I I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICE I I ·1 Fornham Park, ·I Fornham·St. Genevieve. Desk-based Assessment

I Planning Application No. SE/00/1129/P I Report No. 2000/67 I I I I II I ·I

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I County Council P . .J. Thompson Msc CEng FICE, County Director of Environment & Transport St Edmund House, County Hall, Suffolk IP4 lLZ I Tel. (01473) 583000 I

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Fornham Park, I Fornham·St. Genevieve. Desk-based Assessment

I Planning Application No. SE/00/1129/P I Report No. 2000/67 I I

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-. I L.Everett Field Projects Team Archaeological Service I Environment & Transport Dept. · Suffolk County Council I September 2000 I I - Contents

Summary 1. Introduction 2. Methodology 3. Results 3.1 Sites and Monuments Record Search 3.2 Air Photographs 3.3 Map and Document Search 3.4 Battle of Fornham 3.5 Site Visit 4. Conclusions 5. Recommendations

List of Figures Fig. 1 Site location plan, scale 1:25,000 Fig. 2 Extent of assessment area, scale 1:10,000 Fig. 3 Quarried areas and regions of high archaeological potential

Appendices Appendix I Brief and Specification Appendix II Sites and Monuments Records Appendix III Documentary Search Appendix IV Battle of Fornham Investigation

Any opinions expressed in this report about the need for further archaeological work are those of the Field Projects Division alone. The need for further work will be determined by the Local Planning Authority and its archaeological advisors when a planning application is registered. Suffolk County Council’s archaeological contracting service cannot accept responsibility for inconvenience caused to clients should the Planning Authority take a different view to that expressed in the report. Fornham Park, Fornham St Genevieve. Desk-based Assessment.

Summary Fornham St. Genevieve, Fornham Park (TL 8400 6850, report no. 2000/67) A desk-based assessment was prepared for a proposed development in the former Fornham Park estate. This revealed that the archaeological potential of the area had been seriously lessened by a series of recent quarries around the estate. However, where this is not the case, the former park landscape may have been designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and could contain parts of a deserted medieval village as well as the structural remains and graveyard of St. Genevieve’s Church. Much of the former appears to have been destroyed by quarrying, making any remains all the more important to preserve or record archaeologically. It is also possible that an Anglo Saxon cemetery was partially excavated in the north east of the site sometime during the nineteenth century. The assessment area is also likely to be the site of the twelfth century Battle of Fornham, and its valley side location gives the area a high potential for prehistoric evidence.

1. Introduction A planning application (SE/00/1129/P) has been submitted to convert around 106 hectares of the former Fornham Park estate into a golf course. The Conservation Team of Suffolk County Council’s Archaeology Service advised that a programme of archaeological works should be put into place prior to this development, beginning with a desk-based study of the area to assess the impact of development on any surviving archaeology within the area. The area contains a number of known archaeological sites recorded on the county’s Sites and Monuments Record but the area has not previously been the subject of a formal archaeological survey. On average, one archaeological site can be expected within every five hectare block of countryside and as such the development area is of such a scale as to have potential for previously unknown sites.

The site is centred around TL 8400 6850 within the parish of Fornham St. Genevieve and is bounded to the south west by the River Lark. The land rises to the north east by 10m up to a maximum elevation of around 35m above ordnance datum. The site includes the valley floor and sides of the River Lark, topography which has known concentrations of prehistoric and Saxon occupation elsewhere. The assessment was commissioned and funded by STRI. I This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to NORTH I prosecution or civil proceedings. Suffolk County Council 2000 Licence No. LA076864 Grid North I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

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Figure 2: Extent of assessment area 2. Methodology The desk-based assessment used three main resources, namely the county Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) for information on known archaeological sites and finds, the Suffolk Record Office for cartographic and documentary evidence and aerial photographs of the site were viewed for evidence of former land divisions and cropmarks. The full documentary search was compiled by Anthony Breen whilst a study of the twelfth century Battle of Fornham was prepared by Clive Paine. The results of these searches are summarised within the results below. A list of sources may be found in the bibliography, with the complete search archive attached as Appendices 2-4. The development area was visited by the author on 18th September 2000 to visually examine the landscape.

3. Results 3.1 Sites and Monuments Record Search The SMR had records of a number of known sites within and around the study area and these are reproduced in full in Appendix II. Nineteenth century excavations recorded under the SMR code FSG Misc note the discovery of an Anglo Saxon cemetery. Although the location of this is difficult to pin down precisely, records note that the discovery was made in fields bordering the crossroads leading from the and Bury road to water mill, and also that it was in the vicinity of Kingsbury Hill which lies in the north of the study area. Whilst the accounts may have become confused with other such finds, notably a cemetery found in Fornham St. Martin in 1888-9, the possibility of Anglo Saxon burials in the given location seems quite real; along with the antiquarian references, there may be some significance in the name ‘Kingsbury Hill’ and the popular tradition attached to it (see Appendix II, FSG Misc., record 6685). Anglo Saxon archaeology is well known along the Lark valley, not least at only 1.5 miles to the north west where a substantial settlement and cemetery was excavated. Fornham Park is reputed to have been the scene of the 1173 Battle of Fornham (FSG Misc., see Appendix IV for a full report on the battle) although the exact location is unknown. A number of stray finds are recorded in the SMR which could relate to the battle, in particular a twelfth century sword, a medieval arrowhead, a dagger and spearhead and a gold ring. Their exact findspots were not recorded but contemporary records place the finds all quite close to each other in an area popularly known as the battle site. Skeletons found near the church in the nineteenth century were recorded as having been buried in some sort of mass grave, many of the bodies showing signs of arrow wounds or sword clefts, as though killed in battle. The reliability of such accounts should always be called into question, though they should not be dismissed entirely. The area around the church and house is known to have been the focus of settlement (FSG 004)before the landscape park was created and the dwellings cleared sometime between 1769 and 1788. The majority of this deserted medieval village, including its houses and road layout has almost certainly been destroyed by quarrying and the creation of the sewage works. Having said that, the location of this village is based entirely on Warren’s ‘Survey of Parish of Fornham St. Genevieve..’ of 1769. This appears to be fairly accurate but cannot be relied upon as 100% precise. In 1965, prehistoric pottery and worked flints dating from both the Neolithic and the Bronze Age were located during sand extraction within the estate grounds (FSG 0001). Although this particular site has now been destroyed, the discovery raises the possibility of further prehistoric presence within the area, particularly due to the site’s prime location along the Lark valley and proximity to the nationally important causewayed enclosure and cursus monument on the opposite side of the river in Hengrave (Figure 3). In Fornham St. Genevieve itself, although just outside of the study area, excavations preceding quarrying in 1996 (FSG 013, Figure 3) located Neolithic to Iron Age settlement evidence on the valley side implying continuous occupation of the area, further evidence of which may extend into the estate.

3.2 Air Photographs A selection of air photographs (Photo no.’s 2,786,168; 2,786,169; 700; 2730; 2753-55) were examined for evidence of cropmarks within the assessment area. These are vertical shots held by Suffolk County Council which were taken between 1986 and 1996 for planning and related purposes. The majority of these photographs were taken during late August after the cereal harvest, not ideal conditions for the identification of most archaeological sites and no features were observed. Only three photographs were taken at a more suitable time of year but these did not show any obvious archaeological features.

3.3 Map and Document Search The manor of Fornham St. Genevieve is recorded in the Domesday survey as being held by the Abbey of , and remained so until the dissolution in 1539. The manorial records examined, dating from the sixteenth century onwards indicate that Fornham was a sparsely populated parish and that with the exception of Ducksluice Farm, occupation was focussed around the hall and church. However, various phases of development of the estate have removed all evidence of early settlement and road patterns, culminating in the emparking of 270 acres of land in 1813. The earliest maps of Fornham St. Genevieve are estate surveys dating from 1769 and 1788. As well as showing details of the development of the estate lands, buildings and changes in road layouts, elements of the medieval landscape are also apparent in the form of field systems and trackways. Quarrying for sand and gravel is known to have taken place on the estate, with small pits shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map. However, since then, much more extensive quarrying has been carried out and the extent of formerly worked areas are shown on Figure 3. The pond lying in the north west corner of the site is a result of extraction, however the lake to the south may be a head of water created to power the medieval mill which was once present at the southern extent of the lake. It has been substantially altered during later improvements to the park and the series of leats and mill races which are implied on the 1769 map are no longer obvious in the landscape. A nineteenth century guidebook by John Wodderspoon recalls the discovery of foundations during excavations in the vicinity of the church. At the time, these were thought to be remains of a priory which is reputed to have been present in the parish but of which no record has so far been found. The only other reference to a priory is found on the 1769 estate map where a field of some 22 acres between the church and the river is named as 'The Priory Pasture'. It may be more likely that the structural remains noted by Wodderspoon were associated with the deserted medieval village rather than a priory.

