Hundreds of Norfolk
![hundreds of Norfolk](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Norfolk_Hundreds_map.svg/500px-Norfolk_Hundreds_map.svg.png)
Between the 10th and the 19th centuries the hundreds of Norfolk and the boroughs of Norwich, King's Lynn, Thetford and Great Yarmouth were the administrative units of the English county of Norfolk. Each hundred had a separate council that met each month to rule on local judicial and taxation matters.
The system of dividing shires into hundreds was established in East Anglia following the conquest by Wessex in the early 10th century.[1] The boundaries described at the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086 remained largely unchanged up to the 1970s. The 36 Domesday hundreds were subdivided into leets, now lost, and the boroughs of Norwich and Thetford ranked as separate hundreds, while Great Yarmouth was the chief town of three hundreds. Two of Thetford's parishes now lie partially in Norfolk with the remainder in Suffolk. The Domesday hundred of Emneth is now included in Freebridge, which was split into Freebridge-Lynn and Freebridge-Marshland. Docking hundred was then incorporated into Smithdon, and the boundary between Brothercross and Gallow hundreds was changed.[2] By the 19th century there were 33 hundreds.
The leet court boundaries were more fluid and transient than the hundred court boundaries. At the time of Domesday, the parishes of the hundreds of Brothercross and Gallow "were strangely intermixed".[3]
Sites of hundred courts[]
The hundred courts were held at various sites across the county:[2]
Name of hundred | Site of hundred court |
---|---|
Brothercross | At the cross by the ford over the Burnham |
Clackclose | Clackclose Hill on Stradsett common |
Depwade | At the "deep ford" over the Tas |
Earsham | At an encampment near Earsham church. |
Eynsford | Reepham |
Forehoe | Parish of Carleton Forehoe |
Freebridge | At , afterwards at an oak at Gaywood and still later at an oak at Wiggenhall St Germans |
Gallow | In the 15th century at Fakenham and in the 16th century at Longfield Stone |
Greenhoe | By the tumuli on the London road to Swaffham |
Grimeshoe | At a tumulus between Brandon and Norwich |
Humbleyard | Parish of Swardeston |
Launditch | At the crossing of the Norwich road with the long ditch between Longham and Beeston |
Mitford | In 1639, at "Brokpit" |
North Erpingham | At Guneby Gate near |
Smithdon | Parish of |
South Erpingham | At Cawston Park Gate |
Taverham | Frettenham Hill |
Parishes[]
In 1845 the hundreds of Norfolk contained the following parishes.[4]
Hundred | Area | Parishes |
---|---|---|
Blofield | 19,666 acres (79.59 km2) | Blofield, Braydeston, Brundall, Buckenham, Cantley, Freethorpe, Great Plumstead, Hassingham, Limpenhoe, Lingwood, Little Plumstead, North Burlingham, Postwick, South Burlingham, Southwood, Strumpshaw, Thorpe, Witton |
Brothercross | 19,169 acres (77.57 km2) | Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Sutton and Burnham Ulph, Burnham Norton, Burnham Overy, Burnham Thorpe, Burnham Westgate, North Creake, South Creake, Waterden |
