Thorney Lezons or Leissons
The name is likely to be from Lesnes Abbey at Abbey Wood in Kent (now S.E. London). This was founded as an Augustinian house by Richard de Luci in 1178, it is said as penance for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket. The Abbey held a large amount of land amongst which it is supposed was the manor of Thorney Lezons. de Lucy entered the Abbey as a canon and died the following year.
Lesnes was the name of the half-hundred in which the Abbey stood. There seems no evidence of a link to a place in France.
Copinger in his Manors of Suffolk says the manor of Thorney Hall was granted by Henry II to Richard de Luci who we suppose granted the portion that became Thorney Lesnes to the Abbey,
He also says that in 1543 after the dissolution Lezons was held by Robert Downes, he died in 1547 and passed it to his son Frances, in 1555 it was sold to John Keble son of Robert Keble in 1606 it was sold to Robert Broke who died 1626, after this it was under the same Lordship as the Manor of Braziers, it then remained in the Broke family of Brokes Hall, Nacton until at least 1714.
By 1749 it was vested in William, Earl of Jersey, although it was probably held by earlier Earls of Jersey. In 1728 we have details of a Court Baron being held in Roydon Hall by Judith, Countess of Jersey of the Manor of Lezon.
In 1835 it was vested in Edward Beck.
From 1800’s see also Thorney Mumpliers and Thorney Braziers, when all were held by held by Edward Beck esq.
Suffolk Archives hold some 14th, 15th and 18th century court rolls and court books, other 14th century manorial court rolls are held at the Bodleian Library Oxford.
1727 – Judith Countess of Jersey of the manor of Thorney Lezons. The Judith being referred to was Judith Herne, daughter of Frederick Herne, she married William Villiers, 2nd Earl of Jersey. She died on 22nd July 1735. Her husband had died in 1721 so this was when Judith would have inherited the manor.
In her will Judith settles her manors etc. in Earl Stonham, Creeting St. Peter and Stowupland and elsewhere “in Prospect of her intended marriage to John Hall esquire” on a Thomas Parret and James Blackerby in trust. And on her decease to her son William Earl of Jersey.
1797 Earl of Jersey
1826 Dr Beck
1844 to 1885 Ed Bigby Beck, assocaiated with Manor of Mumplier and Brazier
1900 to 1912 Rev Ed Josselyn Beck (Surrey)
1916 Rev Ed Josselyn Beck (Cambridge)
From an 1834 document relating to the Absolute Surrender of land by The Rev Henry Heigham of Hunston to William Fisher of Boxstead, Essex (as copied by Ena Carter)
‘All that one piece of pasture lying in Stowupland beetween the lands of the Manor of Thorney Leissons …abutting on the way leading from Stowmarket to Mendlesham towards the North west & upon the land of the Manor of Leissons called Laceys towards the southeast.’