3.4 Battle of Fornham The Battle of Fornham took place on October 17th 1173 as a part of a wider rebellion against King Henry II, led by his three sons. Three twelfth century accounts of the Battle survive, none of which give precise locations for the battle site. Roger de Hoveden, the author of one of these accounts, does however describe at least part of the battle taking place near the church of St. Genevieve. Other evidence of the Battle comes from stray finds recorded in the SMR and various historical references to the discovery of skeletons, arms and armour. Whilst such findings and references would not usually be considered good evidence for the location of a battle site in their own right, when viewed alongside the contemporary records of the Battle of Fornham, they would seem to add credence to the accounts. The combination of topographic, documentary and archaeological evidence would suggest that the Battle of Fornham started outside the assessment area in the parish of or Fornham St. Martin and moved north along the marshy ground on the east of the River Lark, culminating somewhere around the church of St. Genevieve.

3.5 Site Visit The site was visited in order to gain familiarity with the landscape and to look for areas of potential or features which may not be obvious from documentary evidence alone. It was also an opportunity to observe the current land use where archaeology may be present.

What emerged from this visit was that although the parkland which was possibly improved by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown had been significantly altered and mostly turned over to arable use, many elements of the former high status landscape had survived. These include belts of perimeter tree planting, clumps of trees and individual exotic species such as cedar and box, as well as structural elements of the hall complex itself. The church tower is reasonably complete although unsafe, and to the east, a small section of flint and mortar wall is visible in a clump of trees along with a few surviving grave stones. However, the entire extent of the church is not clear on the ground and the amount of disturbance to the churchyard cannot be assessed.

4. Conclusions Although the estate is rich in history, the archaeological potential of parts of the area has been seriously lessened by recent activity on the site, not least by quarries which have destroyed around five percent of the assessment area. In addition to this, the area is mostly arable, and ploughing to a depth of around 300mm will have almost certainly had some detrimental effects on surviving archaeological deposits. Because the site has not been subject to archaeological investigation in the past, much of its archaeological potential is based on various antiquarian accounts and some degree of local legend, which of course may be based on truth but can be prone to inaccuracy and misinterpretation. As such, they should not be dismissed entirely, but nor should their details be taken too literally. However, looking at the documentary evidence and the known archaeology from the study area itself and from the vicinity, the levels of activity indicate a good potential for archaeology where quarrying has not taken place.

5. Recommendations 5.1 Whilst much of the assessment area has been subject to varying degrees of damage, where potential archaeology is untouched or damage probably slight, preservation or archaeological recording of deposits seems all the more necessary. This applies particularly to the immediate vicinity of the church and graveyard and the area directly south of the church where remains of the medieval village and evidence relating to the Battle of Fornham may exist (Figure 3) Surviving landscape features associated with Fornham Park should also be preserved where possible. 5.2 The area around Kingsbury Hill has the potential to contain Anglo Saxon burials and should thus be subject to evaluation by trial trench prior to any groundworks. 5.3 Beyond this area, such is the potential for archaeology that any groundworks exceeding c.300mm in depth (i.e. below the ploughed topsoil) should be subject to a programme of archaeological evaluation by trial trenching or monitoring, depending on the scale of proposed ground disturbance. Should this reveal any areas of concentrated archaeology, a contingency plan should be in place in order to deal with any archaeological deposits satisfactorily through preservation in situ or preservation by record (i.e. excavation). 5.4 In addition, a metal detector and/or fieldwalking survey of the study area may be useful in pin pointing any potential sites, in particular those relating to the Battle or the Anglo Saxon cemetery. 5.5 If possible, more extreme groundworks should be focussed on quarried areas to preserve archaeological deposits elsewhere in the area.

Bibliography

Copinger, W., 1910, The Manors of Suffolk Vol.6 : The Hundreds of Samford, Stow and Thedwestry, Taylor, Garnett, Evans Co.

Gage, J., 1822, History and Antiquities of Hengrave.

Goult, W., 1990, A Survey of Suffolk Parish History, Suffolk County Council.

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High arcnaeoloqlcal potential

Quarried areas

Extent of site

PRODUCED BY

~~. Figure 3: Quarried areas and CHECKED BY ... Suffolk County Council NORTH . Environment & Transport Grid North regions of high archaeological potential DRAWING No. P. J. Thompson, MSc. CEng. FICE © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. County Director of Environment & Transport Suffolk County Council Licence No. LA0768642000 DATE St Edmund House, County Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk I I SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICE - CONSERVATION TEAM I BriefandSpecification for a Desk BasedAssessment I FORNHAM PARK, FORNHAM ST GENEVIEVE/ALL SAINTS I 1. Background 1.1 An application (SE/00/1129/P) has been made for change of use from I agricultural usage to a golf course. 1.2 In order to establish the full archaeological implications of this application the planning authority has been advised that an archaeological evaluation of the I application area should be required ofthe applicant.

1.3 A likely component of any acceptable development is likely to be preservation I of any areas where Medieval or early Post Medieval settlement deposits may exist. As a first stage in evaluating the archaeological content of the site it is desirable to consult and assess the documentary sources available. Any I information on the site will inform the design of the field evaluation which is likely to follow this'desk top'.

I 1.4 The application area is very large, but is archaeologicdy unsurveyed. The area includes, however, the site of Fornham Hall (16th century and 1790s), the fragmentary Medieval tower of St Genevieve Church (13-14th century) and the I site of the Medieval and later village which was removed when the house was rebuilt in the late 18th century. There are stories that the 12th century 'Battle of I Fornham' may have extended into the area of the application. I 2. Brieffor the Assessment 2.1 Establish whether any historic or archaeological sites exist in the area, with particular regard to any which are of sufficient importance to merit preservation I in situ. 2.2 Identify the date, approximate form and purpose of any known archaeological I sites within the application area.

2.3 Evaluate the likely impact of gravel extraction, landscaping and building on the I site within the last c.200 years. I I I Appendix I .1 I. 2 1 2.4 Provide sufficient information to inform a design for field evaluation ofthe site.

1 2.5 An outline specification which defines certain minimum criteria is set out below. .., 1 .). Specification: Desk-Based Assessment 3.1 Consult the County Sites and Monuments Record (SMR), both the computerised 1 record and any backup files. 3.2 Examine all the readily available cartographic sources (e.g. those available in the County Record Office). Record any evidence for archaeological sites (e.g. 1 buildings, settlements, field names) and history of previous land uses. Where possible photocopies or tracings should be included in the report. Particular importance is placed upon the location and area of the village remains and the 1 location ofthe Great Houses on the site. .., .., .) ..) Consult published sources and local antiquarian notes. Particular emphasis is to 1 be placed upon records of building locations, illustrative views and would be particularly helpful.

1 3.4 Investigate the historic information available for the Battle of Fornham. Draw conclusions on the likely location of the battle and any ancillary events (e.g. I burials) with particular reference to any links to Fornham Park 3.5 Assess the potential for documentary research that would contribute to the I archaeological investigation ofthe site. 4 Report Requirements

I 4.1 The report is to detail the sources consulted. I 4.2 Where possible illustrative material should be copied in the report. I 4.3 As a minimum documentary informationis to be summarised. 4.4 The evidence is to be discussed and its value assessed. I I I I I I I I 3 I 4.5 If necessary a recommendation covering the need for further documentary I searches which should precede field evaluation should be made. Specification by: R D Carr

I Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Conservation Team Environment and Transport Department I Shire Hall Bury St Edmunds I Suffolk IP33 2AR Tel: 01284352441 I Date: 14 July 20000 Reference: /FornhamPark08

I This brief and specification remains valid for 12 months from the above date. If work is not carried out in full within that time this document wiII lapse; the I authority should be notified and a revised brief and specification may be issued.

I If the work defined by this brief forms a part of a programme of archaeological work required by a Planning Condition, the results must be considered by the Conservation Team of the Archaeological Service of Suffolk County Council, I who have the responsibility for advising the appropriate Planning Authority. I I I I I I I I I I I I Fornham Park, Fornham St Genevieve/ All Saints

I Documentary Report I- Introduction The research for this report was carried out at the Suffolk Record Office in Bury St Edmunds. 1--­ In 1993, a report on the history and development ofthe park was prepared by Anthea Taigol and a copy ofthis report is available at the Suffolk Archaeological Service's office in Bury St Edmunds. The 1993 report is comprehensive and includes a number of photocopies ofmaps. The information given in that report need not be repeated here, instead this report will I describe the two earliest maps of the parish and comment on the documentary evidence for I other buildings and structures within the development area. I Maps The two earliest maps of Fornham St Genevieve are the estate map of the lands of Bernard Edward Howard dated 1788 (re£ 373/24) and the parish map ofFornham St Genevieve dated I 1769 (ref. 373/23). Between these two, dates the main area ofthe park was enclosed, most of the minor dwellings in the village removed and the roadways closed. There are additional details on these maps that are ofsignificance and reveal elements ofthe medieval landscape. In I particular the 1788 map shows areas ofcopyhold land and the 1769 shows the areas ofglebe land. These areas are mainly in the form of strips running south west to north east at a right angle to the river and represent the medieval furlongs that would have existed in the open field I system that surrounded the village.

