Sweet William

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Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Baldwin de Rosey, or de Roseto & Rose's Manor [aka later as: Beaufoe's Manor] North Creak

 

Rose's Manor [aka later as: Beaufoe's Manor] North Creak

The Earl Warren's lordships in North Creak and Burnham Thorp extended into this town; Baldwin de Rosey, or de Roseto, who held considerable lands of the Earl Warren, confirmed by deed sans date, all the benefactions of his ancestors, with a mill in Creak, to the priory of Castleacre; and Roger de Rosey, in the reign of Henry III. possessed the 20th part of a fee, of the Earl Warren; (fn. 4) and in the said reign John de Cocfeld [Cokefield] and William Athelwald, held a quarter of a fee of Walter de Calthorp, and he of the aforesaid Earl.

In the 14th of Edward I. it appears by an assise, that Richard, son of Robert Adelwald, had unjustly disseized Robert, son of Richard Adelward, of a free tenement, in Suthcrek [South Creke] and Waterden, with 2 messuages, 70 acres of land, a wind-mill, and 15s. per annum rent, &c.; and in the 29th of that King, Robert seems to convey it to Richard, with lands in Sidestern and Burnham; James Athelwald held, in the 20th of Edward III. a quarter of a fee, and paid 10s. scutage, formerly John de Cockfeld's, and William Athelwald's. Thomas Athelwald of Weston, passed by fine to James, son of Edmund Athelwald of South Creak, and Joan his wife, two messuages, a toft, and 80 acres of land, and to the heirs of James; in the 3d of Edward III. and in the 7th of Henry V. Richard Athelwald of this town was lord, who married Maud, cousin and heir of Beatrix Molebisse, and Mary de Bassing, foundresses of Spiney priory in Cambridgeshire.

¶On the 3d of April, in the 26th of Henry VIII. Edward Calthorp of Kirby-Cane in Norfolk, Esq. and Thomasine his wife, sold the manor of Roses in this town, Holkham, &c. which Mrs. Elizabeth Calthorp, widow of William Calthorp, Esq. held for life, with the reversion of all the lands held by her, to John Pepys of South Creak, merchant; she was daughter of Ralph Berney of Redham. Thomas Pepys his son, by his will dated October 1, 1569, desires to be buried in this church; bequeaths to John and Roger his sons, to Susan, Elisabeth, Anne, and Barbara his daughters 40l. each, to be paid by Farmer Pepys, his son and heir, and executor. This Thomas sold this manor, July 20th, in the 8th of Elizabeth; but his son Farmer bought it by deed, dated September 30th, in the 12th of Elizabeth, of Edward Goulding, and Mirabel his wife.

The remains of Rose’s, or later called Beaufoe's, manor survive well and display a variety of features which illustrate the social status and domestic economy of the manor house in the context of a nucleated village. The wall footings and buried foundations of the house and deposits within it will contain archaeological information concerning the date of its construction and the manner and duration of its occupation, and beneath them may be preserved evidence for earlier buildings on the site. Formal gardens constructed primarily for recreation and enjoyment and associated with the houses of high status are well documented in the medieval period, but relatively few are known to survive in recognizable form, and this example, within the context of a manorial complex, is therefore of particular interest.

 

The system of fishponds is representative of a type usually associated with manors, monasteries and similar high-status sites and constructed during the medieval period for the purpose of breeding and storing fish to provide a constant and sustainable supply of food. The principal elements of the system are clearly defined by the surviving earthworks, which will retain further evidence for the sluices and other water management features which controlled the flow of water through and between the ponds, and the lower fills of the ponds are likely to include waterlogged deposits in which organic materials will be preserved. The area to the south of the gardens and fishponds, which contains at least one building platform, will retain additional information relating to the agricultural activities and services associated with the manor.

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