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 A HISTORY OF NORFOLK Priors of VVeybourne ^ Roger de Hoxne,' occurs 1309, died 1314 John de Frenes,' elected 131 5 Roger de Geistweyt,'' elected 1334 John de Elyngham,* elected 1 391 John de Laxfield/ elected 1422 Andrew Burgate," resigned 1438 Walter Marlowe,* elected 1438 Henry Clement,^ elected 1466 John Frost,"' elected 1526 Thomas Bulman," elected 1 5 30, last prior A cast of a late twelfth-century seal of this house (2f by if in.) shows the crowned Virgin standing, with book in right hand and fleur-de-lis in left. In the field on the left, a crescent. Legend : — SIGILL BT DE WABURN There is also another slightly different seal of thirteenth century date (2J in. by if in.), but very imperfect. '' 37. THE PRIORY OF WEYBRIDGE " Hugh Bigod, earl of Norfolk, founded a small house for Austin Canons, dedicated to the honour of St. Mary, at Weybridge, in the parish of Acle, towards the close of the reign of Henry III. Robert was the first warden or keeper of this humble foundation, and, by an undated deed, the earl granted to Robert and his brethren of the church of St. Mary all his marsh in Acle, with all appurtenances, in free alms. Roger Bigod, earl of Norfolk, son of Hugh, the patron and founder, granted to Robert the chaplain, the first warden of the house and the brethren of the same, power to elect, after the death of the said warden, one of the brethren in his place, provided that two or three be nomi- nated by them from themselves, or from else- where if sufficient be not there found, to be presented to the earl and his heirs, by whom the one that should seem most fittmg should be pre- sented to the bishop. He further granted that, if the means of the house should so increase that the secular habit and life there is converted into the religious, and an order of religious there established with a prior or abbot, that then the ' In the tenth volume of Norfolk Archaeology (1888) are papers on this priory and its remains by Rev. C. R. Manning and Rev. Dr. Jessopp. ' Blomefield, Hiit. of Nor/, ix. 451. ' Ibid. * Ibid. ^ Ibid, viii, 76. Mbid. X, 16. ' Ibid. ' Ibid, xi, I 59. " Blomefield, Hist. ofNorf ix, 451. " Ibid. " B.M. Ixix, 50 ; Ackn. ofSupr. (P.R.O.), 112. " B.M. Ixix, 51. '* See Blomefield H'nt. of Noif xi, 92-4 ; the statements in this sketch — which are without other reference — are derived from this source. 406 religious of the house may elect from themselves or elsewhere their superior to be presented to the earl or his heirs and by him to the bishop ; provided that no warden, prior, or abbot shall be ordained except upon presentation by the earl or his heirs.'* Small parcels of land in various parts of the county were bestowed on the priory soon after its foundation. At the taxation of 1 29 1, Wey- bridge Priory had lands in fifteen Norfolk parishes, which were estimated at the annual value of ;^8 7^. d. In 1 31 8 the priory had patents for 3 acres of land in Felthorpe and the advowson of that church, and for 12 acres in Clippesby, Oby and Burgh.'* In 1320 the king sanctioned the alienation to the priory of a moiety of the church of Fishleyand half an acre of land." The priory paid the king j^io in 1385 for licence to hold, by the gift of Margaret Mareschall, countess of Norfolk, and others, a messuage, 92 acres of land and 3J. rent in South Burlingham, Lingwood, and other townships, together with the advowson of Lingwood church, to pray for the soul of Anne, late countess of Pembroke and others.'* A commission was appointed in 1279 touch- ing an appeal of robbery which Roger Grubbe brought before the king against the prior of Weybridge and eleven others.'^ When the house was first vacant, early in 1308, John de Kayly, rector of Rollesby, was given the temporary custody, and removable at the bishop's will,^" but on 10 November, 1308, the king notified to the bishop the presentation of Matthew de Horseye, a brother of the house of St. Mary, Weybridge, upon the death of Humphrey to be keeper or prior of that house. The house was at that time in the king's custody by reason of the lands of Roger Bigod, late earl of Norfolk, being in his hands.*^ John Barnham, by his will of 1465, was buried in the priory church of Weybridge ; he appointed his wife Katharine and Prior Robert Norwich as his executors. The Valor of 1535 returned the clear annual value at the small sum of j^7 13J. d. After its suppression the site of the priory and all its possessions in Weybridge, Upton, South Burlingham, Billockby, Clippesby, Oby, Ashby, Burgh St. Margaret's, Acle, Harleston, and Redenhall, were granted in March, 1539, to Richard Fulmerston, of Thetford, the recipient of much monastic property." ' The site of it,' says Blomefield, ' was by Acle-Dam, near the bridge as you go to Yar- mouth.' Taylor, in 1821, wrote : ' On or near " Close, 2 Edw. II, m. i %a. " Pat. II Edw. II, pt. ii, m. 15, 14. " Ibid. 14 Edw. II, pt. i, m. 10. " Cal. of Pat. 8 Ric. II, pt. ii, m. 25. " Pat. 7 Edw. I, m. 11 d. '" Norw. Epis. Reg. i, 20. " Pat. 2 Edw. II, pt. ii, m. 20. •' Ibid. 30 Hen. VIII, pt. viii, m. 27.
 * Norw. Epis. Reg. vi, 161.