The 1788 map was drawn on a scale of 6 chains to one inch on an enrolled sheet of I parchment. It is not possible to photocopy this document and because ofthe condition ofthe parchment, it is difficult to obtain a flat surface from which an accurate tracing can be made. By the time that this map was produced the park had been enclosed with the screen of trees I behind the road side boundaries. The main drive way to the house is from the South Lodge, with a secondary access via a winding drive leading to the North Lodge. The park bank shown -I on the later Ordnance Survey maps is not shown on this map. Within the park between the South Lodge and the house, there are various clumps oftrees some ofwhich are depicted on later maps. The drive way appears to have been created as part ofthe process ofenclosing the I park. On this map an area ofcopyhold land crosses the drive way and there is a gap between the south east end ofthis piece and the next area ofcopyhold land that adjoins the river. This gap represents the site ofthe earlier medieval road line. The canal had become an ornamental I feature by this time, but the river Lark is described here as the ''Navigable River". The Lark was made navigable under the terms ofan Act of 1700. In places the course ofthe river was straighten, but its original course can be found by tracing the parish boundaries. To the south I of the Canal, the parish boundary between Fornham St Genevieve and Fornham All Saints crosses the river to the Fornham Park side ( O.S. map 1:10,560 scale sheet number XXXIII I SE). The area immediately to the north west ofthe hall includes a number of secondary buildings standing opposite to the church. These appear to be out buildings connected to the hall. Again I it should be noted that the copyhold strips join to the drive way at this point. The circular I I Appendix III I I churchyard is not a feature of the earlier map of 1769. The only other buildings shown are those at Ducksluice Farm, which is connected to the main hall by a driveway fronting the I curved edge ofthe plantation to the west ofthe hall.

The 1769 map has been traced only in part to extend the area shown in Anthea Taigol's I report. once again the map is drawn on parchment and the tracing is not exact. The scale of this map is "40 perches to 2 and a half inches", that is 4 chains to the inch. This map has I" several important features. The first is that it shows the line ofthe medieval roadway through the park passing in front of the hall. This is not the line of the later driveway that led to the South Lodge. There is a secondary trackway leading from Sheepwash Bridge which joins the road to the south east ofthe hall. To the west ofthis trackway the site ofa kiln is shown, this 1 is probably between the woods called Library and Oval Clump shown on the O.S. maps and within the area ofcopyhold land shown on the 1788 map. The two fields "Five Acre Meadow" I and "Kiln Close Pasture" probably represent part of the copyhold land with the boundaries touching "Home Close" and the adjoining orchard these being replicated on 1788 map. On this map dwellings are shown in elevation, whilst out buildings are shown as shaded blocks. The I site ofthe original hall appears to be next to "Home Close" with a series ofout buildings and enclosures named "Dog Kennel Yard" and on the opposite side ofthe road "Kitchen Garden". To the west at the southern end ofthe Canal, the site of"Flowers Mill" is shown with various I mill races leading to the mill and emptying into the Canal.

There is another secondary trackway which joins the main road at a right angle just south of I the old hall. A pound marks the junction and to the east on the northern side ofthe trackway the site ofthe Town House is shown. This would have been a dwelling set aside for the poor ofthe parish under the terms ofan act of 1597. The site ofthe later hall is also shown on this I map with a paddock to the rear ofthe house. The remaining dwellings within the village are to the north ofthe hall together with another house to the rear ofthe church yard and the site of Ducksluice Farm. Some of these dwellings maybe adjoining cottages and probably total 14 I houses. Beyond the village there are a number of parcels of glebe land again representing medieval strips. The final field shown on the tracing is named "Tinsmer Hill", but on the map I the word Tin has been crossed through and "King" inserted. There are two other track ways or paths both to the north east ofthe village. The first runs at I a diagonal to the road line, but crosses only a small field and strip ofglebe. The second at a right angle may have been retained as a field boundary on the later O.S. maps. I Population and Manorial Records

I In the hearth tax returns of 1674 only 16 houses are listed and Clopton's census of 1676 just 57 adults are listed for the parish. In the visitation of 1603 the total number of adult communicants was again 57. At a manorial court held on the feast of St Luke, 1 & 2 Philip I and Mary, 18th October 1554, (ref. E3/15.8/1.3) the jury consisted ofsix capital pledges and eight tithing men, which probably with the lord of the manor represents the total number of I householders. Though in the subsidy returns of1524, 17 households are listed. The various manors of Fornham St Genevieve, All Saints and St Martin's were all owned by I the Abbey ofBury St Edmunds during the medieval period until the dissolution in 1539. The surviving manorial records are described by Rodney M Thomson in "The Archives ofBury St I I I ,J Edmunds". Some ofthe later records were examined for this report and all show the same low numbers of inhabitants for the parish. There are no surviving medieval wills for Fornham St I Genevieve though it may be the case that parishioners described their parish as Fornham and might be listed elsewhere. The over all impression is a sparsely populated parish with most of I the dwellings matching those shown on the 1769 map. I Conclusion The pattern ofsettlement and land use within the area ofthe park suggests that apart from the ,I site of Ducksluice Farm all the dwellings were close to the hall and church. The site of the Town house on the 1769 map suggests that there may have been some additional dwellings close to that building. Other dwellings may have been removed when the later hall was built. ,I The location of Flowers Mill suggests that another dwelling should exist close to that site. Outside ofthis area, there were a series ofopen fields with no further evidence for occupation. The kiln shown on the 1769 could have been built to produce bricks for the new hall, but may I belong to an earlier period.

Further documentary research appears to be unnecessary at this stage, though the subject of I the Battle ofFornahm is discussed in a separate report. 1I Anthony M Breen, September 2000 ;1 References Maps

1I 373/23 Map ofthe Parish ofFornham St Genevieve, the estate ofCharles Kent 1769 I 373/24 Map ofthe estate ofBernard Edward Howard 1788 Manorial Records I E3/15.7/3 Rentals Fornham St Genevieve and All Saints 1540 E3/15.8/3.1 Terrier Fornham St Genevieve n.d 16th century 1I E3/15.8/1.3 Court Roll Fornham St Genieve 1554 Printed Sources

II Wendy Goult "A Survey ofSuffolk Parish History" Suffolk County Council 1990

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tr« for I di. I I I I I THE I BATTLE OF FORNHAM 17 OCTOBER 1173 I I

I AN INVESTIGA.TION INTO THE I DOCUMENTARY, ARCHAELOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL I EVIDENCE I I I I I

I Clive Paine . 11. Sharp Road I Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk I IP332NB

I 1 1I Appendix IV j I I The Battle ofFornham : 17 October 1173 I Background

I In 1154 when Henry II became King ofEngland he was the most powerful ruler in Western Europe. By his earlier marriage to Eleanor ofAquitaine he was also Duke of I Normandy, Aquitaine, Anjou and Maine in France. Henry wanted to curb the power ofthe barons in , and confiscated all the castles and lands granted by his predecessor King Stephen. The most powerful baron in I East Anglia was Hugh Bigod, Earl ofNorfolk and Suffolk who had castles at , and Walton, which he had to surrender to Henry. The King had castles at I Haughley, Eye and Norwich, and now placed garrisons at Framlingham and Walton. In 1165 Henry restored Bungay and Framlingham to Bigod, but retained Walton. The I same year, Bigod began to build a new keep at Bungay, and in response to this threat Henry started to build a new castle at Orford. The keep and surrounding defences took eight years to construct, at a cost 0££1,400 and was the most modern in design and I strongest in the country.

Henry's increasing power was a threat to King Louis ofFrance, King William of I Scotland and local barons like Bigod. Henry's children were drawn into the power struggle by Louis and Queen Eleanor, who had once been married to Louis and had turned against Henry. In 1169 Henry made a will dividing his lands between his I teenage sons Henry, Richard and Geoffrey, while retaining real power himself. The youngest son John received nothing and was nicknamed "Lackland".

I In 1170 young Henry was crowned King ofEngland. This was seen as a double insult, firstly to Archbishop Thomas Becket who was in exile and should have performed the I ceremony, and later excommunicated the Archbishop ofYork who did, secondly to King Louis whose daughter Margaret, wife ofyoung Henry, was not crowned Queen. I

I In this year Henry granted his youngest son John three castles in Normandy, as part of a marriage settlement. But young Henry who was also Duke ofNormandy objected, and when negotiations failed he was imprisoned only to escape to the court ofhis I father-in-law King Louis. In Paris he was joined by his brother Richard ofAquitaine and Geoffrey of Brittany. Queen Eleanor was arrested on route, and was to remain in I custody for the next decade. The family quarrel soon turned into a rebellion ofthe sons against their father. Young Henry offered castles and lands in England to all who would support him. Many I French nobles, the Earls ofLeicester, Chester, Derby and Hugh Bigod, Earl ofNorfolk I and Suffolk joined his cause backed by King Louis and King William ofScotland.

