A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL ECCLES

Before the Norman Conquest, Eccles was part of Happisburgh held by Eadric de Laxfield. Therefore, its lands, tenants and animals were included in the survey for Happisburgh. However, the Abbey of St Benet's of Holme held 1 freeman with 15 acres and there were another 4 freemen with 12 acres and half a plough (1). After the Conquest, Earl Ralph held it until his rebellion in 1075 when king William put in a steward called Godric. At the time of the Survey in 1086, Roger Bigot (ancestor of the Earls of Norfolk) held it and gave it on the marriage of his daughter called Maud to William de Albini (ancestor of the Earls of Arundel and the King's butler) (2).

Originally the lordship of Eccles was held half by the le Parker family and half by the le Gerner family. In 1236, John le Parker held half a fee (lordship) in Eccles from the estates of Castle Rising and in 1268, William le Parker had right of wreck at sea in Eccles (the right of a part of any goods or fish deposited on the beach, either washed up or landed) (2). In 1257, William le Gerner held half a fee in Eccles from the estates of Castle Rising (4). In 1270, there was an agreement between William le Parker and William le Gerner that the patronage of the church should alternate between the two (2). In 1272, William le Parker is noted as holding lands in Eccles and he had right of free warren (9). In 1286, William (the son of William le Gerner) was lord and had free warren. William le Gerner and his wife (Lucia) settled in trust on Alexander and Thomas (sons of Walter de Walcott), 16 messuages (houses with land), 120 acres of arable land, 12 acres of pasture, 31 acres of wood and 40s rent in Eccles, Hempstead, Palling and Stalham with the advowson (income) (4). During the reign of Edward I (1272-1307), the Rector had 9 acres of land (5). In 1294, William le Parker was Rector of Eccles church (8).

ECCLES CHURCH c1869. MANOR FARM 1881 O.S. MAP

There were two original manors in Eccles, the le Parker's manor and the le Gerner's manor. Presumably one manor was lost to the sea (possibly soon after the time of Reginald de Eccles in 1381) and I'm not sure which family held which manor. The surviving manor is noted in 1895 (11) and possibly shown on the 1881 O.S. map as Manor farm. The church has now disappeared but old records, paintings and photographs of it exist. Whilst it had a round tower base with an octagonal top, it has been suggested that it was Norman in date, possibly 12th century (13).

In 1305, at an inquisition taken at Eccles before the sheriff of Norfolk (Robert Hereward), William le Parker held his part of the lordship by the inheritance of his wife (Nichola, formally the wife of John de Somery) as the sister and coheir of a 4th part of the estate of Hugh, Earl of Arundel. There was also a geld (tax) paid by the men of Eccles and the tenants of William le Parker to the Hundred of Happing. The exact reason for this is not clear. William le Parker also had to pay 12d to the Hundred (possibly for the following rights); He was allowed to hold a court in Eccles. He was responsible for the Frank-Pledge (a system by which each member of the community was responsible for every other member) for which a tax had to be paid to the Bailiff of the Hundred once a year. Once a year the Headboroughs (petty constables) shall answer to him regarding all transgressions carried out by the people of Eccles, or by any strangers, and return to him any goods stolen or taken by force. He had the right of wreck at sea and every single crew of a ship of boat washing their nets in Eccles had to pay him 100 herrings per year. He had the right of Resting geld (should anyone's animals rest on the common for a night he was to be paid - roughly 1d). Should any goods arrive by sea at Eccles and be off-loaded without the aid of his servants, he had the right to receive payment. He was bound to assist any vessel in danger or shipwrecked at Eccles and he was entitled to a third of the salvaged goods. Should any goods from a beached vessel remain in Eccles over a night and a day he had the right to take what wished from them (3). The washing of nets and the landing goods in Eccles suggest that Eccles was a port in the early 1300s (in 1580 a survey lists Eccles as being a port with shipping over 16 tons - 12). William le Parker also had the right of Free Bull and Boar (the right for his animals to stray). He had the right of gallows (to administer capital punishment) and Tumbrel (a type of punishment) plus the right to any goods stolen by felons. He had the right of Free fold (people had to pay him for sheep to graze and manure their land) and the right of Common pasture. He had the right of free fishing in the marshes of Ingham, Hickling, Lessingham, Hempstead, Palling, Waxham and Horsey. All of his tenants were 'free from toll in all places in England, for all things to be sold'. He had the right of Herdershift (where the community had to provide a shepherd every year to keep his sheep), the right of Felsne (a tax on the tenants for common aid) and the right of Bedgeld (where he could either 'bed' a bride on her wedding night or take a price instead, dependant upon the status of the people to be married) (3).

