the sole use of the family; I do not find it was ever endowed, but the serving priest was supported by the lords, to pray for them, their family, and ancestors; this continued to the Dissolution, but being the sole property of the lord, the statute had nothing to do with it.
  • 13. For the Boylands see vol. i. p. 59.
  • 14. See vol. iv. p. 212, he sealed with the arms of Bumpstede, arg. a bend between three croslets fitchè gul. three mullets of the field. He was a benefactor here.
  • 15. Thomas de Bumpstede, husband of Margaret, and Tho. de Bumpstede his grandson, son of this Thomas, were now living.
  • 16. He was serjeant at law, and afterwards judge of the King's Bench.
  • 17. The style of the court now is, Taseburgh Uphall, Boyland's, and Hunt's.
  • 18. About 1700, Joseph Weld, Esq. serjeant at law, brought his action against Mr. Carter, an attorney at Norwich, then lord of Ranthorp-hall, for cutting down trees on the common of Taseburgh; it went for the plaintiff, it being proved by the evidences and court rolls, that in Queen Elizabeth's time the lord of Taseburgh granted license to the lord of Ranthorp-hall, to plant trees, and to make a causeway through the common to go to church, and that all the drifts, fishing, and other royalties belonged to the lord of Taseburgh.
  • 19. See p. 87, and Richardson's pedigree at vol. ii. p. 449.
  • 20. Terra Willi. de Schoies. H. Depwada. Doms. fo. 210. In Taseburch ten. Almarus de Stigando xxx. acr. terre modo tenet Rogerus de Ebrois iiii. acr. prati tunc i. car. mo dim. et tercia pars molendini et valuit xv. sol.
  • 21. Terre Alani Comitis. Depwade H. fo. 71. In Taseburc vi. soc. xxi. acr. et i. acr. prati et dim. car. unus ex his fuit homo antecessoris Rogeri Bigoti et Comes Radulfus tenebat eum, quando forisfecit, hoc est in pretio de Costeseia. In Taseburc i. lib. homo xxx. acr. et dim. car. et ii. acr. prati val. ii. sol.
  • 22. War-pound, beware of your pound rent, the forfeiture being one pound for every penny left unpaid. E Rot. pen. P. L. N. inter Rot. Honoris Richmond, in Norff. ex parte Stratton-Longa in Depwade Hund. Curia ibm. 1632.
  • 23. Terre Rogeri Bigoti Hund. Depwade. Doms. fo. 140, 1. In Taseburc vii. lib. hom. xc. acr. modo tenent Berardus et Ascelinus semper ii. car. et vii. acr. prati et val. xxiiii. sol. unus ex illis septem de Taseburc calumpniatur Hermer, et quidem Anglicus suus homo ex hoc offert judicium, quod suus antecessor erat eo saisitus die quo Rex Edwardus vivus fuit et mortuus, et hoc contradicit tot. hund. vel bello, vel judicio, ex hoc dedit ille Anglicus vadem.
  • 24. Gilbert, sc. de Reynesthorp, was lord, for he gave his chapel here to Thetford monks, as at vol. ii. p. 112, where there is an errour in the note8, it being printed Swenesthorp or Swainesthorp, instead of Renesthorp or Rainthorp.
  • 25. 1586, Sir Edw. Stafford of Grafton, ambassadour in France in 1586, married Mrs. Chapman of Ranthorp-hall, by whom he had a son William; and she was relict of Robsert when he married her; Sir William married, 2dly, Douglas, daughter of William Lord Howard of Effingham, relict of John Lord Sheffield, mother of Sir Robert Dudley, Knt.
  • 26. It seems the Lackfords and Bedingfields were only mortgagees.