A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL HICKLING

Before the Norman Conquest, Hickling was held by Godwin, a freeman of Eadric de Laxfield. He held 3.5 carucates of arable land, 9 villagers, 11 smallholders and 3 slaves. There were 2 ploughs belonging to the lord and 2.5 men's ploughs. There was a church with 20 acres of land. Around 60 acres of wood, 24 acres of meadow, 6 horses, 4 cattle, 12 pigs, 100 sheep and 2 beehives. There were also another 2 freemen with 2 carucates of arable land with 1.5 ploughs and 1.5 acres of meadow (1).

After the Conquest, Wymarc, the steward of Count Alan, held Hickling. There were still 5 carucates of arable land, 9 villagers, 11 smallholders but only 1 slave. There were still 2 ploughs belonging to the lord but 3 men's ploughs. There was a church with 20 acres of land. Around 60 acres of wood, 24 acres of meadow, 6 horses, 4 cattle, 24 pigs, 200 sheep and 2 beehives. There were still another 2 freemen with 2 carucates of arable land with 1.5 ploughs and 1.5 acres of meadow (1).

OVERHALL MANOR - Originally Brian de Hickling held Overhall Manor from William de Vesci who held it from lord Robert de Valonies in the honour of Richmond. In 1212, Geffrey de Hickling (son of Brian de Hickling) held Overhall Manor by a knight's fee from Eustace de Vesci (son of Eustace de Vesci) (2). In 1286, Thomas de Hickling had an interest in Hickling as did Brian de (H)Ikling in 1301 (2). In 1309, William de Valoines willed Overhall manor to Sir Robert de Ufford (of Suffolk) and his wife Cecilia. In 1311, Robert de Ufford and his wife Cecily held this manor (11). Thomas de Hickling and his wife Dionysia held from Cecilia by one fee and a service of 10s per year to Richmond Castle. Thomas and Cecillia had a son called Brian although Cecilia re-married when Brian was 3 years old (2). In 1346, Sir Edmund de Ufford (brother of the Earl) gave Overhall manor to William, son of Robert (Earl of Suffolk) who died in 1382 and left it to his wife Isabel who died in 1417 left it to lord Scales who with lord Willoughby and lord Ferers of Groby were heirs to William (Earl of Suffolk) (2). In 1420, lord Scales died and it went to Thomas (his brother) who held it in 1457 of the honour of Richmond (2).

NETHERHALL MANOR - Originally the family of de Hickling held this manor under the lord Valoyns but in 1369 Reginald de Eccles and Richard de Waterden released to Sir Edward de Berkley a third part in this manor (3). In 1372, Sir Edward de Berkley granted to Aubrey de Vere (Earl of Oxford) two parts in Netherhall, which he held in right of Jane, his late wife (3). In 1381, John de Eccles gave a third part of Netherhall manor to the Priory of Hickling (3). In 1404, Nicholas Spark (alias Chamberlain) released to Ralph Brunkele (cousin and heir of Robert Essex) all his rights in Netherhall manor. After this Netherhall manor was united to Overhall manor and was held by the Earls of Orford (3).

THE CALTHORPE FAMILY COAT OF ARMS (15). THE STAPLETON FAMILY ARMS (16).

During the reign of Edward II (1307-1327), the manor of Sutton extended into Hickling and was held by the Calthorp family from when it went to Sir Miles Stapleton and onto the Prior of Ingham (7). In 1417, the Bishop of Winchester granted lands and rents in Hickling to Magdalen College Oxford (12).

HICKLING HALL. EARLY COFFIN LID.

Whilst the current hall dates from around 1700 (13), the 'roundish' boundary hints that it may have replaced one of the earlier manors. Hickling church is dedicated to St Mary and a vicarage was founded in the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307) plus the Peter pence was 10d, suggesting 10 houses (5). The fabric of the church dates from around this period (13) and there is a coffin lid hat is reputed to be that of the wife of daughter of Theobald de Valoins (14). Vicars of the church; 1340 - Thomas de Baconthorp. 1350 - John de Hempstede. 1354 - Roger de Toftees. 1373 - William de Salthouse. 1393 - Adam Shene. 1403 - Bartholomew de Beyghton. 1434 - John Horning. 1459 - Richard Walsingham.