I 2 I I I Throughout July and August, King Henry's castles and strongholds in Normandy were under siege, but all withheld and the French were put to flight. Henry remained in I France to consolidate his position and restrict the actions ofLouis.

Meanwhile in England. Lord Richard de Lucy, the ChiefJustice, and Lord Hugh I Bohun, Constable ofEngland, who were Henry's representatives in England, attacked Leicester Castle in July. Later the same month King William invaded Northumberland. A truce was agreed at Leicester, and de Lucy and Bohun headed north with the army I to drive back the Scots. While this was happening, on 29 September, Robert Earl of Leicester landed at Walton, on the Suffolk coast, with an army ofFrench and Fleming I mercenaries, who were joined by Hugh Bigod and his supporters. King William agreed a truce without knowing about the rebellion in East Anglia, and I the English army headed south to confront the Earl ofLeicester. Henry's forces were besieged by Leicester and Bigod at Walton Castle from 29 I September to 2 October, but neither the siege machines or large numbers oftroops made any real impact. The outworksat Orford were damaged but the keep remained unscathed. Haughly Castle was attacked, captured and burnt down 3 October. The 30 I knights were taken prisoner including the Commander Ralph de Broc, at whose house in Kent the four knights had met to plan the death ofArchbishop Thomas Becket in I 1170. The invaders then made for Bigod's Castle at Framlingham, where they remained until mid October. At some time in October Eye Castle was attacked and severely damaged. I While all this was happening de Lucy and Bohun had arrived at Bury St. Edmunds where they gathered the supporters ofthe King.

I The Earl ofLeicester decided to leave Framlingham and to go to the aid ofhis supporters in Leicester. On their journey west the French and Flemish troops were I intercepted" ....in marshland near Fornham St. Genevieve Church" (S2) I I I I I I

I 3 I I I THE BATTLE

I SOURCES

I The earliest accounts ofthe Battle, upon which all the later additions have been laid, date from the 12th century.

I Jordan Fantosme (SI) was an eye witness to most ofthe events of 1173 - 4 and wrote the Chronicles ojthe 1var bet1veen the English and the Scots ;111173 - 4 in the form I ofa poem. He gives a detailed description ofthe battle. Roger de Hoveden (S2) who wrote the Chronicle which is named after him, died in I 1201. He gives a location for the battle near the church of St. Genevieve. Ralph Diceto (S3) wrote Ymagines Historiarum which covers the period 1149 - 1199 I and died in 1202. He locates the battle as being north ofBury. I EVENTS Travelling west the rebels may have intended to take Bury St. Edmunds in revenge for I the sacking ofLeicester, or were seeking a ford over the flood plain ofthe River Lark. The Royalist force no doubt barred the way to Bury, and were probably positioned between Babwell Priory (now Hotel) and the former water mill north ofFornham St. I Martin's church. I Three significant finds ------the sword, spearhead and gold chain all come from the area ofthe mill.

I It is probable that the area ofthe present bridges, called Sheepwash and Causeway in 1839 (MS), was the ford that Leicester was seeking. Clay Hall cottages and John's Hill I where the artefacts have been found are adjacent to this crossing. Leicester probably drew up his forces across the valley, facing south towards Bury, with the river and ditches on his right, and higher ground to his left. The Royalists I made frontal attacks, and may also have come from Leicester's left side driving the Flemings towards the marsh land along the flood plain ofthe river.

I The account by Fantosme (SI) gives the most detailed description ofthe battle, interspersed with narrative from the main participants. In outline the events are :-

I The Earl ofLeicester and Sir Hugh de Chastel decide to accept battle (line 1028). The Earl ofArundel and Roger Bigod urge Humphrey de Bohun to attack the rebels. I Waiter Fitz Robert led the first assault but was driven back (line 1040). I

I 4 I I I de Bohun formed a reserve ofover 100 men, and with Roger Bigod, Hugh de Cressi and Robert Fitz Bernard broke the rebel ranks cc•••....makes a marvellous clearance of I these foreigners" (line 1058).

In the melee Leicester and de Chastel are "helpless", the Countess flees the field, falls I into a ditch, loses her rings and is captured (line 1073). Leicester and de Chastel are taken prisoner (line 1083).

I In the rout the Knights did "....the knocking down and the villeins did the killing" (line 1089) and by 15s, by 40s, by lOOs, by 1000s made the rebels "....tumble into the I ditches" (lines 1091 - 2). I ARTIFACTS AND SKELETAL REMAINS Scattered finds associated with the battle have been found in both Fornham St. Genevieve and St. Martin, covering an area from the foot ofBarton Hill in the south to I the church ofSt. Genevieve in the north.

Significantly all the finds have come from, or near low lying land along the eastern I edge ofthe River Lark and its ditches.

All the finds except (e) the skeletons found near St. Genevieve's church in 1826, are I outside the Assessment Area, but are included here as a record.

(a) Meadow between the A134 road and River Lark at bottom ofBarton Hill I (Fornham St. Martin).

During the laying ofthe sewer c1965 skeletal remains were found and reburied by the I contractors. Two skulls were later recovered by Suffolk Police (SMR: Misc.). Oral evidence from Stephen Plume 27.9.2000 shows that several skulls were "collected" by I local children, and later deposited in a gravel pit east ofthe Old Rectory, or in a box tomb in the churchyard. One ofthe skulls had a long cut, and the other two star shaped holes. The damage was described as similar to skulls shown on a recent T.Y. I programme on the Wars ofthe Roses. I (b) Former Water Mill (Fornham St. Martin). A 12th century spearhead was found in 1873 (S8), a length ofgold chain and the 12th I century sword with disc pommel and inscriptions in 1876 - 7 (S6 and S8). I (c) Riyer Lark, unspecified (Fornham St. Martin) A gold ring with a ruby (SMR: FSGMise Med) was found in 1811 in " ....mud thrown out ofthe river near Fornham St. Martin where there was once a ford" (S9). This ring I and another, with a garnet stone (SMR: FSM 004) have, since at least 1878, been thought to be the rings lost by the Countess ofLeicester (S6, S8, S9). I

I 5 I I This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown NORTH Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to Grid North prosecut ion or civil proceedings. Suffolk County Council 2000 Licence No. LA076864

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I Map showing findspots mentioned in the text I I I I I (d) John's Hill and Clay Hall Cottages (Fornham S1. Genevieve) Gage recorded in 1822 that" ....some pennies ofHenry II had been found at John's Hill" (S4). This was probably in 1819 when the present road through John's Hill to the I two bridges was made (M3).

The S:MR. lists an iron arrowhead (FSG : Misc.Med) "dug up in a garden in 1956, and I a dagger from the battle site". Oral evidence from Mrs. M. Buxton ofFornham S1. Martin on 27.9.2000 shows that a dagger or sword was found by Billy Garwood in the garden ofClay Hall Cottages in mid 1940s (they were at village school together). I Dagger was given to Moyses Hall and sent to Fitzwilliam for conservation. I (e) Near Fornham St Genevieve Church Two detailed accounts exist ofskeletons found beneath a pollard ash tree "near the I church" in1826 (SS and S8). The Bwy andNonvich Post 27 December 1826 and reprinted in Gentleman's Magazine 1827, part I p. 639 records that a pollard ash was being felled" ....near the I church, 18 feet in girth on a small hillock .... below which were a large quantity of skeletons, or fragments ofskeletons, all lying in a circle with heads inwards, and piled I tier upon tier from the depth ofabout 4 feet, being probably the remains ofseveral hundred bodies. The most perfect ofthe bones was a lower jaw bone oflarge dimensions, containing the whole ofthe teeth, all the rest were very much decayed .... I but it is rather remarkable that .... no warlike weapons were discovered" (SS).

Prigg (S6) in 1878 numbers the skeletons at 4 dozen (? the 4 feet of 1826) and adds I that some pennies ofHenry II were also found (? Gage's reference in 1822 to John's Hill).

I Barker in 1907 (S8) has the tree 15 feet in diameter on a low mound, in the park, near the church. But puts the skeletons at " ....not less than 40 .... piled in order with their faces upwards and their feet pointing to the centre (the reverse of 1826). He adds that I ....several ofthe skulls bore evident marks ofviolence, as ifthey had been pierced with arrows, or cleft by a sword ...." (there was no mention ofdamage in 1826, and the I bones were much "decayed"). The 1826 account also comments that "Single bodies, bones and remnants ofarms and I armour, have been not unfrequently found in the same area...." I I I

I 6 I 1 I I CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCES

The earliest maps ofthe Assessment Area were made in 1769 and 1788, before and I after the removal ofthe village, and the creation ofthe Park (Ml and M2).

