i] An Elizabethan Sm^ey and Domesday Book. g 



of the manor is described. It lay in Fornesseta (St Mary's), was held 

 T.R.E. by Colman, a freeman, under Stigand, and T.R.W. by Roger 

 Bigod. Connected with this manor were two berewics — one in 

 Aslacton and one in Twanton — and sokemen in Keklington and 

 Halas\ All these were valued at £6 and formed part of Bigod's 

 demesne lands which he held directly from the King. 



The second group of entries describes a second manor in Forn- 

 esseta. T.R.E., it had been held by Olf — probably the same Olf 

 that held the neighbouring manors of Ketteringham and Carleton. 

 Then there were demesne teams, but T.R.W. there were none. 

 T.R.W., Bigod also held this in demesne directly from the King. 

 The manor was doubtless already, or soon after, joined to Forncett 

 manor. Sokemen, holding in 1 1 vills, were valued with this manor. 

 The whole was worth jC^. os. lod. 



The third group is the long list of Bigod's freemen in Depwade 

 Hundred. Their lands lay in i6 vills. Their value was lumped 

 together at ;£" 22. 2s, 2>d., though the men of Tasburgh, the claim to 

 one of whom was disputed, have a separate valuation. Now, there is 

 no clear evidence that in 1086 these freemen were connected with 

 Forncett or with any other manor. But since at a later date lands in 

 nearly all of these vills were held of Forncett manor, and since 

 in several of these vills in 1086 Bigod had no tenants except these 

 freemen, it is practically certain that these freemen or their successors 

 were connected with Forncett manor — the only manor in Depwade 

 Hundred of which Bigod was the immediate lord-^. 



The following table shows in greater detail, though perhaps im- 

 perfectly, the composition of Forncett manor in 1086. 



P'reemen Sokemen Villeins Bordiers Slaves 



Forncett St Mary. 

 Colman's manor (T.R.E.) 3 2 14 



Olf's manor (T.R.E.) i 3 i 



Bigod's freemen 7 



Twanton. 



Berewic of Colman's manor 

 (William holds, 1086) i 3 



* Blomefield, op. cit. v. 223, Vlli. 16, identifies Halas with Hales in Loddon or Clavering 

 Hundred. But since it is entered under Depwade Hundred it seems more probable that it 

 was near the hamlet of Overhales into which Forncett manor extended (Court Roll, Pentecost, 

 2 Henry IV.). This hamlet was probably in Tacolneston. Haleswong, also part of Fonicett 

 manor, was in Tacolneston. 



- Thus the only tenants that Bigod had in Carleton in 1086 were 21 freemen and their 

 10 bordiers, while a list of the suitors of Forncett court, 17 Henry VIH., names 29 suitors 

 from Carleton. 