LE PARKER FAMILY ARMS (15) DE ECCLES FAMILY ARMS (14)

In 1316, Thomas (probably Thomas Walcott) was the Rector of the church (5). In 1331, a fine was levied between William de Estre and Alan de Eccles of the customs and services claimed by William, out of 16 acres of land in Eccles, granted to Alan, to be held by William for 1 mark per year (5). In 1347, Thomas le Roper was Rector presented by Alexander Gerner followed by Robert Helways in 1349 presented by John Godwine and then John Hakun in 1349 presented by John le Parker (son of William le Parker) (5). These two Rectors occurred during the Black Death when the mortality rate in Lessingham was around 50%. Reginald de Eccles flourished from 1350 onwards and was a Lawyer of eminence. His chief house was in Billockby (Flegg) although he had a manor in Eccles and a house in St Edmunds in Norwich. In 1380/1, he died and left legacies to all his servants in Eccles (7). In 1351, Alexander Gerner and Drago (his son) were living and Drago gave lands in Tunstead to the Vicar of Eccles church for life in 1367 (4). In 1365, Thomas Gerner was Rector presented by Alexander Gerner and in 1384, John de Catton was Rector (5). In 1380, John de Eccles alienated to the Prior of Hickling, lands and tenements in Eccles (5). In 1381, Agnes (late wife of Reginald de Eccles) died and left her body to be buried in the church of St Peter of Mancroft by the body of her husband, Alexander (presumably a previous husband) (5). In 1383, in his will John de Eccles left William le Parker certain lands in Eccles, which he had held for and during the life of his wife, Margaret (nee le Parker) (6). In 1391, Thomas More was Rector presented by William le Parker (5). In 1402, John de Baketon was lord and held half a fee form the estates of Castle Rising (4). In 1408, 'a' William le Parker was living and lord in Eccles and left 2 daughters who married into the d'Engain family (4). In 1420, Margaret le Parker died and in her will left 6s 8d for the repair of Eccles church plus a silver cup and her deeds relating to Eccles manor to Eccles church (10). In 1421, Sir Ralph Cromwell held a lordship in Eccles in capite (4). In 1421, Stephen Myngot was Rector presented by John Kyghley (attorney of Sir Ralph Cromwell) and in 1428, John At-yates was Rector presented by Oliver Mendham (5). In 1439, Oliver Mendham (clerk and trustee) granted to Alice and Margaret d'Engain (nee le Parker) a moiety each in Eccles. Margaret le Parker married William d'Engain and Alice le Parker married Peter d'Engain (4). In 1446 & 1466, William d'Engain presented William Pope as Rector to Eccles church (4).

References:

1. Little Domesday Book, fols 200v & 272v.

2. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 293.

3. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 294.

4. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 295.

5. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 296.

6. Rye W, 'Hundred of Happing', Norris Collection, c1782, Norfolk Records Office - RYE MS III: 57.

7. Rye W, 'Hundred of Happing', Norris Collection, c1782, Norfolk Records Office - RYE MS III: 232.

8. Rye W, 'Hundred of Happing', Norris Collection, c1782, Norfolk Records Office - REY MS III: 63.

9. Rye W, 'Hundred of Happing', Norris Collection, c1782, Norfolk Records Office - REY MS III: 74.

10. Rye W, 'Hundred of Happing', Norris Collection, c1782, Norfolk Records Office - REY MS III: 77.

11. Danby F, 'Eccles by the Sea - Norfolk Archaeology, volume 12', 1895: 304.

12. Rutledge E, 'Medieval and later ports, trade and fishing up to 1600 - an Historical Atlas of Norfolk', 1998, Norfolk Museums Service: 78.

13. Pestell T, ' Sand, Sea and Sherds - Cambridge Archaeological Conference', 2001, The Archaeological Field Unit online.

14. Rye W, "Norfolk Families, volume 2", c1782, Norris collection NRO: 642.

15. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 298.

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