37. THE PRIORY OF WEYBRIDGE (fn. 1)
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 nominated by them from themselves, or from elsewhere if sufficient be not there found, to be
presented to the earl and his heirs, by whom the
one that should seem most fitting should be presented 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
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. (fn. 2)
Small parcels of land in various parts of the
county were bestowed on the priory soon after
its foundation. At the taxation of 1291, Weybridge Priory had lands in fifteen Norfolk
parishes, which were estimated at the annual
value of £8 7s. 1¾d.
In 1318 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. (fn. 3) In 1320 the king sanctioned the
alienation to the priory of a moiety of the church
of Fishley and half an acre of land. (fn. 4) The priory
paid the king £10 in 1385 for licence to hold,
by the gift of Margaret Mareschall, countess of
Norfolk, and others, a messuage, 92 acres of
land and 3s. 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. (fn. 5)
A commission was appointed in 1279 touching an appeal of robbery which Roger Grubbe
brought before the king against the prior of
Weybridge and eleven others. (fn. 6)
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, (fn. 7) 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. (fn. 8)
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 £7 13s. 4d.
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. (fn. 9)
'The site of it,' says Blomefield, 'was by
Acle-Dam, near the bridge as you go to Yarmouth.' Taylor, in 1821, wrote: 'On or near
the site of this priory stands a public-house, which
is still called the 'Hermitage,' (fn. 10)
Priors of Weybridge
Robert, (fn. 11)
c. 1272
Hugh, (fn. 12) occurs 1286
Humphrey, (fn. 13) died 1308
Matthew de Horsey, (fn. 14) appointed 1308
Nicholas, (fn. 15) occurs 1321
Matthew de Horseye, (fn. 16) collated 1323
Lawrence de Billockby, (fn. 17) elected 1328
Adam de Hykelyng, (fn. 18) 13 —
Robert de Martham, (fn. 19) elected 1333
William de Acle, (fn. 20) elected 1340
John de Bayton, (fn. 21) occurs 1379
Robert de Reppes, (fn. 22) elected 1396
John Norwich (alias Boket), (fn. 23) elected 1428
Robert Norwich, (fn. 24) elected 1452
William Parker, (fn. 25) occurs 1476
Peter Clark, (fn. 26) occurs 1486
William Basset, (fn. 27) 1492
Robert Chambers, (fn. 28) 1508
John Bokenham, (fn. 29) 1509
John Caune, (fn. 30) resigned 1520
Edmund Larke, (fn. 31) elected 1520
Andrew Waleys, (fn. 32) 1530
Anthony Derby, (fn. 33)
alias Bludde, 1532