HICKLING PRIORY. UNDERCROFT ARCHES.

HICKLING PRIORY - Was founded on a low island by Theobald de Valoins (son of Robert lord Valoins) in 1185 and dedicated to St Mary, St Austin and All Saints for the canons of St Austine (3). Four canons came from the Essex house of St Osyth to instruct the brethren in the rule of their order (8). It was given the churches of Hickling, Parham, Haketon (in Suffolk) and Ditton in Cambridgeshire (3). William lord Montchensy gave land in Kessingland (Suffolk), Robert de Waxham gave half of the income of Waxham church and Henry de Fleg gave the other half (3). In 1204, King John granted the Priory a weekly Friday market (3). In 1287, a violent storm killed 108 people in Hickling and the water rose to more than 1 foot (30cm) above the high alter and all the canons fled except two who stayed behind and saved the horses by taking them into the dormitory over the vaulted undercroft (9). In 1327, King Henry II granted a three-day fair at the festival of All Saints (3). In 1309, Nicholas de Bosio gave the Priory 24 acres of land and 15s (3). In 1339, the income from the church of Raveningham was given to the Priory by Katharine (widow of Walter de Norwich) (8). In 1343, Martin de Happisburgh (canon of Hickling) successfully petitioned the Pope to join St Benet's Abbey at Holme (9). In 1349, Prior Richard died of the Black Death as did his successor (Simon Wodewale). Eventually only two canons were left alive and John (a novice) became Prior (9). In 1352, the Priory purchased tenements in Horning, Palling and an interest in the church at Palling (3). In 1370, Adam de Scakilthorp (Rector of Cawston) gave organs to the Priory plus 20s rent per year (4). In 1381, John de Eccles and Geffrey de Someset gave a third part of Netherhall manor to the Priory to find a lamp perpetually burning in the Priory church (4). In the same year, William de Kirdeston also gave a third part of Netherhall manor to the Priory of Redingfield in Suffolk, who in 1385 gave it (with the lordship of Boyland hall in North Walsham) to Hickling Priory (4). In 1390 after the death of the Prior (William Wroxham), it was reported that all signs of religion had disappeared from the Priory and in 1400 the bell tower fell down (9). In 1402, the Prior held in Catfield and Potter Heigham, 3 parts of the fee of the manor of Sutton and the lordship of Hickling from Isabel (countess of Suffolk) of her manor of Overhall in Hickling (4). In 1439, another epidemic carried off three or four brethren (9). Priors of Hickling (note the confusion between the two sources) ; 1185 to1209 - Alexander (10). 1204 - Ralph (4). 1209 - Roger (10). 1220 - Roger (4). 1232 to 48 - Nicholas (10). 1257 - Alan (4). 1248 to 70 - Alan (10). 1270 to 76 - Hubert (10). 1276 to 88 - Geoffrey (10). 1288 to 93 - Ranulf (10). 1293 to 1319 - John (10). 1308 - John (4). 1319 - Richard de Hemesby (4). 1349 - John Grys (4). 1358 - Richard de Hemesby (4). 1366 - William de Wroxham (4). 1390 - John de Tudyngston (4). 1393 - Thomas Haneworth (4). 1401 - John Jenny (4). 1408 - John de Hykeling (4). 1424 - Richard Norwich (4). 1431 - Roger Okkam (10).

References:

1. Little Domesday Book, fol: 148.

2. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 302.

3. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 303.

4. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 304.

5. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 306.

6. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 307.

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

8. Page W, 'A History of the County of Norfolk - volume II', 1906, London: 383.

9. Page W, 'A History of the County of Norfolk - volume II', 1906, London: 384.

10. Page W, 'A History of the County of Norfolk - volume II', 1906, London: 385.

11. Public Record Office, ref: C143/85/12.

12. Public Record Office, ref: C143/454/15.

13 Pevsner N, "The Buildings of England - Northeast Norfolk and Norwich', 1970, Penguin: 165.

14. Hickling church guide.

15. Rye W, 'The Visistation of Norfolk', 1891, London: 66.

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

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