A CHRONOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL WALCOTT

Before the Norman Conquest Walcott was held by Eadric de Laxfield, a Thane (Noble). There were 4 carucates and 6 acres (about 486 acres) of (arable) land, 8 villagers & 16 smallholders. The lord had 2 ploughs and there were 2 other ploughs. There were 8 acres of meadow, 1 mill, 3 cattle, 4 pigs & 80 sheep. There was a church with 20 acres. There were 7 freemen with 70 acres & 2 ploughs. 5 other ploughs. The value of the manor was 40s. South Erpingham Hundred held 3 freemen in Walcott with 90 acres and 3 ploughs (1).

MALET FAMILY ARMS. POSSIBLE WALCOTT FAMILY ARMS (2).

Immediately after the Conquest Walcott was given to Robert Malet who died before the Domesday Survey when it was granted to Ralph, brother of Iger and held by Humphrey, possibly his nephew. There were 4 carucates and 6 acres of land with 3 ploughs, 8 villagers & 16 smallholders. 2 other ploughs, 8 acres of meadow, 1 mill, 2 cobs (horses), 16 cattle, 24 pigs, 70 sheep & 4 beehives. 1 church with 20 acres, 7 freemen with 70 acres, 5 other ploughs. Another 4 freemen with 90 acres. The value of the manor was 60s. South Erpingham Hundred held 3 freemen in Walcott with 2.5 ploughs (1).

The earliest mention of the Walcott family in northeast Norfolk is in East Hall in Walcott. William de Edgefield was living during the reign of Henry II (1154 to 1189) when his mother, Maud de Walcott, granted 2 parts of the tithe of her lands in Walcott to the monks of Bromholm Priory in Bacton (3). Peter de Edgefield, father of William and his wife (Hawise) had a daughter (Letitia) who married Sir William de Rosceline and brought this manor into that family (3). In 1240 and possibly 1281, Thomas de Walcott held part of the advowson (income) of Walcott church and was lord of West Hall in Walcott (4). In 1286, Peter de Rosceline claimed wreck at sea and frankpledge, he and his wife were living in 1316 (4). Their son, Sir Thomas de Roseceline inherited the manor afterwards (4). In 1286, Sir Walter de Walcott held a moiety in Hempstead (5) and he was patron of Wallington in 1302 (6). Walter was married to Lucia (7). During the rein of King Edward I, the church was valued at 20 marks per year (10) and the Peter pence was 20d. In 1286, Alexander de Walcott, son of Walter de Walcott, and his brother Thomas had 16 messuages, 120 acres of land, 12 acres of pasture, 31 acres of wood in Eccles, Hempstead, Palling and Stalham (7).

The church dates from the 1300s with a Celtic limestone memorial slab and font bowel from an earlier church, the foundations of which may have been discovered in a nearby garden (11). Originally there were two Halls in Walcott, East Hall and East Hall. William Faden's map of Norfolk dated 1797 shows Walcott Hall but unfortunately it is not entirely clear if this is West or East Hall. However between 1386 & 1486, there is note of a manor called 'Masons' in Walcott (13).

FADEN'S MAP OF NORFOLK 1797 (12).

Alexander de Walcott was lord of West Hall in 1302 (4) and a lord in Walcott in 1315 (6) and in 1316 he and his wife (Maud) held West Hall (4). Alexander de Walcott presented his brother Hugh as Rector of Walcott church in 1302 (8) and presented John de Walcott as Rector of Walcott church in 1322 (8). In 1323, King Edward I held the Lete (4). There is confusion about whom Alexander de Walcott married. Francis Bloomfield states that in 1333 he was married to Joan and paid 15 marks to the King for an interest in Hempstead (5). However, he is also noted as being married to Maud and had 4 daughters called Cecilia, Elizabeth, Mariota and Margaret (4). Possibly he was married twice. In 1340 Alexander de Walcott conveyed his right in West Hall in Walcott to Sir Walter de Walcott [A], his son (4). Alexander de Walcott died in 1341 (6). Sir Walter de Walcott was a lord in Walcott in 1347 and in 1355 he presented to Walcott church (5). In 1347 Simon de Walcott was presented to Walcott church by Thomas de Walcott, Rector of Felbrigg (9). Walter married Millicent, daughter and heir of Walter de Gunton and held the manor of Gunton (6). Walter and Millicent had 3 daughters (4), one was Margaret who married Thomas de Wymondham and a son also called Walter [B] (6). Sir Walter de Walcott died in 1355 (4). Sir Walter [B] de Walcott died in 1366. He was married Joan, daughter of Walter de Clopton (6). Walter and Joan had 4 daughters; Elizabeth who married Ralph Bray of Wickhampton, Catherine who married John Durward, Margery a nun of Carrow Priory in Norwich and Margaret who married Sir Robert Berney of Wickhampton and had the manor of Gunton (6). There was a Sir Alexander de Walcott living around 1377 (6), although what relation he was to the above is unknown. Walter Rye states that he was not the brother of Sir Walter de Walcott (6). Alexander probably married a daughter from the Westingthorpe family and had a daughter who married Andrew Brampton plus a son (6). This son had a son called John de Walcott of Wallington who had a daughter called Isabel who married Robert Brampton (6). In 1383 Walter de Feundenhale was Rector of Walcott and in 1389 John Deen was Rector, presented by Sir Roger Boys of Ingham (9). In 1393 the Rectory was appropriated to the Prior of Ingham by Thomas Moor (10).

In 1400, William de Shefield was Rector followed by Ralph de Middleton in 1402 followed by Warrin Jeffrey in 1403, all presented by the prior of Ingham (9). In 1405, Thomas de Engain and his wife Margaret, passed West Hall to lord Willoughby and so West Hall and East Hall were united (4). In 1409, Robert Pays was Rector followed by Alan Smith in 1414, followed by John Reve in 1416, followed by Roger Maggys in 1422, followed by John Avelun in 1424 (9). In 1447 John Struget was Rector, followed by William Dancastre in 1450, followed by William Langton in 1457 and Andrew Smallbergh in 1460 (4). On the death of William, lord Willoughby in 1527, East hall went to his daughter, Catherine, who married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (4).

References:

1. Little Domesday Book, fol 260b, 261a & 279b.

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

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

4. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 350.

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

6. Rye W, "Norfolk Families", 1913, Goose & Son, Norwich: 971

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

8. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 305.

9. Bloomfield F, "An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, volume 9", 1808: 351.

10. Armstrong, 'The history of Norfolk', 1781, Crouse - Norwich.

11. Walcott church guide.

12. From the interpretation of Faden's map by Dr A Macnair.

13. Public Record Office reference: C1/27/135.

RETURN TO MAIN MENU