Clackclose | 84,333 acres (341.28 km2) | Barton Bendish, Beachamwell, Bexwell, Boughton, Crimplesham, Denver, Downham Market, Fincham, Fordham, Hilgay, Holme next Runcton, Marham, Outwell, Roxham, Ryston, , Shouldham, Shouldham Thorpe, South Runcton, Southery, Stoke Ferry, Stow Bardolph, Stradsett, Thorpland, Tottenhill, Upwell, Watlington, Welney, Wereham, West Dereham, Wimbotsham, Wormegay, Wretton |
Clavering | 29,844 acres (120.77 km2) | Aldeby, Bergh Apton, Brooke, Burgh St. Peter, Ellingham, Geldeston, Gillingham All Saints and St. Mary, Haddiscoe, Hales, Heckingham, Howe, Kirby Cane, Norton Subcourse, Raveningham, Stockton, , Thurlton, Toft Monks, Wheatacre |
Depwade | 30,491 acres (123.39 km2) | Ashwellthorpe, Aslacton, Bunwell, Carleton Rode, Forncett St Mary, Forncett St Peter, Fritton, Fundenhall, Great Moulton, Hapton, Hardwick, Hempnall, Morningthorpe, Shelton, Stratton St. Mary, Stratton St. Michael, Tacolneston, Tasburgh, Tharston, Tibenham, Wacton |
Diss | 23,628 acres (95.62 km2) | Bressingham, Burston, Dickleburgh, Diss, Fersfield, Frenze, Gissing, Roydon, Scole, Shelfanger, Shimpling, Thelveton, Thorpe Parva, Tivetshall St. Margaret, Tivetshall St. Mary, Winfarthing |
Earsham | 24,564 acres (99.41 km2) | Alburgh, Billingford, Brockdish, Denton, Earsham, Mendham, Needham, Pulham Market, Pulham St Mary, Redenhall with Harleston, Rushall, Starston, Thorpe Abbotts, Wortwell |
East Flegg | 11,556 acres (46.77 km2) | Caister, Filby, Great Yarmouth, Mautby, Ormesby St. Margaret, Ormesby St. Michael, Runham, Scratby, Stokesby with Herringby, Thrigby |
Eynesford | 46,637 acres (188.73 km2) | Alderford, Bawdeswell, Billingford, Bintree, Brandiston, Bylaugh, Elsing, Foulsham, Foxley, Great Witchingham, Guestwick, Guist, Hackford, Haveringland, Hindolveston, Little Witchingham, Lyng, , Reepham, Ringland, Salle, Sparham, Swannington, Themelthorpe, Thurning, Twyford, Weston Longville, , Wood Dalling, Wood Norton |
Forehoe | 39,042 acres (158.00 km2) | Barford, Barnham Broom, Bawburgh, Bowthorpe, Brandon Parva, Carleton Forehoe, Colton, Costessey, Coston, Crownthorpe, Deopham, Easton, Hackford, Hingham, Honingham, Kimberley, Marlingford, Morley St. Botolph, , Runhall, Welborne, Wicklewood, Wramplingham, Wymondham |
Freebridge-Lynn | 68,366 acres (276.67 km2) | Anmer, Ashwicken, Babingley, Bawsey, Castle Acre, Castle Rising, Congham, Dersingham, East Walton, East Winch, Flitcham, Gayton, Gayton Thorpe, Gaywood, Great Massingham, Grimstone, Harpley, Hillington, King's Lynn, Leziate, Little Massingham, Middleton, , North Runcton, North Wootton, Pentney, Roydon, Sandringham, , South Wootton, West Acre, West Bilney, West Newton, West Winch, Wolferton |
Freebridge-Marshland | 53,908 acres (218.16 km2) | Clenchwarton, Emneth, St Edmund, St. Peter, Terrington St. Clement, Terrington St. John, Tilney All Saints, Tilney St. Lawrence, Tilney cum Islington, , , Walsoken, , Wiggenhall St. Germans, Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalen, , |
Gallow | 42,480 acres (171.9 km2) | Alethorpe, Bagthorpe, , Broomsthorpe, Dunton, East Barsham, East Raynham, East Rudham, Fakenham, Fulmodeston, Great Ryburgh, Helhoughton, Hempton, Kettlestone, , Little Snoring, New Houghton, North Barsham, , Pudding Norton, Sculthorpe, Shereford, South Raynham, Stibbard, Syderstone, Tatterford, Tattersett, Testerton, Toftrees, West Barsham, West Raynham, West Rudham |
