A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL STALHAM

Stalham and its church (with land belonging to Odulf) were given to St Benet's Abbey of Holme by king Cnut in 1020, which were confirmed in a charter of Edward the Confessor dated between 1044 & 1047 (1). There is also a note of Bond, a major landowner in Stalham before the Conquest (2). Before the Norman Conquest, the principle manor of Stalham was held by St Benet's Abbey and another manor was held by a man of Eadric de Laxfield. There were 48 freemen, 3 smallholders & 2 villagers. 12 acres of meadow, 8 ploughs & around 3 acres of wood. 1 horse & 6 pigs (3). At the time of the Survey, the principle manor of Stalham was still held by St Benet's Abbey although Count Alan (Earl of Richmond), Roger Bigot (and possibly a freeman) also held manors in Stalham. Robert Malet unsuccessfully claimed two of these manors due to Eadric de Laxfield being his predecessor (3), the reason why he was unsuccessful is not clear.

{short description of image} THE ARMS ST BENET'S ABBEY (17). {short description of image} BIGOT/BIGOD FAMILY ARMS (15). {short description of image} DE STALHAM FAMILY ARMS - colours unknown (14).

The family of de Stalham were lords soon after the Conquest. In 1166, William de Stalham held a 5th part of the old fee (manor) in Stalham (and Beston) from St Benet's Abbey (4). The family of de Ingham held a lordship in Stalham during the reign of King Richard I, 1189-1199 (5). Nicholas le Butler (son of Richard le Butler) had an interest in Stalham sometime before 1216 (7). In 1247, Peter de Acres was Rector (7) and also in 1247, Sir Reginald le Gos gave several lands to Stalham church (8). In 1250, Sir William de Stalham (son of William) released his interest in Stalham church to the Abbot of St Benet and in 1283, Nicholas (Abbot of St Benet) made a claim against Sir William de Stalham regarding lands in Irstead (4). In 1253, Geffrey de Turgijs and Julian his wife, with Simon de Boleyne released to Jeffrey de Bourdevile, 2 parts of a manor and 2 knight's fees in Stalham and Brumstead, which were passed down from Robert Malet, who was the uncle of Julian and the cousin of Simon de Boleyne (7). In 1285, the Abbot of St Benet had a pound of incense yearly and 2 garbs or 2 parts of the tithes of the ancient lands of William de Stalham (6). After the death of Sir Robert de Curzon, Sir William de Stalham claimed some of his lands but the Abbot of St Benet found an old roll stating that William de Curzon (son of Sir Robert) held lands in Stalham and another old roll stating that William (son of Sir William de Stalham) and Bartholomew de Calthorpe held the same. The Abbot therefore claimed these lands and the right to hold court (4). In 1290, the Rector of Stalham church (Opizo de Castellis) complained to the Bishop that the Abbot of St Benet had told the Bishop that he had died some 20 years previous and in that time had presented his own men as Rectors and had taken all dues for himself, which amounted to 500 marks. On this the Abbot was summoned to appear personally at Rome to make answer (7). William de Stalham married Isabel (daughter and heir of Matthew de Gunton) and in 1294, the Abbot impleaded Jeffrey Wythe and Isabel (his wife and daughter and coheir of William de Stalham) for the guardianship of Joan, Alice and Ellen (her sisters and coheirs) (4). In 1289, Sir William de Stalham had an interest in Stalham, sealed with a star of 8 points (7). In 1294, Roger Bigot (Earl of Norfolk) claimed the guardianship of the daughters and heirs of Sir William de Stalham (7).

There were 3 manors in Stalham. Stalham Hall, Linford and Wilds (7). Stalham church is dedicated to St Mary, the Nave dates between c1290 & c1350 and the Chancel was rebuilt in 1886. There is a legend that the tower originally had a peel of bells but that the belfry fell and the bells sold to Dutch merchants but as the merchants sailed from Happisburgh to Holland the vessel was lost. It is said that before a storm, the solemn tolling of Stalham bells can still be heard (11). There is also another unsubstantiated local legend that there is a tunnel between the church and the Maid's Head P.H. The current Stalham Hall dates to c1670 (9).

