heirs; in 1548, Tho. Asteley and Mary his wife sold their third part to the said Robert; in 1559, Rob. Richers held three parts of the moiety of this manor, and in 1575, had got the whole moiety, and sold it to Rob. Downes and his heirs, who had purchased the other moiety before 1531; for in that year he presented in its right, and died in 1547, Francis his son being 16 years old. It appears that Thomas Downes first purchased this moiety of Tho. Appleyard, Gent. and Avice his wife. In 1558, the said Francis Downes was lord also of Thorney manor; and in 1561, Robert Downes had livery of this, and was returned lord in 1570; in 1574, Edward his son was born, Apr. 8; he married Katherine daughter of Sir Tho. Lovell of Herling, Knt. relict of Sir Thomas Knevet of Bukenham, Knt. and of Edward Spring, Esq. In 1589, Rob. Downes of Melton, Esq. and Dorothy his wife, presented; and in 1609, they sold the whole to Thomas Anguish Esq. and his heirs; he bare gul. a cinquefoil or, a mullet for difference sab.; crest, an adder sleeping in a fern bush proper; and the same year it was settled on Edmund Anguish, Gent. and his heirs; he was second son to John Anguish, twice mayor of Norwich; this Edmund presented in 1631, died in 1657, and was succeeded by John Anguish of Melton, Esq. his son, who presented in 1680. He gave it by will to John son of Edmund Woodhouse of Lexham, who married Anne his daughter; he was lord and patron in 1692, and John Woodhouse his son sold it to Edmund Keene; and by the particular then delivered, it appears that the quit and free-rents of the two manors were 9l. 10s. per annum; that the fines were at the lord's will, and each manor had weyf, estray, letes, and all other royalties, and that the whole demeans and estate were above 400l. per annum. In 1701, Edmund Keene was lord of the town, and afterwards one of the South Sea directors, he died single at Bath, Jan. 21, 1723, but before his death, had sold Melton to Edward Lombe Esq. who settled in the hall here, and died Apr. 1738, being succeeded by his brother,
The Rev. Mr. John Lombe, late fellow of Caius college, after that, rector and vicar of Scarning, then rector of Hethill, and now of Sparham and Foxley, who is the present owner, and lives here.
==ALGAR'
