Gorleston Parish

Gorleston or Gorlestuna

In the Confessor's time Earl Guert held here. Subsequently there were four manors in this parish: a paramount, a principal, and two mesne; all of which the Jernegans held. There are now two only: the paramount manor of Gorleston, of the rights and royalties of which the Rev. George Anguish is lord in tail male, and the manor of Bacon's, within the same, which is held in fee.

"Here I saw," says Camden, "the tower steeple of a small suppressed Fryary, which standeth the sailors in good stead for a mark; of which Fryary I never marked further." This was a lofty square tower belonging to the conventual church of St. Nicholas, and stood wholly within this parish; three sides of which had, for a long time previous to its total demolition, completely fallen away, and left the eastern face quite entire to the battlements. This ponderous fragment was blown down, by a high westerly wind, February 16, 1813. A fragment of the wall, which enclosed the burial ground belonging to this church, is still standing, in Gorleston High Street; the foundation to which has been traced to a considerable distance.

Mr. Taylor, in his "Index Monasticus," says it is extremely probable that what is said by several authorities of a house of Austin Friars at Gorleston, refers to that in Yarmouth Parva (or South Town); and that there were not two Friaries so near each other. The precinct of this Convent evidently extended into both parishes. The same author mentions a house for lepers here, named in the will book, "Heydon, AD. 1372;" but where it stood cannot now be correctly ascertained. In 1797, the remains of a stone cross were visible, a little south of this parish, but have since quite disappeared.

Gorleston is a vicarage, to which there are no glebe lands belonging; but is endowed by prescription, and claims some portion of the great tithes. Mortuaries, and tithes of fish taken out of the sea, are also by custom due.

County of Suffolk

Topographical and Genealogical, The County of Suffolk, 1844, Augustine Page

British Isles Genealogy

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