A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL EAST RUSTON

Before the Norman Conquest, the large manor of East Ruston was predominantly held by a steward called Ansgar (a freeman) for Anger Stalra the Constable although there were several fees and different tenures. There were 2 carucates of arable land (about 240 acres), 25 villagers, 8 slaves, 4 acres of wood, 5 acres of meadow, 5 horses, 10 cattle, 40 pigs, 12 sheep and 40 goats. The lord held 2 ploughs and there were 2 ploughs held by the freemen. There were another 42 freemen with 1 carucate and 30 acres of arable land, 9 ploughs and 2 acres of meadow and 2 smallholders. There was another freeman with 2 carucates of arable land with 1.5 ploughs, 5 acres of meadow and 4 acres of wood. There was another freeman with 2 carucates of arable land, 15 villagers, 3 slaves, 2 ploughs, 5 acres of meadow and 4 acres of wood. There was a mill (presumably a water mill) in East Ruston before the Conquest (1).

The Domesday Survey records that Ralph Baynard held virtually all of East Ruston before it was divided into several distinct lordships and it was held by Geffrey (possibly a brother or relation of Ralph Baynard). There were 2 carucates of arable land, 21 villagers, 4 slave, 4 acres of wood, 5 acres of meadow, 2 cattle, 14 pigs, 26 sheep and 51 goats. The lord held 2 ploughs but the freemen only held 1 plough. There were another 42 freemen with 1 carucate and 30 acres of arable land, 4.5 ploughs and 2 acres of meadow and 2 smallholders. There was another freeman with 2 carucates of arable land under the patronage of Stigand with 1 plough, 5 acres of meadow and 4 acres of wood and another 3 freemen with 12 acres and half a plough. There was a further freeman under the patronage of Bishop Aelmer with 2 carucates of arable land, 11 villagers, 1 plough, 5 acres of meadow and 4 acres of wood. Another 3 free men held 5 acres of arable land but there was no mill (1).

BAYNARD FAMILY ARMS - possibly the Norfolk branch of the family (7). WARREN FAMILY ARMS (8).

Lord William Baynard (a descendant of Ralph Baynard) held East Ruston in capite and rebelled against king Henry I (1100-1135), forfeiting his barony. King Henry I granted the barony (and East Ruston) to Robert (son of Richard Fitz Gilbert who was the ancestor of the Earls of Clare) who was then known as Sir Robert Baynard (2). It is possible that Stephen de Redham held lands in East Ruston, paying 50s and 50 combs (measures) of Barley per year (4). The son of Sir Robert called Sir Fulk Baynard held East Ruston from the Lord Fitz Walter around 1236 (2). In 1254, John Palgrave the Rector died (4). In 1268, Bartholomew Baynard, son of Sir Robert Baynard (third son of Sir Fulk Baynard) died and his wife, Petronilla, remarried Henry de Vaux. The sisters and coheirs of Bartholomew Baynard (Isabel, Maud and Emme) granted Petronilla the lordship he held in East Ruston consisting of a messuage (house) with 72 acres of arable land and 2 acres of pasture. The remainder of Bartholomew's estate was granted to Richard Esturmy and his wife, Joan, who held it in 1270 (2). However, in 1273, William (brother of Richard Esturney) gave these lands to Robert Burnell (Bishop of Bath and Wells). Also in 1270, William de Lewknore was Rector of the church. Before 1277, Peter de Hay was Rector (4). In 1277, Ralph de Fremingham was Rector presented by the Prior of Lewes and the Rectory was valued at 55 marks with a manse (house) and 60 acres plus there was a Vicarage valued at 12 marks (4). In 1281, the Bishop had free warren in East Ruston and in 1284, Peter de Huntingfield and his wife, Immania, held a lordship here. In 1285, Joan de Muncey (widow of Sir Richard Esturney) granted her interest in East Ruston (that included messuages, lands and a mill) to Peter de Huntingfield and after it was called the manor of Burnell.

