Was so called from the bridge, which was the passage to Rowdham Cross, and was a remarkable and much frequented way for all pilgrims that travelled from Suffolk, and other parts, to our Lady of Walsingham. This town was given by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester, and confirmed by Edward the Confessor, to the monks of Ely, in whose hands it continued till the erection of the see there, and then it became part of the demeans of the bishoprick. In the Confessor's and Conqueror's surveys it appears that it belonged to St. Audry, and was then two miles long, and three quarters of a mile broad, and paid 12d. geld; that the priest (or rector) belonging to the manor held land of 2s. per annum value, as belonging to his church, but could not sell it; there was also a socman, that held half a carucate of land, whom Roger Bigod claimed as one of his freemen, but the abbot disseized him, and then held it; there were 30 acres in Bretenham, and 30 more in Rowdham, that belonged to this manor. In 1229, there was an extent of this manor, in which it is said, upon the oaths of the tenants then upon the jury, that this town is in Shrophamforde hundred, of which Rob. de Tateshale was lord; notwithstanding which, the Bishop had a gallows, pillory, view of frankpledge, conusance of bushels, gallons, and other measures, and liberty to hold plea of all things, which the sheriff might, with writ or without. The advowson belonged to the Bishop, and is in the archdeaconry of Norfolk, and deanery of Rockland, but the nuns of Ponteverard in Normandy had a yearly pension of 10 marks out of this church, by the gift of Bishop Eustace; the demeans are all particularly abutted, and amount to about 400 acres, the whole being to be ploughed with two ploughs, four oxen, and three scots, two carts, and one pair of harrows being allowed to do the work; and every acre is valued at 8d.; there were 3 acres of meadow, and 10 acres of pasture; the several heaths called Longhill, Suthfrith, Mikelehill, Stapelfrith, Ringemeskele, Waterdelefrith, containing 260 acres, were to be fed by
