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Gorton
In the time of King Henry I., this was the lordship and estate of Sir Robert de
Sackville, Edit.; but the Priory of Norwich held some interest here in the 9th
of Edward I., and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, in the reign of Henry VI.
In 13 GO, John de Herling, of East Herling, in Norfolk, had a grant of free
warren in this manor; whose son, Sir John de Her-ling, in 1389, settled the
same, and divers other property, on his mother, then wife of Sir John Tuddenham,
Knt., who died in 1392, seized thereof; and Robert de Herling, brother of Sir
John, inherited here.
In 1435, Sir Robert de Herling, Knt., only son of Sir John and Cecily his wife,
daughter and co-heir of Thomas Mortimer, of Attleburgh, died possessed of this
estate, and Anne, his daughter and sole heiress, inherited. This lady married
severally, Sir William Chamberlain, Sir Robert Wingfield, and John, Lord Scroop,
of Bolton. She deceased without issue, when her large possessions passed to
Margaret, her aunt, the wife of Sir Robt. Tuddenham, Knt.
Robert Tuddenham, their only son, inherited, but died young and issueless,
leaving Margaret, his sister, his sole heiress; who married Sir Henry
Bedingfield, of Oxburgh, in Norfolk: and in 1515, Edward Jernegan, Esq., died
seized of this lordship. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Edmund
Bedingfield, and inherited the same in right of such marriage. His successors,
at Somerleyton Hall, have continued lords here; the Rev. Geo. Anguish, of that
parish, being the present proprietor.
Robert Briggs, LL.D., a native of Norwich, son of Augustine Briggs, Esq.,
descended from an ancient family seated at Salle, in Norfolk, had a good estate
in this parish; and lies buried under the communion table here. He was admitted
of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1677, chosen Fellow in 1682, commenced
A.M. in 1684, and was soon after elected Professor of Law in Gresham College,
where he resided some years; during which time he proceeded LL.D., and was made
a Fellow of the Royal Society: from ill health, he retired to Lowestoft, and
there usually lived, until the time of his decease, which took place December
22nd, 1718. He bequeathed his estate to his brother's children; and his library
to his nephew, Henry Briggs, D.D., rector of Holt, in Norfolk.
Contiguous to this parish, eastward, formerly stood the village of Newton; every
part of which is now destroyed by the sea, save a small piece of land, which yet
retains the name of Newton Green. The lordship appears to have passed as that of
Gorton.
Mem. In 1812, a stratum of oak was discovered here, several feet in
thickness, about 60 feet below the surface of the cliff, and extending more than
200 yards in length, composed of regular layers of oak plank. This part of the
county has also furnished several specimens of the mammoth; and the curiosity of
the antiquary is frequently gratified by the discovery of ancient coins,
fossils, and other productions, after a heavy tide has undermined the cliff.
CHARITIES. An annuity of £1, for the
purchase of bread for the poor, given by Robert Briggs, who died in 1718, is
paid as a rent charge out of a farm in this parish, the property of Thomas
Fowler, Esq. An allotment of 11A. 2R. 17p., set out on the inclosure for the
poor, which let in different parcels, at rents amounting on an average, to 25s.
per acre; and the same is expended in the purchase of coals, which are given to
the poor.
County
of Suffolk
Topographical and Genealogical, The County of Suffolk, 1844, Augustine Page |
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