A.D. most of them of Victorinus and Tetricus, was taken up, and a Roman altar, twenty-six inches high and fourteen broad,* is said to have been found at the same place. Also coins from Gallienus down to Gratian were found in this parish, and deposited with Beauprè Bell, esq. who has given an account thereof in his Bib. Top. Also so lately as in the year 1785, there was found in a field in Waldersea, in this parish, belonging to Messrs. Edes and Nicholls, an earthen pot, containing a considerable number of small copper coins, chiefly of Valentinian and Arcadius, which was ploughed up. BENEFACTIONS. WILLIAM MAYNARD, by will, gave about seven acres 1563. of land, and a house, &c. in Old field, Friday Bridge, called Widow Hill's Farm; the rents to be distributed to the poor as the trustees think proper. 1597. 1674. 1689. WILLIAM PAYNE gave by deed sixteen acres of land, in two pieces, lying in Wales field. THOMAS COWARD, by will, gave six acres of land, in Old field, for the purpose of buying thirty yards of cloth, at two shillings per yard, to be made into coats or jackets for ten poor people, and three chaldrons of coals for the poor yearly. He gave the like gift to the poor of March, on condition, if either parish officers should fail in the due disposal of the charities, the other parish to have both gifts. THOMAS SQUIRE, by will, gave twenty-two acres of land, with a house and barn, in Redmore field, and a room for a school, and half an acre of land, in Elm * Coles' MSS. town, to provide a schoolmaster for teaching the children in the parishes of Elm and Emneth to read, write, and cast accounts. The parishioners of Elm have within thee s few years erected an entirely new and convenient school house, for the use of the master and children. Mr. Tibenham is the present master. Mr. Squire also gave twenty shillings for a sermon to be preached on St. Thomas' day, and forty sixpences to the poor on the same day, payable out of four acres of land, late the estate of Daniel Swaine esq. and now belonging to William Bird, situated at the Gooles, in Elm. THOMAS ADAMS, by will, left four acres of land, A.D. lying in New Marsh, Wisbech, near New Common bridge, 1697. for one man's coat, two women's gowns, and the remainder, after deducting the necessary expenses, to be given away in bread to the poor. THOMAS JENKINSON, ESQ., by deed, gave to the poor 1757. of Elm two acres of land, lying in Wales field, the profits of which are to be distributed among them as the trustees think proper. The profits of certain lands called Crowmere have been for time immemorial employed for the benefit of the poor. About 1630 or 1635 a field called Laddus or Elm common was first taken in, at which time one other field called Crowmere, said to contain by estimation sixty acres, was allotted and given for the sole use and benefit of the poor of Elm, in consideration of their being excluded from commoning in the said field called Laddus, then first taken in and allotted, and by such agreement, the right of cutting firing in Crowmere was * This probably was intended for forty acres, as by Elm map, Crowmere contains forty-five acres, two roods, eight perches. confirmed to the poor of Elm, and all such parishioners as did not own, rent, or occupy lands, houses, or other premises exceeding twenty pounds of yearly rent or value. The number of hassocks allotted to every house or cottage was three thousand, and if any person cut more than three thousand, the overplus was usually given by the musters or fen reeves to some poor widow. No person had any right to turn in or feed on the said piece called Crowmere, any cattle or stock; and by the same agreement, a road to and from the said field was duly set out. These particulars will be found in the church register about the year 1772, when certain musters or fenreeves were appointed to manage the said piece of land, whose successors at this time let the land called Crowmere, by public auction, and lay out the rents in the purchase of coals and flour, which are distributed among the industrious poor at certain seasons of the year, as agreed upon at a public meeting of the parishioners in vestry. The land is permitted to be ploughed, and the rent is now £60. per annum. The population, by the last returns in 1821, was 691 males, 677 females. Total 1368. EMNETH OR ENEMETH Is a hamlet in the parish of Elm, though situated in Freebridge hundred, in the county of Norfolk, and is so called as lying in the meads or meadows. The chapel belonging thereto, which has been mentioned as dedicated to Saint Edmund, is larger than most parish churches, having a nave and north and south aisles, and a chancel. In the chapel are several monuments. At the east end of the south aisle, inclosed with iron rails, is a sumptuous one erected altarwise, on which lie the effigies of Sir Thomas, Hewar and his lady at full length, and at their feet that of a child, their son, who died young. Over this monument is a canopy of marble, supported by pillars of the same material. On the summit of the canopy are shields, with the arms of Hewar and Oxburgh. It was erected in 1617, by Nicholas Stone, master mason to king James I., who had £95. for it. Also opposite, against the south wall, is a neat mural monument, on the summit whereof is "Hewar, A.D. 1586." On the floor is a slab to the memory of Frances, the wife of Hewar Oxburgh, who died in 1698. Also slabs to the memory of Joseph Whitehall, who died in 1735, Hewar Oxburgh, in 1781, and Sarah, his second wife, in 1799. Near thereto is a stone to Dame Audrey Coney, who died in 1763, and a small tablet to William Millicent, who died in 1755. In the chancel, Thomas Dove, mentioned in the account of rectors as presented by the parliament in 1646, was buried, with the following inscription: "Here Thomas Dove's interred, whose name alone "The pulpit would preserve, without this stone. "Ob. May 1st, 1651." In the nave are several monumental stones obliterated, two of which appear to have had effigies, probably in brass, now taken away. At the west end, a marble slab to Henry Southwell, LL.D. rector of Asterby, in the county of Lincoln, youngest son of Edward Southwell, esq. of Wisbech, who died in 1789. On the north wall, a mural monument to Robert Banyer, and Mary, his wife, who was daughter to Henry Ferrour, esq. of Wisbech. He died in 1749. In the north aisle are monumental stones to Mary Hawkins, John Damant, on which is the word "Resurgam," John Swansborough, John Boyce. In the south aisle is a brass plate to the memory of Rachel Gyles, the wife of a former vicar of Elm. In this chapel was the chantry of Saint Mary, founded by Sir Adam de Hagbeche, in that part of the south aisle where the monument of Hewar now stands. Also on the north side is a space unoccupied, which appears formerly to have been another chapel or chantry. There was a free chapel called Berking chapel in this hamlet, and on the 27th May 1389, a licence was granted to the chaplain of Emneth for celebrating divine service there.t Part of this hamlet belonged to the great manor of the prior of Lewes, in West Walton, which extended here. * Page 499. + Register of bishop Fordham. |