now lords and patrons. King Henry II. granted the monks of Wotton license to choose their own abbot, and that all their tenants in England should be free from serving at sheriff's turns, and hundred courts, and acquitted them of all tax, Danegeld, hildielt, and hundredfu, and also granted them all felons goods forfeited; by virtue of which, this manor pleaded an exemption from doing suit to the hundred, but still paid their leet fee of 3s. a year to it, for themselves and Wrotham-Thorp, of both which, the lord of the hundred is paramount, but hath no power to compel the tenants to any service.
This rectory is valued in the King's Books at 12l. 11s. 3d. and pays 1l. 5s. 1d. ob. yearly tenths; it is in Norfolk archdeaconry, and Rockland deanery.
The Church is dedicated to St. Lawrence, was taxed in the Lincoln taxation at 14 marks, and paid 12d. synodals. In 1603, there were 40 communicants, and there are now [1737] about 100 inhabitants; it paid 3l. 4s. to the tenths, and is assessed at 376l. to the land tax.
Rectors.
- 1308, 6 non. May, William, called de Forda, (or Ford,) priest, was presented by the Abbot of St. Peter of Cunches.
- 1328, 8 kal. Febr. Rich. Woderone, priest, was presented to North Wrotham, by John de Lotoveris, proctor of the Abbot of Cunches; and in 1331, he had license for non-residence, as chaplain to the Lady Mortimer, at the request of the Bishop of Worcester.
- 1394, 2 July, Barth. Pulleter, priest, was instituted to North alias West Wrotham, on the King's presentation, the temporals of the Abbot of Cunches being in his hands during the war between him and France.
- 1398, 22 June, John Gylot, priest. The King, as before.
- 1417, 9 Nov. Tho. Doleyn, priest, on Gilbert's resignation. The King for this turn.
- 1433, 7 Jan. Tho. Galle, priest, on Doleyn's death. Sir Rowland Lenthall, Knt. in right of the manor called West Wrotham Hall, which he hath for life, of the gift of King Henry V. to which manor the advowson is appendant.
- 1435, Tho. Bennet, priest, on Gall's death. Ditto.
- 1436, 17 June, Tho. Says, on Bennet's resignation. Ditto.
- 1442, 3 March, Will, Deen, priest, on Say's resignation. John prior of Wotton Wawen in Worcester diocese.
- 1451, 10 Febr. Rob. Wodemanston, priest.
- 1500, 30 June, David Barker, A. M.
- 1509, 30 Oct. Rob. Harlsey, on Barker's death.
- 1551, 16 May, Stephen Hopkyns, A.M. on Harlsey's death, in 1556, he was instituted to Great Wrotham, and held both by union.
- 1559, 21 Febr. William Edwards, on Hopkyns's resignation.
- 1579, 7 Sept. Robert Conye, S. T. B.
- 1613, 3 June, Richard Lancaster, S.T.B.
- 1613, 17 Sept. Paul Kent, clerk.