{short description of image} MALET FAMILY ARMS.{short description of image}INGHAM FAMILY ARMS (16). {short description of image}CALTHORPE FAMILY ARMS (18).

In 1302, John de Ferentino was Rector, presented by the Abbot, and had a house with 20 acres (8). The Peter-pence was 14d, suggesting that there were 14 houses in Stalham at this time. In 1316, Petronilla (Widow of Robert Malet) had married Robert Rose and along with Jeffrey Wyndless of Chickering and Henry Rose, were returned as a lord in Stalham (7). Also in 1316, Jeffrey Wythe was returned as a lord in Stalham, having married Isabel (a daughter and coheir of Sir William de Stalham). In 1332, Thomas Falstoff was Rector, presented by the Abbot and in 1349 Richard de Thoresby was Rector, presented by the King (8). Jeffery de Stalham was a Bailiff of Great Yarmouth in 1340, 1345 and 1347 (10). In 1341, John de Ingham (son of Robert de Ingham) had an interest in Stalham and Ingham (7). In 1351, Richard de Mores was Rector, presented by the Master of Trinity Hall in Cambridge followed by Roger de Holere and Robert de Stratton in 1352, presented by the Master of Trinity Hall Cambridge (8). Also in 1352, Robert Burewode was Vicar, followed by Simon Attebrig in 1355 (8). In 1360, a lordship in Stalham came into the hands of the Stapleton family by marriage between Joan de Ingham and Sir Miles Stapleton (5). In 1366 John Styward was Vicar followed by John Harpele in 1388, then William Howlet in 1399 and William Coopere in 1402 (8). In 1375, John de Preshale (clerk), Nicholas de Fakenham (chaplain), Reginald de Eccles, John de Somerton and Geoffrey de Somerton granted properties and land in Bacton, Keswick (in Bacton), Witton, Worstead and Carlton Colville and one-tenth of the manor of Bacton to Bromholm Priory, retaining land in Ellingham, North Walsham, Somerton, Stalham, Brantham and Mutford in Suffolk (12). In 1381, William de Kerdeston (Knight) granted one third of the manor of Hickling and of the manor of Rishangles in Suffolk to the prioress and convent of Redlingfield, retaining land in Kerdiston, Stalham and Bulcamp in Suffolk (13).

{short description of image} John and Sibilla Limford ? {short description of image} STALHAM CHURCH.

In 1402, the Prior of Ingham (John Colvile) and Richard de Stalham held the fee of Stalham (5). In 1415, John de Clipesby (son of Edmund de Clipesby) was lord and released his right and lands in Stalham to John Derby (7). In 1440 William West was Vicar followed by William Burton (8). In 1456, John Limford (Lynford?) died and in his will gave his body to be buried in the church and appointed his wife (Sibilla - his second wife after Margaret) and John Stokewyke of Somerton as his executors and gave lands and tenements in Stalham, Ingham and Hickling to his wife (7). There is a brass in Stalham church to an unknown Civilian and his wife, dated c1460 (possibly John Limford and Sibilla his wife?). In 1475, Hugh Attefenn willed property in Stalham to the college of Heringby in Norfolk (7).

References:

1. S 1055

2. Rye W, 'A History of the Hundred of Happing', Norfolk Records Office, ref Rye II, 1792, Norris collection: 185 & 210.

3. Little Domesday Book, fols 148, 148v, 180, 187v, 220v & 272v.

4. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 347.

5. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 348.

6. Register of St Benet of Holme, fol: 131.

7. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 348.

8. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 349.

9. Pevsner N, 'The Buildings of England - northeast Norfolk and Norwich', 1962, Penguin: 320.

10. Bloomfield F, 'An essay towards a topographical History of Norfolk', volume 11, 1808, London: 325.

11. Stalham church guide.

12. Public Record Office reference: C143/384/17.

13. Public Record Office reference: C143/398/16.

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

15. Website - http://www.infokey.com/hon/norman.htm.

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

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

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

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