An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 9. Originally published by W Miller, London, 1808.
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Francis Blomefield, 'Freebridge Hundred: Custhorp', in An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 9( London, 1808), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol9/pp164-166 [accessed 16 October 2024].
Francis Blomefield, 'Freebridge Hundred: Custhorp', in An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 9( London, 1808), British History Online, accessed October 16, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol9/pp164-166.
Francis Blomefield. "Freebridge Hundred: Custhorp". An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 9. (London, 1808), , British History Online. Web. 16 October 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol9/pp164-166.
CUSTHORP
Was a village in the Saxon age, and at the survey called Culestorpa, and Sculatorpa, as seated on a shoal or shallow water; it stood on the south side of the river Nar, directly opposite to Westacre, but was in South Greenhow hundred; the Lord Tony being lord of it at the survey, and so being as a beruite to Westacre; I have here accounted for it: 3 socmen held one carucate, but the King had the soc and sac of them; and a borderer had a carucate. (fn. 1)
This was most likely given by the Lord Tony to his priory on the foundation of it, and at the dissolution was granted to the Duchess of Richmond, and so came to Edward Spilman, Esq. the late lord, and to Richard Hamond, Esq.
On this part the convent, as I take it, built a large chapel now in ruins called Becket's chapel, dedicated to that Archbishop, where, on July 7, was an annual fair; at the north-east point of this chapel was an house or cell, wherein a custos and a monk or two dwelt, and performed service; by this, not only pilgrims used to pass to the Lady of Walsingham, but many also came on purpose to pay their devotion here, where likely there might be some particular relict of that Archbishop.
In 1506, I find mention of a pilgrimage to St. Thomas of Westacre. (fn. 2) It was built chiefly of flint, was 60 feet long, and 30 broad, and was inclosed as a cemetery with a wall of flint.
John Spilman, Esq. in the 6th of Elizabeth, held closes called St. Thomas's, late Westacre priory's, in Narburgh.
In the 16th of Elizabeth, April 10, concealed rents and tithes at Thorp, in Westacre, were granted to Edward Dyer and H. Cressiner, in fee farm, belonging lately to Letheringham priory in Suffolk.— Wiken, and Stowborow, were, no doubt, places adjoining.
Alan Earl of Richmond's lordship of Narford extended herein, being 15 acres, and paid 20d. per ann. (fn. 3)
The vyew of the account of Richard Layton, Doctor of the Lawes, and Archdeacon of Buckingham, Robert Sowthwell, attorney for the augmentations of your grace's most noble crowne, and Sir Thomas le Straunge, knight commissioners by your higness assigned for the viewing, valewing and selling of all the jewelles, plate, belles, lead, goods, and chattels, apperteyning to the late monastery of Westacre, in the countie of Norfolk, made and declared to Sir Edward North, knight, chancellor of the court of Augmentations of the revenues of the kinge's crowne, and others the counsail of the sayd court, upon dyverse perticuler bookes thereof, to them shewed and delyvered the xiiiith day of November, in the xxxvith yere of the reigne of our soveraigne Lord King Henry the Eighth.
Master William de Westacre, chancellor to the Bishop of Norwich, gave by will, in 1418, to St. John's altar in this priory church, his missal, his best cup, and gilt osculatory, with a silver cruet, &c. for his chaplain to celebrate there for him; and to the high altar his two best silver dishes; and to the repair of St. Nicholas's chapel there, 20s. to the repair of St. Thomas a Becket's chapel in Westacre field, 20s.