A Highway Diversion Order of 1819 (M3) shows the diversion and creation ofthe I present road B 1106 through John's Hill to Sheepwash Bridge. This replaced the I former road which ran further north to the same bridge. There is an 1820 Enclosure Map (M4) covering the AA, and a Tithe Map ofFornham I All Saints in 1839 (MS) which covers the area to the west ofthe AA. The 1769 estate map, the 1820 Enclosure and the 1839 Tithe maps give details offield names. Bound with the 1820 map are the Tithe Apportionments ofboth Fornham St. I Genevieve and St. Martin.

No field names have been found within or adjacent to the AA to indicate any links 1 with the Battle ofFornham, or to help with its location. 1 I 1 I I I I I I I

.1 7 l I I I: I _ANGLO-SAXON BURIALS Any investigation ofthe site ofthe Battle ofFornham is complicated by the presence of I at least three Anglo Saxon burial sites, one ofwhich is within the Assessment Area, Kingsbury Hill (within the A A )

I Henry Prigg (S7) in an article about the Ingham burial ground records that before 1843 " ....an ancient burial place was discovered .... in one ofthe fields bordering the I cross-roads which leads from the Culford and Bury road to Hengrave Water Mill". The fields, bounded by the two roads on the east and north, and the River Lark on the I west, are named on an estate map of 1769 (Ml). From east to west they were Culford Land; Tinsmer Hill, altered in another hand to Kingsmill Hill, and which the Glebe Terriers (S10) between 1633 and 1777 show was called Kingsmeere Hill; Mill Field I and Broad Pasture.

On the Tithe Apportionment, bound with the Enclosure Map of 1820 (M4), the same I fields are called Corner Piece or Kings Mill Hill; Kingsbury Hill Plantation; Kingsbury Pightle and Kingsbury Meadow. Did all these fields become Kingsbury as a result of I the discovery ofthe skeletons? Gage used the name "Kingsbury Hill" in 1822 (S4). John' Hill

I Gage (S4) records" ....here lately have been discovered remains ofthe dead with culinary articles and some pennies ofHenry 11" .... glass and amber beads .... which appear to have been British ornaments. These were probably found in 1819 when the I road was created (M3). I Railway Bridge on Thetford Line SMR has this cemetery found in 1888 - 9 and is recorded in v.c.H. Barker in 1907 I (S8) gives its location as " ....on high ground beyond the railway arch on the Thetford line". I I I I I

I 8 I I I I CONCLUSIONS Roger de Hoveden (S2) is the only contemporary source to give anything like a location" .... in a place called Fornham, in a certain marsh not far from the church of I St. Genevieve",

In the medieval landscape churches would have been major landmarks for locating I events, so it is certain the site is nearer to the church ofSI. Genevieve than the church ofSt. Martin.

I It is most likely, from the documentary and topographical evidence, that the Battle began near John's Hill and Sheepwash Bridge, and continued north towards Fornham I SI. Genevieve church. The only recorded find within the AA is that ofthe skeletons beneath the ash tree in 1826 and the comment that" ....single bodies and remnants ofarms and armour, have I not unfrequently been found in the same area" (SS). It might be assumed that the tree was to the south ofthe church towards the river, but there is no evidence ofactual I location. The landscaping and creation ofthe park and canal, between 1769 and 1788, to the south ofthe church may have destroyed other evidence in the marshy land I adjacent to the river for a considerable distance. All the other artefacts and skeletal remains have been found to the south-east ofthe AA and to the north-east and east ofthe River Lark. The fact that they have all been I found in low lying meadows and ditches, confirms the marsh location ofHoveden, and the spread offinds reflects the melee and rout ofbattle.

I Ofequal significance however, is the Anglo Saxon cemetery within the north-west boundary ofthe AA I I I I I I I

I 9 I I This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown NORTH Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to Gr id North I prosecution or civil proceedings. Suffolk County Council 2000 Licence No. LA076864 I I I I

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I\ I \ I I \ I I I Anglo Saxon Cemeteries Dagger and coins of Henry 11 I Suggested location of 1826 skeletons I I I I I I I: I SOURCES SI. Jordan Fantosme Chronicle o.,fthe War between the English and the Scots in I 1173 - 4 S2. Roger de Hoveden Chronicles

I S3. Ralph Diceto : Ymagines Historiarum (l149 - 92) I All the above in Rolls Series : Chronicles o/the Reigns ofStephen. Henry 11 andRichardI I S4. John Gage: HistOlYandAntiquities ofHengrave : 1822 I S5. BUlYandNorwich Post: 27 December 1826 S6. Henry Prigg Lecture ofbattle ofFornham in Suffolk Standard 9 April 1878

I S7. Henry Prigg Romano -British CemetelY at Ingham in P.S.I.A. 6. (1888) I S8 Horace Barker West Suffglk Illustrated (1907) S9. Horace Barker Lecture on Battle ofFornham in Bury andNorwich Post 13 I May 1921. I S10. Glebe Terriers: 1633 - 1777 : SRO : (B) 806/1/64 M1. Estate Map 1769: SRO (B) 373/23 I M2. Estate Map 1788 SRO (B) 373/24 I M3. Highway Diversion Order: 1819 : SRO (B) QSHl33 M4. Enclosure Map : 1820 and Tithe Apportionments for St. Martin and St. I Genevieve : SRO (B) 761 M5. Tithe Map and Apportionment 1839 Fornham All Saints SRO (B) I T117/1 and 2 I I I

I 10· I ------

. DE 'JORDAN FANTOS}IE. 289 DE JORDAN FANTOS~IE, 291

" We have not come into this country to sojourn, The earl of Leicester stopped short 1000 " But to-destroy King Henry the old warrior And saw the armed men who came towards them: " And to have his wool, which we long for," .» Sir Hugh de ChasteI, come now forward here, Lords that is the truth: the greater part ofthem " And all our troop, the little and the zreat . were weavers,' " By my judgment we will not advance , They did not know how to bear arms like knights. " We will accept battle ridht hard and heavy. " B h Id h . 0 But they had come for this-to have gain and e 0 t e ll!l.uberks and helmets zlitterinz fighting; "'Iagainst t le sun' Cl 0 For there is no better place for hospitality on earth "But now be knights,' for God's sake, I command. than St. Edmund's, " you. . Lords, barons, now hear the· great vengeance 1030 " Woe be to the body of the man who may be of God, " first to flee . '. Which he caused to descend on Flemings and on " Th. at Iitmay never • be said of us in a proverb. . French. " that we are recreants." The earl of Leicester was a man of vast power; The earl o~ Arundel is of a. proud disposition, But he was of too youthful and childish a mind A~n. says to Humphrey de Bohun:" Now let us 1010 When he wished to go publicly through England go and a.ttack them Perpetrating robberies without hindrance, " For the honour of God and St. Edmund who is And causes his wife to take arms-to carry shield "a t rue martyr." . ' and lance: . ~oger le ~igod replies: "Quite. at your pleasure! His great folly will come to a hard birth. " I never III my life so much desired anything Saint Edmund had knights of the greatest As to,destroy the Flemings whom I see approach prowess, " hither." And arms them hastily, without any loss of time. It was Walter Fitz Robert who spurred on first­ Itwas WalterFitz Robert, of whom you hearspeak, Now be the King omnipotent his helper !_ Who first ran a tilt against the Flemings and put 1040 And goes to strike the Fleminzs rizht angrily ; And th 0 e 0 , them in an evil way. ey, Who fear him not, return the blows. Indeed the earl of Arundel-neverloved he delay­ They outnumbered him by thousands and by Came there with his followers, whom St. Edmund hundreds,' . prosper! So they make him retreat backwards with his 1020 Sir Humphrey de Bohun had caused them trouble people; Soon will you see them exchange blows, there is But he delayell not to seek vengeance: no other severance. For bad lu:k did they see England, all will be sorry for It. He met the earl and said to him roughly:

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DE JORDAN FA.~TOS~rE. 293 DE JORDA...~ FA.~TO~mE. 295

