and Gild here were dedicated to the Blessed Virgin; it was a rectory appropriated by John of Oxford, Bishop of Norwich, to Butley priory, who were patrons, it being given them by King Henry I at their founder's request, before he gave the manor to the Fitz-Walters. In 1293, their temporals were taxed at 26s 6d. and their spirituals at 17l. 6s. 8d. The impropriation was confirmed by the archbishop, and the vicar had a pension of 26s. 8d. payable by the prior, out of the great tithes, all which were afterwards disappropriated, by the prior and convent's resigning up the church and tithes, and presenting a rector. In 1510, upon Drayles's institution, a pension of 40s. per annum was reserved to the prior out of the rectory. The lands that belonged to the priory were granted by Queen Elizabeth to different persons, some to Edward Dyer, Hugh Cressiner, and others.
Rectors and Vicars
Wybart, rector: sans date.
- 1299, 2 kal. Mar. The rectory was void, and a sequestration granted to Adam de Cokefield, who was presented to it, with this clause, that the bishop might recall it when he pleased.
- 1304, 5 ides June, Richard de Schadenfield, priest, was instituted to the vicarage, with certain portions newly assigned by the Bishop, at the presentation of the Prior of Butley, who presented the following vicars:
- 1314, 11 kal. July, Alan de Bedyngtone, priest.
- 1325, 15 kal. July, Robert, called Baldewyne, priest. He resigned in
- 1331, id. Dec. and Richard de Botone, priest, succeeded.
- 1349, 2 July, Walter Stannard de Diss, priest.
- 1349, 28 July, John Mortimer, priest.
- 1351, 14 Octob. Robert Mast of West Lexham, priest.
- 1401, 22 Jan. John Cok, priest.
- 1408, 9 Septem. Richard Bailly, priest.
- 1424, 26 June, William Balle, priest.
- 1432, 2 Dec. William Smythe, by lapse; and the year following the 16th of April, the prior resigned the impropriation; and in
- 1433, 18 Apr. Robert Syre, priest, was instituted to the rectory, saving to William Smyth his right as vicar; Syre held the rectory single to 1436, and then resigned, and the prior presented Smyth to the rectory, from which time it hath continued a rectory to this day. The prior presented the following rectors:
- Richard Goneld, who resigned in
- 1453, 20 Dec. and Adam Bulman succeeded.
- 1457, 24 Mar. John Bukke, chaplain.
- 1466, 1 May, William Keene, at Bukk's death.
- John Drayles succeeded, on whose death, in
- 1510, 31 Aug. Walter Terald, or Tirrell, was instituted; on his death, in
- 1546, 20 Aug. Ralph Pyllyng, chaplain, was presented by Thomas Mildmay, Esq. one of the King's Auditors, who had this turn from Nicholas Arrowsmith, Esq. who had it by grant from the prior, before the house was dissolved.
- 1550, 24 May, John Deane, or Deen, priest, presented by King Edward VI. from which time the following rectors have been presented by the Crown, in which the patronage now remains.
- 1564, 27 May, John Hilton, priest.
- 1589, 21 May, Henry Wiseman; he died, and
- 1626, 12 March, Hugh More, A. M. was instituted, being ordained priest this year, Jan. 12, by Theophilus Bishop of Llandaff; he subscribed Aug. 16, 1662, having held it the whole time of the rebellion.
- 1674, 9 May, John Rand, A. B.
- 1706, 9 May, the Rev. Mr. Joseph Henchman, the present [1736] rector, at Mr. Rand's death.
The Church is small, and is leaded; the south porch and chancel are tiled; the steeple is round at bottom, and octangular at top, having five bells, on one of which is this:
Quœsumus, Andrea, Famulorum suscipe vota.
Here are no memorials, save a black marble in the church, for "Francis Alpe, Gent, who died July the 15th, 1670, aged 86 years."
And in the yard, at the east end of the chancel, a grave-post much decayed, for
"Hugh Moore, late Rector;" by which it appears that he was a Scotchman, though it is now almost illegible.
In 1475, Reginald Smethe, chaplain, was buried in this church, and gave 40s. to peynte a candle beme therein.
Burston at first was in three parts, though the whole was held of Robert Mallet, lord of the honour of Eye, successour of Edric, under whom Aculf, a freeman, had one part in the Confessor's time, which in the Conqueror's was held by Walter, who now had another part, which Moithar held in King Edward's days. The third part was Leofric of Torendun's, which the Conqueror gave to his Queen, she to Robert Mallet, and he to his mother, who now had it: the whole town then was two miles long, and one mile broad, and paid 12d. to the Geld.
These parcels soon after became two manors, one called Brockdish Hall, from a family of that name; the other Meauling's Hall, from Peter de Meauling, or Melding, lord thereof, and now by corruption Milding Hall, both being always held of Eye honour.
The manor of Brockdish Hall
Was given by King Henry I. to the Fitz-Walters, from whom it went very early to
Geffry de Brokedish, from him to his son
William, who left it to
Thomas, his son; and he to
Reginald; and he to his son,
Sir Stephen de Brokedysh, whose heir enjoyed it in 1327. This Stephen purchased lands to this manor, of Ernold de Monteney, and had view of frankpledge allowed him in 1286, and assize of bread and beer.
Stephen, son and heir of Sir Stephen, purchased divers lands and tenements, to be held at 10s. per annum rent, lying in Burston, Thelveton, and Brisingham, to be held of Hugh de Vere, and Dionise his wife; Gilbert Prior of Butley gave him 3 acres of land for life, parcel of that land which Alfwet Cnot, and William, son of Edmer, gave to that convent, viz. the whole tenement that Wybart, the parson of Burston, held of them and their ancestors anno 1307; he left
Reginald his son and heir. In 1380, William Ufford Earl of Suffolk, as lord of Eye honour, claimed the fines and amerciaments of his tenants in Burston and elsewhere, in the half hundred of Diss, where Walter le Fitz-Wauter of Wodeham was lord, as being the capital lord of whom this manor was held.
