the fee of Gilbert Fitz-Ralph, for the souls of his father and mother, and Mary his wife, of whose patrimony it was; John de Verdon, lord of Brisingham, gave them the going or commonage of pasture for 200 sheep on Brisingham Great Green, and many others gave other lands, all which are particularly described in a chartulary of the priory of Cluniack monks at Thetford, fol. 23, which book is now among Mr. Le Neve's Collections. In 1361, it was let to Bosevill, at 40s. per annum. In 1336, the abbot new-built Frier's Hall, at the expense of 50l.; the demeans were then 50 acres In 1403, John Abbot of Sibton, and the Convent, leased out their whole possessions here to John Lancaster, Esq. for seven years, at 3l. 1s. per annum, the demeans being excepted; it now extended into Shelfhanger, Reydon, Brisingham, and Diss in Norfolk, and Thrandeston and Yaxley in Suffolk. About 1530, Henry Noon farmed it with one acre marsh in Brisingham, and the commonage of 200 sheep there; and so it continued till the 28th Henry VIII. in which year the abbot and monks, foreseeing what was coming upon them, bargained with Thomas Duke of Norfolk, and resigned their house to him and his heirs, with all that belonged thereto, the Duke having procured leave of the King that he might receive it, and hold it to him and his heirs for ever, which was confirmed by Act of Parliament, anno 31st Henry VIII. and then it was joined to the other manors, with which it now continues. [1736.] The resignation of this abbey may be seen in Dugdale's Monast. vol. iii. fol. 33, and was signed by Wm. Flatbury, abbot, Robert Bungay, prior, John Facon, sub-prior, Tho. Hadley, celerer, Wm. Dunwich, Robert Dunwich, and Peter Elmham, monks. The commonage of the 200 sheep was laid to Vise de Lieu's, or Shelfhanger Hall, as it is now called, and Frier's Hall was soon after demolished; it stood just by the gate going from Brisingham common to Shelfhanger Hall.
Shelfhanger Manor, alias D'Aveler's
Was originally the demeans of the Confessor, afterwards given (either by him or some other) to St. Edmund's abbey at Bury, of which it was held in the Conqueror's time.
The first parcel constituted the manor called D'AVELER'S.
The second was in the abbey till the Dissolution, with other lands that were afterwards given. The third was joined to Brisingham manor, and always attended it, so that I have no occasion to speak any more of the two last in this place.
As to the first, it was very early granted from the abbey in two parts, one of which was in
Ralph de Burgo, the other in
William le Loverd, or Lord, whose son John sold half of it to Bartholomew, son of Robert de Anwelhyers, the successour of Ralph de Burgo, so that he had two parts out of three; this part was held of the said William, by the service of a pair of gloves yearly:
