Francis Blomefield

“ LINFORD Lies between Mundford and Bukenham-Parva, and may derive its name from the British word hlyn, (palus,) and so signifies a fenny or miry ford, or as some will have it, a spreading water, and in both these respects the passage over the river here to Ickburgh will very well answer, the ground near the water being boggy and a mere fen, two rivers uniting a little above the town. ”

“ The rabbits also, which are on the most barren part, are not only the more excellent for that reason, but renders that, which would otherwise be of no use to be of equal value with much better land, so that by this means, though the champaign, or fielding country (as it is commonly called) may appear to the traveller to be of little value, either to the owner or occupier, it is in reality far otherwise, being rendered by these improvements as valuable as a far better soil. ”

“ It is a regular building, with a nave, north and south isles, and a chancel of flint, pebble stones, &c. covered with lead; the nave is in length, from the screen to the arch of the tower, 54 feet, and in breadth, including the isles, about 46 feet, the roof of the nave is supported by fluted pillars of stone, forming four lofty arches on each side, and over them as many windows, and on the heads of the principal wood-work of the roof, are figures of the religious. At the east end of the nave lie several marble grave-stones, deprived of their brass plates ”

“ In 1277, Andrew de Ripa held a watermill here, with the suit belonging to the same, and 48 acres of land, with a toft and its appurtenances, late Osbert de Ripa's; also 24 acres and 3 tofts, with a messuage, late Walter's, father of the said Andrew, paying 30s. yearly for all services, which were assigned towards the maintenance of a chaplain in the church of Northwold for ever, by the charter or deed of Hugh Bishop of Ely, and this chaplain was found by the rector, and called the chantry chaplain. ”

“ There was another marsh, called North-Fen, wherein the whole town might dig, feed, common, &c. and a common pasture between the town and Cranwise, in which the township might feed only. The several fisheries of Edred's were held by Sir Osbert de Helgey; Yxeheth and Ruwere, by John de la How; Fulheth-Mere, Beche, Littlewere, Hithwere, and Tappys, wherein none but the Bishop was to fish. ”

“ Sir John Howard, by Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir John de Plaiz, had a son, John Howard, Esq. who dying in 1410, left Elizabeth, his daughter and heir, married to John Vere Earl of Oxford, whose grandson, John Earl of Oxford, dying without issue, this manor fell to his three sisters and coheirs; Elizabeth, married to Sir Anthony Wingfield of Letheringham in Suffolk ”

“ Andrew, 13th of Henry IV. grants to Roger Stoppusley, Edmund Blankpayn, &c. and their heirs, all his arable lands here, late John de Acres, and all his other lands arable in this town; and on July 3d, in 13th of the aforesaid King, license was granted to Roger Stoppusley, to convey to the prior and monks of Thetford 53 acres of land, with the appurtenances in Croxton and Thetford, and also to Edmund Blankpayn, to convey 30 acres of land lying in a field called Faucon Field, with the appurtenances in this village ”

“ Item, there belongs to the same manor a certain common pasture, which begins at Lingberewong, and so on by Ellengate, to the bounds between Feltwell and Methwold, in length one league and more, and in breadth a good furlong, where the villages of Methwold, Wilton, and Hockwold have a right to common, and the other lords of this town, as the bishop and the lords of this town have a right to common in the common pastures of Methwold, Hockwold, and Wilton, horn, underhorn; but no one ought or can dig, cut heath, &c. ”

“ The rural deans were plain honest men, not much skilled in the subtilties of the civil or canon law, but were not the less capable of their office and jurisdiction, as depending on known customs, and the rules of equity ”

“ That the run or watercourse, over which the said bridge is erected, was to be cleared by him, appears from an old roll that I have seen, when at a leet, kept in the beginning of the reign of Henry VII. John Canon, chaplain of St. Lawrence in Ykburgh, was fined 12d. for not drawing and scowring the watercourse on the south side of the chapel. ”

“ To avoid therefore disputes and troubles on this account, there was an ancient composition between the Priors, &c. of Castle-Acre, and the Rectors of the church, who, on the payment of 30s. per annum to the aforesaid priors, had the right and portion of tithes above-mentioned; and accordingly we find that in 1428, as I have observed before, the Prior of Castle-Acre was taxed at 30s. for the same. ”

“ And if the said lands should become worth more than 60l. per annum, the surplusage shall be retained and kept by the feoffees, till the same shall amount to so much as the said feoffees or their successours may purchase therewith some convenient ground in Feltwell, with a convenient house thereupon, or else to build one for an alms-house, for the placing and dwelling of poor aged and impotent people therein, inhabiting in Feltwell aforesaid, and then the surplusage above 60l. per annum shall be yearly bestowed amongst the poor people of the said alms-house. ”

“ Henry Goldwell. 1509, 20 July, Thomas Vele, on the death of Goldwell; he was rector of St. Michael-at-the-Pleas, in Norwich. Totum habet vii. quar. in long. et iiii. in lat. et redd. ix. den. et i. ob. de Gelto, de xx.s. Hoc est de Castellat. dé Lauues.
COULSTON, alias COLVESTON Lies on the opposite shore to Cranwich, on the north side of the river Wissey, the hundred of Grimeshoe crossing here that river, and taking in this town and that of Ickburgh. In Domesday it is wrote Covestuna, and derives its name from the Saxon word Love, a small creak, and tun or ton, a town or village. ”

“ The Prior of Thetford had lands here given him with the manor of Santon, by Thomas Bodney; and on 7th August 27th Elizabeth, the Queen, on the humble petition of Henry Lord Wentworth, grants to Theophilus Adams, and Thomas Butler of London, Gent. all the lands here belonging to the late priory of Thetford, which were 100 acres of land, meadow, and pasture ”