A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL HEMPSTEAD

Before the Norman Conquest, Hempstead was held by Godwin, Earl of Kent and father of King Harold. There were 2.5 carucates of land (about 300 acres) with 10 smallholders. The lord had a carucate and there was a carucate belonging to the men. There was 15 acres of meadow, 2 head of cattle, 13 pigs and 160 sheep. There was 36 freemen with 108 acres of land, 6 carucates and a further 16 freemen with a carucate of land, 6 carucates and 14 aces of meadow. After the Norman Conquest, King William held Hempstead that was run by his steward, called Godric, and a further carucate was added under the lord (1).

Shortly after the Conquest, the family of de Colkirk held Hempstead. Richard de Colkirk, with his sons Richard & William, where witnesses to a charter of Eborard, Bishop of Norwich, in the reign of Henry I [1100-1135] (2). Contained in the Red Book of the Exchequer dated 1166; "I, William de Colkirk, owe to my lord, Henry the King, the service of half a knight's fee in Norfolk, of the ancient tenure (of Hempstead) from the Conquest, for I will not that my service should be concealed, but that I would do that which I ought, and I did homage to thee, my lord, and to my lord Henry your son, and did my service to your sheriff" (2). In 1184, Richard de Colkirk held the same half fee, his widow married Jeffrey Peche and their daughter, Sarah, married Roger de St Dennis and held Hempstead in 1220 (2). Their son, Sir Richard de St Dennis paid 50s relief in 1238 (3). Hugh, possibly the brother of Sir Richard, granted considerable lands to find a lamp burning in the church of Hempstead, before the image of St Margaret, for the health of his soul and that of his parents (3). Sir Richard left two daughters and coheirs; Isabel - who married John Mansell and Joan - who married Roger le Cook. This divided the lordship and they were living in 1310 (3). In 1286, Henry Mansel who held part of Hempstead and was married to Beatrix [daughter of Thomas de Roudham] died and left it to John, his son (3). Around 1290, John de Snitterton was Rector followed sometime after by John Payne (4).

During the reign of Edward I [1272-1307], John Mansel was lord of the manor, the Rector had no house but a grange with 17 acres and the Peter-pence was 18d, suggesting 18 houses (4). The tower of the church dates between c1330 - c1530 and the chancel appears to be late 16th century. The tracery of the screen is late 14th century (5).

POSSIBLE DE WALCOTT FAMILY ARMS (7). DE ECCLES FAMILY ARMS (8).

In 1306, Sir Walter de Walcott held part of Hempstead and presented to the church in 1355 (3). In 1307 John Mansell died and left part of Hempstead to his brother called Walter who left it to his sister called Alice [wife of John Billing alias de Beckham]. In 1313, another (?) John Mansell died, who held a part of Hempstead and left it to his son called Henry. Around this time, a messuage (property) was found belonging to Hempstead. The rent was; 30 acres of land valued at 7s 6d, 3 acres of pasture valued at 12d, a windmill valued at 3s 4d, 18 days work in autumn at 1d a day, 100 days in winter at a 0.5d a day, 6 hens at Christmas valued at 1d each, 120 eggs at Easter valued at 4d, 40 acres was held by Reginald de Eccles and the Prior of Okeburn (ultimately - Bec Abbey in Normandy) valued at 5s per year. In 1320, John de Banham was Rector presented by Roger de Thorpe (4). In 1332, Alexander de Walcott paid 15 marks to the King on purchasing another part of Hempstead from Roger de Ken and his wife, Joan (3). Alice Mansell and John Billing had 2 daughters called Beatrix and Rose. Rose married Robert Robell of Great Yarmouth and in 1368 paid relief for it. Beatrix married Augustine Colvile and in 1370 they conveyed lands in Hempstead to Robert Robell (3). In 1347, John de Denby was Rector presented by the King and in 1355, Thomas de Wilby was Rector presented by Sir Walter de Walcott followed by Roger le Kene (4). In 1361, Hugh Smith was Rector presented by John Mauncel of Hempstead, in 1383 Roger Kybyte was Rector presented by Sir Roger Boys and John Eccles (4). In 1383, John de Eccles of Billockby had a lordship in Hempstead and granted it to Robert Martham. In 1398, Margaret, widow of Roger Gyney, gave her son, James Gyney, the manor of Hempstead and lands in Eccles (3). Sometime between 1386 & 1486, there was a dispute between Sir Miles Stapleton and Henry Lessingham regarding a fee in the manor of Hempstead of James Gerey (10).

DE INGHAM FAMILY ARMS (6). STAPLETON FAMILY ARMS (9).

In 1401, Robert Smith was Rector presented by James Gyney and Henry Leringham (4). In 1402, James Gyney and Robert Robell were lords of Hempstead and in 1403, John Strange and Robert Robell was found to hold, on his death, a fourth part of the lordship and Thomas was his son and heir (3). In 1408, John Gyney had an interest in Hempstead and in 1419 John Crosier had a fourth part of Hempstead. James Gyney married Ela, probably the daughter or sister of Robert Robel (4). In 1413, Robert Wright of Smallburgh and John Elwyn of Eccles granted a part of the manor to James Gyney (with part of the income from the church) so that he had 3 parts of the manor (3). Ela appears to have had a part of the manor, in 1420 she re-married John Ingram and in 1448 she was the wife of William Pickering and along with Robert Martham granted 3 parts of the manor to John Titleshale (4). Some after this Ela died and Hempstead went to Robert Martham and Sir Miles Stapleton of Ingham (4). In 1433, William Walton was Rector presented by John Ingram and his wife Ela and in 1456, John Moyskal was Rector presented by Sir Miles Stapleton (4).

References:

1. Little Domesday Book, fol 134.

2. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 308.

3. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 309.

4. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 310.

5. Pevsner N, "The Buildings of England - Northeast Norfolk and Norwich', 1970, Penguin: 161&2.

6. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 330.

7. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 290.

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

9. Bloomfield F, 'An essay towards a topographical History of Norfolk', volume 9, 1808, London: 320.

10. Public Record Office reference: C1/15/158.

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