Priory of Ingham, Norfolk
The following are brief notes on the Priory of Ingham as relating to Thorney Manor and the Woodhouse and Reppes family.
1534/35 – On 7 November, 1535, Cromwell received information from Richard Wharton that the prior and convent of Ingham had sold their house and lands to one William Woodhouse without the knowledge of their founder (patron) Sir Francis Calthrope, and contrary to their promise to Edward Calthrope, nephew and heir to Sir Francis to give him the first offer of it. But on 19 November Dr. Legh wrote to Cromwell from Norwich, saying that the prior of Ingham had made no sale to Woodhouse as reported, but only conditionally in the event of his procuring the king’s licence. However, another correspondent, on 15 December, reaffirmed what Wharton had stated.
The four county commissioners for the Norfolk suppression wrote to Cromwell on 10 August, 1536, saying that during their survey they sent to the house of Ingham to put their books and necessaries in due order before their coming; but on their arrival they found no religious person there, because of their bargain, dated 24 December, 1534, with William Woodhouse. Woodhouse had appeared before the commissioners at Coxford, and alleged that Ingham was outside the statute, for it was a house of Crossed Friars (Trinitarians) and not of monks or canons. The commissioners had perused the statute and thought that it was so.
In the commissioners’ formal report they say:—
“The Priory of Ingham ys solde to one William Woodehowsse and the Religious persones in the same Dispersid and gone and the goodes and catalles wasted and spoyeled; the circumstances of whiche matter we have advertysed and sygnifyed unto you by our letters.”
Sir William Woodhouse to have been allowed to retain his purchase; he exchanged it for the priory of Hickling in 1544, and it thus became part of the estate of the bishopric of Norwich.
The manor is not specifically named in William’s will of 1564 but as stated above he exchanged it for Hickling. His first wife was an Anne Repps and interestingly we know a Henry Reppes was Lord of The Manor in the 16th/ early 17th C.
A son Thomas Woodhouse married Anne, after Thomas’s death Anne remarried to Henry Reppes her late husband’s maternal uncle.
1562
In his will a Henry Repps of Mendham Suffolk wills that Anne Woodhouse alias Reppes to take John Repps my brothers son and to find and keep him to school at his charge and at the age of 18 to have £6 18s and 4d yearly going out of my manor of Thorney in Stowe and I gve to the said Anne Woodhouse alias Reppes my manor of Thorney in Stowe and after her death to John the son of my brother Francis.
He also left to the poor people of Stowe Upland 20 shillings. His will was proved 6 November 1587.
Henry dosnt named Anne as his wife but as he appoints her executrix and leaves his house in Mendham to her it can be assumed that she was and is the same Anne mentioned above.
He also wills that Thomas Kinge the father sometime my servant have and enjoy a tenement called Shepcroft in Stowe. (Is this Sheepcote Farm?)
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Portrait by Hans Eworth, perhaps of Anne Wootton (1536–1587) alias Woodhouse alias Reppes, M.rs. Bassingbourne Gawdy at around 20 years old in 1557. This portrait was formerly known as Lady Anne Penruddocke
1618 John Reppes is named as lately Lord of Thorney Manor.