The church tower originally had a spire and parts of the church date between 1290-1350 (5). During the reign of William the Conquer, Jeffrey and Ralph Baynard gave the advowson (income) of the church to the Priory of Lewes and Sir Fulk Baynard (son of Sir Robert Baynard) confirmed it (4). In 1352, the Rectory was appropriated to the chapel of St George at Windsor. In 1352, the Prior of Lewes granted it to king Edward III who gave it to the Dean and Cannons of Windsor. William, the second Earl Warren granted his interest in the patronage of the church to Lewes Priory, Roger de Kerdeston and William (his son) gave the tithes of their lands to the church. At an undated inquisition, Fabian (late Parson of Ruston church) presented Roland (his son) by grant of the Prior although Robert Baynard opposed it (4).

In 1312, Ingelram Berenger gave the manor to Edward, Lord Burnel and his wife Aliva. When Edward died, he left his wife and his sister, Maud the manor (2). Maud married Sir John de Handlo (lord Burnell) when the manor passed into this family and remained until 1417 (2). In 1359, John Rest was Vicar, Andrew de Goldings in 1366, Thomas Nyman in 1386, Robert Stele in 1394 and William Buskin in 1400 (4).

In 1417, lord Burnell died and left the manor to his wife, Jocosa, and their 3 daughters - Joyce, Catherine and Mary (2). On a division of the estate the manor came to Catherine who married Sir John Ratcliff who held it in 1440. Lady Catherine held it in 1453 and left it to her son, John Ratcliff (2). In 1429, Henry Pert was Vicar, Francis Norwich in 1431, Thomas Depham in 1440 and John Bukke (alias Bosse) in 1457 (4). Between 1386 and 1486, there was an agreement between Nicholas Ovy and Robert Camond (Priest) plus John Brewen (Baker) regarding a messuage and land in East Ruston (6).

KERDESTON'S MANOR - In 1222, William Kerdeston held a lordship in East Ruston and in a fine (an agreement) with Robert Baynard had common pasture in 80 acres of land, held before Fulk Baynard (the King's Justice). William held half a fee from the lord Fitz Walter and was lord in 1316 (3). Maud de Kerdeston (widow of Sir Roger) held the manor in 1347 (3). Sir William Kerdeston (son of Sir Roger Kerdeston) and his wife, Cecilia held it in the reign of Richard II (1377-1399) and Sir Thomas Kerdeston and his wife, Elizabeth held it in 1425 - it then being called Netherhall. In 1446, king Henry VI settled the manor on Sir Thomas Kerdeston and his wife Philippa (3).

VAUX FAMILY ARMS (9).

VAUX MANOR - In 1236, William de Vaux and Peter de Huntingfield held one fee from Sir Fulk de Baynard and Fulk of Robert lord Eilz Walter. In 1272, Henry de Vaux and his wife (Isabel or Petronilla) were involved in a fine (an agreement) with Richard Esturmy and Joan his wife regarding a messuage (house) with 60 acres of land and 2 acres of pasture in East Ruston plus other fees and services that Henry and Isabel held by grant from Isabel, Baynard, Maud and Emme, her sisters. Henry paying Richard 300 marks of silver (3). In 1316 & 1332, Burga the widow of William de Vaux held the manor. In 1377, there was an agreement between John de Eccles and John de Wayland and his wife Burga (daughter of William de Vaux). John de Eccles granted two parts of the manor to John de Wayland for the life of Robert de Martham and Sibilla his wife (3). In the same year there was another agreement between Sir John de Eccles and Robert de Martham and Sibilla regarding the 2 parts settled on Burga and her heir (Elizabeth). Burga married John Harewell (3). Eventually, this manor was united with that of Burnell and held by the Earl of Orford (4).

References:

1. Little Domesday Book, fol 248.

2. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 343.

3. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 344.

4. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 345.

5. Pevsner N, "The Buildings of England - Northeast Norfolk and Norwich', 1970, Penguin: 124.

6. Public Record Office ref: C1/61/242.

7. Website - www.houseofnames.com.

8. Website - www.heraldry.jerasys.com/england/warren.

9. Website - www.myhistories.com/england_uz.htm.

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