" You are the liegeman of my lord, be not slow: 1070 My lady the 'countess has taken the road " Behold his enemies going to his destruction. And has met with a ditch where she almost " Spur on, sir earl, along with us." drowned herself. .. 1050 And this he swore by the spear of God-that was In the midst of the mud she Iorzetso herrinos0 ,. his oath- Never in all her life will they be found. In evil hour did Robert bring such people from The earl's wife wished to drown herself Flanders. When Simon de Wahull 1 caught her to pull her up. Then you might see the earl who proudly draws " Lady come hence with me, let that alone. himself up, " Thus it goes with war: losing and gaining." And lord Roger le Bigod, who undertakes great Then earl Robed began to be greatly dismayed: deeds. When he saw his wife captured, he had good reason Nor did lord Hugh de Creissi 1 fail them at all; to be sad, .. But before they could fight as they liked 1080 And saw his' comrades slain by hundreds and Humphrey de Bohun had formed a reserve of thousands; more than a hundred.' . The colour in his face began to change. ' Indeed Robed Fitz Bernard 2 does right well, , Sir Humphrey de Bohun and the earl of Arundel He makes a marvellous clearance of these foreigners. Have secured the earl and Huzho de Chastel, Neither can Flemings nor Lombards effectually Ancllord Roger le Bigod was newly there that day. help themselves: . ' To him and Hugh de Creissi this deed seemed very 1060 They gathered the wool of England very late. fine.. . . Upon their bodies crows and buzzards descend, ,There was not in the country a villein or clown Who carrytheir souls to the :fire which ever burns. Who did notgo to kill Flemings with fork and flail. There the priest of Saint Suart will say mass for The armed knights intermeddled with nothing them:' . '." .' . • Except the knocking down, and the villeins did It would be better for them to hang by a rope in the killing. Flanders. 1090 By fifteens, by forties, by hundreds and by thou­ If God had been their help the Flemings would sands have been very brave; They made them by main force tumble into the But they had not deserved it for jheir great rob­ ditches. beries. If God there performed a miracle, it is not to be The earl of Leicester in an evil hour saw their wondered at, company, For never in my life did I hear speak of the man Nor will lord Hugh de Chastel rejoice in it: Who was so daring in arms, so doughty a knight, They are in the midst of the crowd, feebly, help­ As that if he wished to fight against king Henry, lessly. Even if the English would help him, •I I CHRONICLE OF ROGER DE HOVEDEN

I About the Feast ofAll Saints the aforesaid Earl ofLeicester left Framlingham and went to Leicester. And came with his army near to St. Edmunds in a place called Fornham, in a certain marsh not far from the church ofSt. Genofevae. The arrival having been I noticed, the aforesaid Earl with the large army and Humphrey de Boun with 300 ofthe King's soldiers, would have gone to have a meeting with the Earl ofLeicester, carrying I before him the standard ofSt. Edmunds, King and Martyr as a sign. And his battle lines having been arranged, in the virtue ofGod and the great glory of I the martyr St. Edmund, they struck the battle line in which the Earl ofLeicester was, and in that moment the Earl ofLeicester was defeated and captured, and his wife and Hugh de Castellis a nobleman ofthe Kingdom ofFrance, and all their strength was I demolished.

There were slaughteredin that meadow more than 10,000 Flemings, all the others I were captured, put in chains and imprisoned and perished ofhunger and want. Indeed the Earl ofLeicester and his wife and Hugh de Castillis and several nobles who were captured with him were sent to Normandy to the King's father and the King I imprisoned them at Falais and Hugh Earl ofChester with them I I I I I I I I I I 12 ,I U I Ymagines Historiarum I Ralph de Diceto I Robert Earl ofLeicester having squandered the money which he had taken with him I from England, turned back to England having passed through Flanders with his wife and household goods came to Wissart, where both Normans and Flemish, on horseback and on foot, a very large accompanying band climbed onto the ships, and I the sails having been spread out high was brought to land in Suffolk at Walton on 3rd October.

I Who, the ships having been hastily sent back worked for 4 days to storm the castle built on the brow ofthe hill, and although he had Count Hugh Bigod and however many machines he could gather by way ofhelp, he could not do harm to the tallest I tower or wall with the strongest foundation.

Thereafter making progress after several days, that is to say the 15th October, he I invaded, took and set fire to the castle ofI-Iaughley, and gathered by force about 30 I captured knights for ransom. Returning to Framlingham with an irksome delay at the castle ofLord Hugh Bigod, but to the wife ofthe same Hugh more vexations, compelled by necessity he directed his I mind to journey to Leicester. Suddenly therefore finding himself on the journey he left the town ofSt. Edmunds on I the left. Which force ofthe father King, who was delayed from being there to protect the country, he was not able to avoid.

I The Earl accompanied by many prepared for battle with 3,000 armed Fleming, which he then had on the way as fellow soldiers

I Indeed if the soldiers ofthe King were joined in Battle with the soldiers ofthe Earl, the number ofthe royal knights exceeded the Earl's Knights fourfold. Indeed if head for head they correspond with equal reckoning, if hereupon he had collected many both I horse and foot in like manner and lances then many more were with the Earl than stood on the other side.

I The struggle having begun and blows being struck and many repulsed and fought off. After various battles the result was that the Earl, the Countess, and however so many I Normans and French had come with them, were captured on 17 October. The greater part ofthe Flemings were killed, part were overwhelmed and a small part submitted to I be dragged away in irons. Hugo de Castello and Walter de Watelle were captured. I I 11 I 11 I I The manors of FORNHAlII ST. GENEVIEYE and FORNHAM ST. MARTIN to the I east, and FORNHAlII ALL .SAINTS to the south, were early possessions of St. Ed­ mund. Fornham St. Genevieve was part of the property holden by the treasurer I of St. Edmund's, Here the prior had a villa,x and here was a water corn-mill, known in early deeds by the name of the Abbot's mill. An ancient guild Y subsisted in this parish, called the guild of St. Genevieve. On the north side of I the parish is a rising ground, called Kingsbury Hill, the burial place according to popular tradition of three British kings. It was in Fornham St. Genevieve I that the rebellious Montford, Earl of Leicester was defeated, with great slaughter,

in the year 11i 3, himself and his Countess being taken prisoners. The field Z of I battle, according to Hovenden, was near the church; not far distant from which is an enclosure, remembered in ancient deeds by the name of le Camping Close. I which was part of the property of the abbey of St. Edmund, at the dissolution, granted to Sir Thomas Kytson. I

z For an account of the battle see Matthew Paris, 172. edit. 1571. B1omefield, the Norfolk his­ torian, and others, have intimated that the Seven Hills, near Ilymer's house, in Ingham, are the tumuli I of the Flemings slain in this battle; but those mounds have more the appearance of Celtic barrows; they are likewise too distant from the field of battle; and on opening some of them, nothing has been found to confirm the supposition. At John's Hill, near the Camping Close, and just above the I ancient ford of the river, have lately been discovered remains of the dead, together with culinary arti­ cles, and some pennies of King Henry the Second, rendering it more probable that this was the spot. It is also near the church, which agrees with Hovenden's account. A gold ring wit.h a ruby found near I the river, in the parish ofFornham St. Martin, and now in the possession of Charles BJomfield, Esq. of St. Edmund's Bury, is thought to have been the ring which the Countess of Leicester is said to have thrown away in her flight. The author has been favoured by the Duke of Norfolk with several glass I and amber heads discovered at John's Hill, which appear to have been British ornaments. I I I I I I I 11 ss I I

A curious t1i~\:lJH~rv was made a few days ago at I For nham Saint Gcuevicvn, near 1\nl)'. Men had been for-some davs employcd in f\"lllll~ .1 pollard ash near the church, which had. the appearance of great antiqnity, heing not less than cightceu feel ill girth, and "ery much tlc ..ayp.u; and Handing upon I a 5 III all hillock, which srcurcd to have been lell at a very distant I'rriotl, when thc rest 01 the soil around it had been lowered. On the fall of the tn'e, the roots, which were of unusual siae and !l'lIgth, tore up I 1I11~ ground to a cnusldrrubln extent, when immedi­ atdy under the trunk were discovered a largr- quau­ tily of skeletons, or rather fragments of skeletons, RII lying ill a clrclc, with the heads inwards, and I piled tier above tier, from the depth of ailout four Iert, being probably the remains of several hundrnd bodies. The 1II05t prrtcct 01 the hones was a lower jaw of largn dimeusroua, cout.aiuinu the whole of the terlh ; all the rest were \'ery much decayed. I 11 is wnll knnwn, both flOIll hivtory :tIHl throIl1Idi­ tion of uamr-s, that in th« reign of IIl'nry the Se­ co ud , A,D. lIi:l, lllis \'illage was the scene of a ~;,ngninarJ and dlcisi\Oe hallle. Acroonlinl! to I Ll ovedrn, the Earl or" Leicester ha\'illg lIIade a descellt upon Sutlulk, Rt the he-ad of a j!It'at body of F1emillgs, to support Lhe cl aim 01 the kill/!;'S 1111. dutiful sou to lri~ father's douiiuinus, and havi ug I bor-ujolur.d b)' 1I1II\h Higod, Earl of Norfolk, who puL thl' Gllstlc of Framlin!!ham into his hallds, was vucouutcrcd here b)' Ricluu (I de Lucy, the guar­ dian of the rrahn ill the killl\·s "bH'III'('., with a less 1111IIiero115, but braver Rlln)'; a III I the Fll'lIIillgs, I beilll\ 1II0stl)' weavers, Rllll other tr:llleslllrll, wr-re broke in nu ill slant, teu thousuud oflllel\l put to the s wnrrl, allll the rest were gla,1 tn ,:ullIpf)\IIul for a sale rct rrat inln thdr own country. It is, thr-rn­ I fore, probuble that thes.' wrre the slain of the vic­ torious party , Irnm tlu! curcful , Jet siugular man­ III'r in which the bodit'~ w er e depovited ; aurl that, :Ilte-r the "Rrth was he;!pPd O\Tr thPIII, the ash was plant".l 10 mark the spot. H IIJis snpposition be I correct, it alhll rls a st r ik ill~ instuncr- 01 the 10Ilgc\'il,Y of trees. Single borlies, bones, and Il~mllants of 1II0ms and armnur, ha'oc bren 1101 IInfnoquelltly found ill Ihe same IIC:,;:IUOlllholld; but it is ratln-r I retuarkablc Ihat 011 IIle prcsr nt occasion 110 warlike implements well' discovered. I 'b'-'l ~ N~~eL Q~ I 2-----1 kc. t ~1. b I I I I I \ j I ------~------, --- ._------.... •, _ ,_' The,'_Rati.le of Pornaam,:' '.' ': a.Dd"Ai-uDtrtl~e-;acr~I banner uf ;::it: -E;J:W'WliJ;Wilich • floated over t.b.ir ad vanctt

