A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL SEA PALLING

Before the Norman Conquest, Palling was held by Godwin, Earl of Kent and father of King Harold and run by his bailiff called Godric. There were 3 carucates of land (about 360 acres) with 9 villagers, 14 smallholders and 5 freemen with 1 carucate (about 120 acres) of land. There were 20 acres of meadow, 16 horses, 23 sheep and 71 sheep. After the Norman Conquest the King held most of Palling and another 24 acres of meadow were added (1). After the Conquest, Roger Bigot (Earl of Norfolk) held 1 carucate and 24 acres (about 145 acres total) with 5 boarders and 1 freeman who was under the patronage of Guert, brother of King Harold (2).

After the Conquest, Palling was held by the lords of Hempstead although after 1185, the Prior of Hickling Priory held a messuage (house) with 40 acres of land, 30 acres of pasture and 10 acres of marsh (2).

THE ARMS OF THE DE INGHAM FAMILY (5). THE ARMS OF ST BENET'S ABBEY (6).

In 1235, Walter de Ingham held Palling and in 1261 Sir Oliver de Ingham granted to Adam, Abbot of St Benet's Abbey his right of wreck at sea (a tax on goods deposited on the beach - either washed up or landed). This was between Palling Cross (location unknown) and the Wenkell Ditch (the old course of the river Thurne - the Hundred boundary). However, the Abbot re-granted half the right of wreck back to Sir Oliver de Ingham and his heirs who were to retain this right until the Abbot's Bailiff of Ludham should come and if a royal fish (Sturgeon) should be caught, it was to be carried to Sir Oliver's court at Waxham where it would be divided equally (2). In 1235, William de Ages held land in Palling (2). In 1275, Sir Oliver de Ingham died and was found to hold 30 acres of land in Palling. Sir Roger Bigot of Felbrigg had right of free warren (hunting) in 1281 and Sir Simon Felbrigg was lord of Palling in 1313 after Richard de Refham (and his wife Joan) had granted him lands in Palling (2). In 1286, William de Ages had right of wreck at sea as lord of Palling (2). During the reign of Edward II [1272 to 1307] there was a vicarage and a manse (house) with 3 acres belonging to the Rectory. The monks of Thetford had a portion of the tithes and the Peter-pence was 12d, suggesting 12 households (3).

The earliest church architecture is perpendicular (c1335 & 1530) and the font is 14th century (4). In 1301, John de Rudham was Rector presented by the Prior of Hickling (3). In 1319 William de Hemesby was Rector followed by John Nichol in 1328 (3). In 1349, Andrew de Hemesby was Rector followed by Ralph de Hanworth in 1375 (3). In 1352, the Prior of Hickling had a licence to purchase Palling (2). Eventually, Palling came into the hands of the Stapleton family (2), possibly by marriage between Joan de Ingham and Sir Miles Stapleton around 1360.

In 1402, the Prior of Hickling held a quarter of a fee in Palling from Sir Thomas Bardolf and in 1433, the Prior held half a fee from John Mowbury, Duke of Norfolk, late Simon de Felbrigg (2). In 1403, John Gottes was Vicar presented by the Prior (in a newly erected vicarage) followed by William Ive in 1408 (3). In 1444, William Bertram was Rector (3). The manorial documents start in 1556 and finish in 1844 (7).

References:

1. Little Domesday Book, fol 134a, 150a & 187a.

2. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 340.

3. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 341.

4. Pevsner N, "The Buildings of England - Northeast Norfolk and Norwich', 1970, Penguin: 312.

5. Bloomfield F, 'An essay towards a topographical History of Norfolk', volume 9, 1808, London: 330.

6. Bloomfield F, 'An essay towards a topographical History of Norfolk', volume 9, 1808, London: 292.

7. Web site: www.hmc.gov.uk/mdr.

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