Grimshoe | 57,309 acres (231.92 km2) | Buckenham Tofts, , Cranwich, Croxton, Feltwell, Hockwold cum Wilton, , Lynford, Methwold, Mundford, Northwold, Santon, Stanford, Sturston, , West Tofts |
Guiltcross | 26,828 acres (108.57 km2) | Banham, Blo' Norton, East Harling, Garboldisham, , Kenninghall, North Lopham, Quidenham, Riddlesworth, Rushford, , South Lopham, West Harling |
Happing | 26,780 acres (108.4 km2) | Brumstead, Catfield, East Ruston, Happisburgh, Hempstead, Hickling, Horsey, Ingham, Lessingham, Ludham, Sea Palling, Potter Heigham, Stalham, Sutton, Walcott, Waxham |
Henstead | 19,086 acres (77.24 km2) | Arminghall, Bixley, Bramerton, Caistor St Edmund, Framingham Earl, Framingham Pigot, , Kirby Bedon, Poringland, Rockland St. Mary, Saxlingham Nethergate, , , Shotesham, Stoke Holy Cross, Surlingham, Trowse, Whitlingham, Yelverton |
Holt | 35,294 acres (142.83 km2) | Bale, , Blakeney, Bodham, Briningham, Brinton, Briston, Cley-next-the-Sea, Edgefield, Glandford, Gunthorpe, Hempstead, Holt, Hunworth, Kelling, Langham, Letheringsett, Melton Constable, Morston, Salthouse, Saxlingham, Sharrington, Stody, Swanton Novers, Thornage, Weybourne, Wiveton |
Humbleyard | 21,355 acres (86.42 km2) | Bracon Ash, Colney, Cringleford, Dunston, East Carlton, Flordon, Great Melton, Hethel, Hethersett, Intwood, Keswick, Ketteringham, Little Melton, , Mulbarton, Newton Flotman, Swainsthorpe, Swardeston, Wreningham |
Launditch | 56,006 acres (226.65 km2) | Beeston All Saints, Beetley, Brisley, Colkirk, Dillington, East Bilney, East Lexham, Gateley, Great Dunham, Great Fransham, Gressenhall, Hoe, Horningtoft, Kempston, Litcham, Little Bittering, Little Dunham, Little Fransham, Longham, Mileham, North Elmham, Oxwick, Pattesley, Rougham, Scarning, Stanfield, Swanton Morley, Tittleshall, Weasenham All Saints, Weasenham St. Peter, Wellingham, Wendling, West Lexham, Whissonsett, Worthing |
Loddon | 27,838 acres (112.66 km2) | Alpington, Ashby, Bedingham, Broome, Carleton St. Peter, Chedgrave, Claxton, Ditchingham, , Hedenham, Hellington, Kirstead, Langley, Loddon, Mundham, Seething, Sisland, Thurton, Thwaite St. Mary, Topcroft, Woodton |
Mitford | 32,133 acres (130.04 km2) | Cranworth, East Dereham, East Tuddenham, Garvestone, Hardingham, Hockering, Letton, Mattishall, , North Tuddenham, Reymerston, Shipdham, Southburgh, Thuxton, Westfield, , , Yaxham |
North Erpingham | 33,393 acres (135.14 km2) | Aldborough, Antingham, Aylmerton, , , Beeston Regis, Bessingham, Cromer, East Beckham, Felbrigg, Gimingham, Gresham, , Hanworth, Knapton, Matlask, Metton, Mundesley, , Overstrand, Plumstead, Roughton, Runton, Sheringham, Sidestrand, , Suffield, Sustead, Thorpe Market, Thurgarton, Trimingham, Trunch |
North Greenhoe | 30,483 acres (123.36 km2) | Barney, Binham, Cockthorpe, , Field Dalling, Great Snoring, Great Walsingham, Hindringham, Holkham, , Little Walsingham, Quarles, Stiffkey, Thursford, Warham All Saints, , Wells-next-the-Sea, Wighton |
Shropham | 44,944 acres (181.88 km2) | Attleborough, Besthorpe, Brettenham, Bridgham, East Wretham, Eccles, Great Ellingham, Hargham, Hockham, Illington, Kilverstone, Larling, New Buckenham, Old Buckenham, , , Roudham, Shropham, Snetterton, West Wretham, Wilby |