·~~--_ _~----'--·i ~~~-:~·~·· 01a:cbroni~fer·! 1"""'-...... _-_...... t.oI exhibited this weapon. Stepben ·h.iDs been eompalled to m&.ke lerI?1 with In concluaion he would tell them that a ring bad also Matild«.. the 8'Oc08811ion to thtl throne was .du.d ID layor been found where the Counte811 of Leicester migllt pot- of her IJOn Henry. and on ihe death of Staphen in llM, b. libly have 108' it. It Wall a gold ring with a v6ry fine took the Crown of EUf(land. At. that time Henry 11. 11''' ruby in it. aud wu formerly in poeaeeaion of BiAbop alre .dy a powerlol Prruce, biB poslleuioD' in France being Blomfield, by whom one ca.y it wa.s miMed. and it had weat~r IhaD tboBe of the Freuch Kiug bimlelf. He hw never been found sinoe. iD 1152 ml&r"ritld the di"orc"d wife of tbe French KinR, Mr. Prigg waa heartily thanked for bi. lecture, lLOd HeolY beiug tben ooly 20, wbillt. Eleauor 01 Aqoitain. after an inatructive and entertaining _adJreslI on "the ... 32. Henry took iD hand to carb th~ .power 01. tu Stars." by the Recwr, \he Rev. M. H. Begbi6. the clerRY. whicl. railed up a lltreoOOIl8 Oppolltlon, b1IL no,," audience departed. wiLb8LandiDK. be C1ined a Coancil and prowalgt.ud .. Jet. ----1. of I.w, to briog thew on an ~qoality wilh laJmeo, th.op­ po8itit>o to which '·llln.inateu in the murder of TboDlU A'Bookelt OQ t.be 27tIJ Dt.c~mber. 1170. Bl"ckeU bad been tator to H"ory'. ebildreo, and. thill .eYt:lnt alienated them I from Henry. Henl'}" gned of domilJion led him to laet biB eye. apon cerlain e..tl~8 of Ihe French King on .he bcKden of their kinKdom•• and with the ,iew'of aecuriDg .the.e, be propoaed tbat bil IOn 'Henry, whoDl be had &0 I ennlre t.be 11l.OCl"aaion; got crowned by the Arcbbilbop of York. ahoald be betrot.bed to a daughter of the King of P'raDoe. anel that th"ee C&Stltll Iboold be banded o...r to ~h. lUng 'of En61and ou t.be marriage. TIJ~ King 01. I Pranill. bOWClY6l'•. wialled to l'ollpone ~l. .~en" the 10tUlR people beiog meflt duldren. A 1~ ha. been f rm"d againlL RelltY in 117S. '.the NOl'1Dao baron., tbe dMCelld.n~ of ~hOM who C&Dle oYer I with tb. Cooqaeror•.were agamst. lIim. and the ill·bled ,oans Henry, aJter th. lDani~., OD the .dvice of bia ~lJk f·in·law demandtld ..·me country \0 ROYllrD, eitber Normandy or England or AUjoll. all then IObjeot t.o the I Crown of England. Thie beiog refaBed. the King 01. France determined to 1I1f.pod bis lOo-iIl-law, the invauon whLeb followed. baying for i~ object the kiugdom of Eo&l.and fo« cb. )'oan~ KinK. Thie leagae wu fnrther aagmentlWi !Iy I \he adbennoe uf the King of ~outland, Philip. Earl of JUt.nd-n, t.he Earl of NOI'folk, who for the aaaiataDoe be ~..aertMl wu ~ro,ui.~ tu ouUe and hODor of El- uel • ouUe of Norwich. The ~arl of Leieeaser. aDoLMt I prominent. rebel, had pcoperly. in Norm.andy ~~ch.LM Kiog pollooed apon to p.uiab hllD. for Jaia parti.cip&U8a, and .,.••La going agual' lht!m Lha King of France pro­ poNd a ...tiDg &0 arraage for a t"rmination 01. Lb_ wrar. I WUlah _ •• I I l J I f·~ban, bat tor the ~arll)f Leiceater- a 8l\tu~ry ooncla· : Lllice.tec' woald ha~libd to have muohed to Bury St. ' ;~ 0J1 WtiulJ h"v" resulted, but the Eul. b8lJ1g TeI'J much I EJmUDd'9 drat. becaue'lIlOlM of hi. friend. h&d taken ~~rag."J. H it! :dlllKttd ...:'!'(la the Kinl( ...hb hU .word. hid libel ~r OD :b. Ch1lT'C8 1.zlIa di-e, and hi. army could ~'·~lll"dCl of Leict!tlLtir haYil.r~ ~.,n ~ai"Ktnl !Jy ilie Lord Chi.f hue ~thc!"t' f1 1l'arn ham ' 'If&II in hi» direes :»1 Lh6 Churcb more p..rtioidar!y ~ th:\t time ~... at Bar) lioe IIf auuon t.o~r,_uUle.i.r route would lay fr01ll ~ ~.'81. Edruuu', .bich vJ~Od ~bn!.i'.~ Q, :el41P for tbem. H"tllghJey Bur;m-rBury te .c&Dlbridge, from Cam­ ·:Tbe Elul.(If Leioollkr d~J iut.l .F:;UlJbrll" rai..d:a.DOdy 01. bricl~ to_H"Illti.~.d.fl, 00 "Dd OIl ~ LeiOeeter, They would mere..oan911 whom wc: atu.!l nQ~ kuu" under t.a. Dame of be Il~- t4. tX'; "the riTer, rtrilnt aerou to RUby ror 'FI.mil:l4ll. These FIl!miuJt. bore r. Y'r.ry. hl(d cbar~ter; CunJ..,:~e ~ ·~er to &TOid the mam ClOUIlUJ which they made figutin~ a~r~o, anJ th&~ beiug ao it iI a matter com.. iown:..·.ih.t town. LeiC&iter bad:built hU hop68 -of "ond..r ho .. it happened Lhat th",. did not mw a better . on being ah1a &0 &Toid a ba.We; be had lOaDy trienda in .hand of tbe battle 01 Fornb&m. Tbe Earl of Leicester ~h. r~ ""'y and h. tboeght they would wi4k at hU lDolterdd his forces aDd about the lw few da~ of Sop­ p~-&Dd ... him R8 OI1;or u allnentaif he. 80t o\"e.r t.!m ber"twl witb his ar::lY &00om panied b, the Connte... the tinT he 'IFOGld be able to make a ruDning .6ght of it. Tbtly .rrind OD Mich.ttLm.,.,."y ~ WaiLoD, nO&l' F'em. Tbe:tt1l'd "u to th3 ~ of tbe pree6nt Fornluuu hridge ; &t:)we.. and were met there by tbl! E&rl of ~orlo1k, whanco thu .~ge .... lormerly called " Cauy bri~" .a OQI'• they marcbed to the CM.5t1e of framlioghll.m aDd 'then 00 ..paion probe.})ly of CaulKl",ay.cndge. The rinr ... 1- to Dunwieb a nry important pl&ee in theae claye, the PT~bll in ~004. at that -time, the 10" meadowa heiAg 1 »eat of a Bisboprie.. from the taking of which they hoped mor-e or ltiN ia an impulI&ble state, and. Leioeatar in to gaiu some plunder. ,To LhAoir great uloDi.hmeot. how­ order to ge1 CJ1"er ".a obliged to make fur ~.~ Tollgaie ner, thl!Y fODUd the tidiDlfI of tbtlir coming b&d jH'8coded brid~8 .here Lhe .!.bbot had a mill On ~ thero 1. thetn and the inhabitant. being qaite prepued, Leice.ter and finding the rinr pollm he wu at the IDtlrGJ 01 the 110ond: it Daeleli to make. &I1y alLempl againn t.lwND, and Kin!f'1 troope.. and ".. obliged to gi.,tt·t».tUe;· Mod: lbe aad hia army Wtif& ob1iKed to return to F'ramliDg. probably he woala form hie line &CJ'OU ~lle nJl.ey .0 u to ~. Attar t.hie thoy marched to HaughJe,. where h&\"e the m- _ th.ir right t!&Dk, plaoiDl hie am.all Dody th0!8 .".. ~ ~'. cutl., "hich being unpreparocl lor of caftlry 011 u.. 1liBb groQJld OD bi.I lAItt hnk. 1& ia I • ll1'~, Lllcester CU16 ,addelll, Upoll &Del ~ on the .appo.ed that t!M poillt .here Lbe dra1lin."...draWD...... ird da,. Hario~ obtained a ra~1D for the SO WiLt. in "1ornbam Pad, but Mr. Prigg wu inclined, to Lbiak ken there, LeicMUrr and hi. U1Dl retired asain to tb. fine liDe yu lorm.d in the n.lley, about the ~ oa ramliDgham, probably iD tbe hope of gettinj( tiding. which u.. 8Choel now ataada. The Lonl Chief Jadice from Frauco;of a futhOl' hodS of Flemingl be~.