Aspects of Thorney in Medieval Times and earlier...
IConfusingly across England many places can be found with the name Thorney and their stories should not be confused with our Thorney.
For obvious reasons our knowledge of what was happening here during the medieval era is limited but we know a few bits, much but not all relates to the manorial system. For more on Stowupland’s manors see Thorney Manors and Thorney Hall. Other snippets from our medieval past will be posted here for safe keeping and added to as we learn more and are able to connect people and places.
In the Domesday Record, King William holds 6 carucates of land as a manor, previously by King Edward -1 leaugue long by 1 league broad. Roger Bigot looks after it for the King. See also the church in Stowmarket.
According to notes made by a Claude Morley and found in Ena Carter’s archive, he suggested that the ‘East Bank of Gipping was early town (Thorney) (1086 -1327) and the West bank town probably began in Tudor times because of High Road.’
Date or source is not given but he suggests an early church of St Peter (& St Paul) was nearer the site of today’s station and this was worth more than St Mary’s (45 marks against 12 marks), after the lapse of the Tudor wool trade St Peter & St Pauls was demolished and a joint dedication made to St Peter with St Mary.
In the 1300s our little piece of mid Suffolk had many names for example Thorney Green Manor, Thornea, Thorne or Thorney with Thorney Hamlet and it can be difficult disentangling histories of Stowupland from histories of the surrounding areas. Especially but not exclusively reclaiming our stories from those of Stowmarket.
‘Although the manor of Thornea had the largest population in the hundred it carried on no commerce with places beyond the sea being agricultural only.’
AD 1066 to 1086.From Hollingsworth, Chap 12. re Uptown or Land
Hugh de Montford was Lord of Uptown or Land. 3 freedmen of Gutmund held 63 acres, as tenants. Although previously 3 cottages there was mow but 1. There was 1 mill.The Manor of Thorney extended to Thorney Green. Thornea was 3 miles long and 3 broad embracing the ‘greater part of both Stowmarket and Stowupland present parishes’.
Medieval links between Thorney (Stowupland) and the wider community.
A.D 1212 .Willelmns de Bretun et Robertus de Munteni et heres Ricardi de Munficher et heres Odinel de Unfran(u)vill tenent THORNEI quam Henricu proavus {Grandfather} tenuit in dominico suo, et illam dedit Ricardo de Luci, sed nescitir quod servicum. {ECA The Book of Fees p135)
In July, 1379, Roger de Boys, John de Boys, and Reginald de Eccles granted to the Norfolk Priory of Ingham property in Worstead and Scottow. (fn. 5) In 1384 the priory received from John de Saxham the advowson of the church of All Saints, Cley, and lands and tenements in ‘Treston’ and Little Soxham; in 1389 the manor of Thorney; and in 1392 the manor of Cockley Cley, and eight messuages, 211 acres of land, 22 of meadow, 4 of moor, and 11s. 11d. rents in Ingham, Hickling, Worstead, and divers other townships, together with the advowson of the church of Walcott. (fn. 6)
1389 Roger de Boys and John Ulveston, knights, Robert Asshefeld, and Robert Grigge and Richard Cratfeld, clerks, to grant the manor of Thorney to the prior and convent of the church of the Holy Trinity, Ingham, Norfolk (Neil Langridge 2024).
There are records that show the area where Elm Farm stands has been lived on since at least 1327, and its first recorded name was Dego Farm.
In the early 1400’s the land was owned by the De Gonyy family. This name is of Norman origin.The house was later known as Dager or Dagger House.
The building by the side of the main house may still contain some remnants from medieval times, and although it has been used for various purposes through the years it also shows signs that it was used as a dwelling house.
1327 Subsidy names Adam Sponman in Thorney.
A will of 1466 of Thomas Dego of Thorney Hamlet (see Elm farm) ‘to son John tenements & all lands pertaining & a close called Sponmays’ {ECA}.
See also Sponmans Farm
The 1327 Subsidy ( a nationwide tax of the laity intended to raise money to renew hostilities against Scotland) gives us names of some people in the Villatade Thorneye.
The 1524 subsidy gives us from Stow Uplande: Richard Kebull
And from the 1568 subsidy from Thorney & Saxton Hamlet otherwise called Stowe Uplonde: John Gardiner gent, Thomas Kynge, Kebyll family
A few artifacts have found their way to Ipswich Museum:
13th century pottery, including part of a cooking part were found during the demolition of The Croft farmhouse (along the A1120, but not to be confused with The Croft.) . {IPSMG :R.1970-81}
A late 14th century iron dagger, 11 inches long {IPSMG R.1962- 132}.
A conical lead weight (much oxidised) thought to be a medieval builders plummet {IPSMG:R. 1930-215}.
From the 15th century, 3 fragments of a handle (Hedingham ware) were found in ploughed soil at Grange farm. { IPSMG:R. 1963-94}.
See Stowupland Surnames and search on Place Names