Smithdon | 43,786 acres (177.20 km2) | Barwick, Bircham Newton, Bircham Tofts, Brancaster, Choseley, Docking, Fring, Great Bircham, , Heacham, Holme-next-the-Sea, Hunstanton, Ingoldisthorpe, Sedgeford, Shernborne, Snettisham, Stanhoe, Thornham, Titchwell |
South Erpingham | 48,058 acres (194.48 km2) | Alby with Thwaite, Aylsham, Baconsthorpe, Banningham, , Belaugh, Blickling, Booton, Brampton, , Buxton, Calthorpe, Cawston, Colby, Coltishall, Corpusty, Erpingham, , Hevingham, Heydon, Ingworth, Irmingland, Itteringham, , , Marsham, Oulton, Oxnead, Saxthorpe, Scottow, Skeyton, Stratton Strawless, Swanton Abbott, Tuttington, West Beckham, Wickmere, |
South Greenhoe | 57,921 acres (234.40 km2) | Bodney, , Cockley Cley, Didlington, East Bradenham, Foulden, Gooderstone, Great Cressingham, Hilborough, Holme Hale, Houghton-on-the-Hill, Langford, Little Cressingham, Narborough, Narford, Necton, Newton, North Pickenham, Oxborough, South Pickenham, , Sporle with Palgrave, Swaffham, West Bradenham |
Taverham | 30,600 acres (124 km2) | Attlebridge, Beeston St. Andrew, Catton, Crostwick, Drayton, Felthorpe, Frettenham, Hainford, Hellesdon, Horsford, Horsham St. Faith, Horstead with Stanninghall, Newton St. Faith, Rackheath, Salhouse, Spixworth, Sprowston, Taverham, Wroxham |
Tunstead | 34,696 acres (140.41 km2) | Ashmanhaugh, Bacton, Barton Turf, Beeston St. Lawrence, Bradfield, Crostwight, Dilham, Edingthorpe, Felmingham, Honing, Horning, Hoveton, Irstead, Neatishead, North Walsham, Paston, Ridlington, Sco Ruston, Sloley, Smallburgh, Swafield, Tunstead, Westwick, Witton, Worstead |
Walsham | 24,058 acres (97.36 km2) | Acle, Beighton, Fishley, Halvergate, Hemblington, Moulton, Ranworth-with-Panxworth, Reedham, South Walsham, Tunstall, Upton, Wickhampton, Woodbastwick |
Wayland | 31,076 acres (125.76 km2) | Ashill, Breckles, Carbrooke, Caston, Griston, Little Ellingham, Merton, Ovington, Rockland St. Peter, Saham Toney, Scoulton, Stow Bedon, Thompson, Threxton, Tottington, Watton |
West Flegg | 13,479 acres (54.55 km2) | Ashby, Billockby, Burgh St. Margaret, , Clippesby, East Somerton, Hemsby, Martham, Oby, Repps with Bastwick, Rollesby, Thurne, West Somerton, Winterton-on-Sea |
In addition the following four towns were considered as separate boroughs.
Borough | Acres |
---|---|
Great Yarmouth | 1,270 acres (5.1 km2) |
King's Lynn | 2,720 acres (11.0 km2) |
Norwich | 6,630 acres (26.8 km2) |
Thetford | 6,976 acres (28.23 km2) |
References[]
- ^ 'The Historical Context', Anglo-Saxon Settlement on the Siltland of Eastern England, Lincolnshire Archaeology and Heritage Reports Series, 7 (2005), 264-88, David Roffe, quoting Williamson, T., 1993 The Origins of Norfolk (Manchester), pp
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Norfolk". Encyclopædia Britannica. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 744–747.
- ^ Blomefield, Francis (1807). "Gallow and Brothercross Hundreds". An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk. 7. London: British History Online. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ White, William (1845). History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk, and the City and County of the City of Norwich (2nd ed.). Sheffield: Printed for the author by 'R. Leader'. OCLC 504893480.
See also[]
- History of Norfolk
- List of hundreds of England and Wales
- Hundreds of Norfolk
- Lists of hundreds in England