~nt to ordered the .u.ak to be made OD the liDeof the Rlami..ogs, it aai.t'l1Clt. 10 the meanwbile the King hael'deep&tohed b.lt in apite 01 ~ huioaa on.alallflbt Walter Fits Roberl mN88Dgertohie Lord Chiaf Jaatice in \lie North, who had t.o retire cU.oomtlW. The a.rchon who ....re po.tecl wu opposing the Kiog of Soou, and baying mad. a lad. 011 aome kind 01 Y&Dt&fra ground woald meet thia aUaok by ieD peace witb tbe enemy, tbe Lord Chief Justice left hit a ~j:tbt of &rt'OW'&. • hiola if it did not hurl the bigh" pl'O- 11 of foot mell, and, lalfiDR all hia honemen at onoe lOt ..~ by ooata OIl m&i1 "ould injure the bor.-. reDdoriDg if for the South, reAching Bary about the 15Ua 01 Oct. tbem uDDlanas-W-. Alter thia repll1lO another ~y "­ 73. ·OD .hearing that ~be KiBg's armywAl at Bary, t.h~ tacked ~.. troope en their left 4ank aad ieok 100 E&rl of Leice.tar leemed obl4Jed to go forward. baring praonera, thia b.U1gfollowed byanotb. aUaok froaa u.. TUy .....ted nlnable time in 8u1falk and placinK con. bonuneaa iD tU Royal AnnJ, ...hich charged L"'lUler'. dOlloe ia hit &lmy he darted wiLb t.h. object of re.chiD8 line and brob ilki &Di. tIW being acoom~bed, it .... loll . imrD of Leioeetar., Prob&bly he had left IOme 01 hil ....,. mat.. to,.a t.be &nDy ~ rout. AD old ohroDi" t~at HaD/tb1ey, bat, howe..r that may ho, OD the 16th .YI tU bilb~ nde abovJ aftar t.be Flem"'1I ia &heir . I r 17th Ootober be wu approa.chiag thU plaoe whiah he r tlight, knockin« them down and dllllpatchiD8 tbem; othen ea.cbed abont the middle of the day, hil army conmting boinll thr01f'D iA&o the rinr, beiol aaaiated iD thia by th. of about 3000 Fhtmiah bfaDtry, 40 Lights w~ their oo~t:.try people .-ho came up with 'Dch wet-pon.... lhey moo'&IOple, maatmDR allo(fethu about .1500 men iD­ luaing the Knightl and SOO mounted aUendantl. careful to .LAw that 10,000 FlemiDH' were .laia, Mt Lbe They number of killed may b. pat more aocarately at aboat "&J came by of Northgat. and RiabIBate to F'omham 1,500 to 1,600. The oDly remain. tbat ban been foaad il Bridg~ taking ap a pocihOD on th. hi~h grollnd jun abon at a moaad cla. &0 the churcsb ill Fornbam Park,- "hich h. bridg.. No dDnbt tbey form.cl a Yery impo.iDg little eenta~. -~ wu opened at the bogioniDg of the prNODl and _. at the,head of tbe troope tbey bore the ~ e&eM .taDclanl of 8t. EdmQud-whicb had· been found OOOt&ln the remma of men who had.aDdoabtodly I broiagbt from lbe mODa.t4ry, lUld DO doabt "u iDteadod fallen lD batu.; bat u th. mound oontain" only about four douD, probahIy the,. "ere tbe remaine of .om. per_ _ a .pdOial pr~teotioa againllt lheU foe.. it baring many atlC'OCdlng to tbea pcnal8Dt iJ.u, When .on. who held hi&Ia poaiLiona in Lb. royal &nIly, and wen hoooured witb other remaina Qf - ter arrind at Fornham b. foond the rOJa! troop' buial-Lb. Lb. alai. being in aigbt, and the Ilaeuion ariH. "hy did b. go to Fornb&Dl. left IlQbDried ia the -raIley. Le.U:eakr retired fighting ere are 'wo or three l'eUOas for No cIoaht dOWD tbe TILlley, aDd tbe rut nud wu probabl, mad. I uu... near tb. old charch at Forubam' tU. Gonori.,.., &Ad be I I I I I I nHlmflt",ly lInrro~lr..~t~T·tt)·· hill brother-in·law. He, with I l:ill ~t'mpflnJ' of \~JiJ,(lItB and barons, "'AA 'ent to Dot], And Itlaence &cron to };.;I'mfllldy to the King. after wLich he I ",&" e"n~iRO{·d to I'rillon for 1\ time, the "holf' of those who hll.d tIli~~ t liu rebellion ngllin!!t Henrj lHliog nltimfltely freely forgiY':o bJ' him. The Conntel'lI of Leicester WAB at thill baUl.., And on the d~'t'llt of her hnsbend attempted to I rlr.8pe to ...r,1I Bnrj'. It ill 8Il.id that M ahe rude a"AI her horse Iltnml,led, and !lhe "B.~ throw" off into a muddy ditch, and in tbe ditcb Ilbe left ber rinR". Another historian "aIll a" "he rode from iLc field, she took 011 be, ringe Rnd I threw them into the rh-er. Finding ber"elf closely punned, in dellpair IIhe tbrew bersel! into tbe river to drown herself', from which she "'R.II rescued. and immedilllely the rOJal Iroops ceme op and captured her, Sometime A~O • gold I ring: wllB found in the ri,er, ~od pall.ed into tbe pOlllle'l'lioo ot Millll BJoomfielrl, hut it anddauly dillflppflll.red from tbe Billhop'e fBmily, Rnd no trace of it can be fonnd. Mr. Prigg nbiltited A 8WO -d heloTlRinRto W. Oihtrap, E.q., which wa. I fonod a few JellrA bllck doring Borne draining operatlons III a 'rt.t Il fflW J"rde off tbe borse jump by Foroh"m mill», Couaidering tb.t it hSll been bnried in tbe gronud for 700 yps" it ia in Il rnnl\.tkable .tate of prell~nation. Ibe metal . being of. good qOAlity. There .re flome corioln gold I l~tterll on both sides, tbe meaning of "hioh Mr. Pri~g translated ,I Blessed be thou in the Dame of the Lord," intended probably in a tlpiril of tlatire 00 coming In contact with aD enemy. hea.. Mr. I Pr~g alllo exhibited aD ancient.Apear he hsd Ionnd Dear tbe "..me IIPOt. . Our "p"oe wiJI not permit nil to gire more than thi••horl I ollmoe of Mr, PriRg'1l lecture. , Afterward" the Rector (&IT. M. R. &sbie) glne ".hort .. ddr~lII on IlUItroDomy, which unfortunately the 1.lene.. of I the hour eompelled bim to curtail. I I I I I I I S7 I I

I I jHlSC been iulormo.] that \"()stigcs of nnotlior nncient hurinl place were discovororl , numy years ago, in the near neighbourhood, namely, in the pnrish of Fornluun Rt. I Genoviovo, in ono of the liclc]H bordering the cross road which lends from the Cullord HIlC] Bury road to Hcngravo water-mill. 'l'Iri« was clllrillg the occupation of Foruluun I Hall hy the Duk« of Norlolk, WIIO, nccorrliug to Ill)' informuut, inspected Lho disco\'l'ry, unrl took possession of the nntiquities found. The site of this cemetery could not be far l'('I\lO\,()C] from tlll\ "l\illgslmry Hill" I referred to" I,y the lutc Xlr. (:agc~ HH "the hurinl place, nccording to popular trnditiun , of thrc(~ Ihif.ish kiilgs." I • Hi,'o,",\' 01 1I,'"~m\"(·. 1'. Ill. I ~~0 Pn"'~J . I f(",--",---" ~"\."'tL G~e_J·~ •.~ ~'L..~. I ~ ~\}. r.:L~. ~L. VJ\'VI \~~f!3. I I I I I I I I I I' I I

I In 1173 the Earl of Leicester, who had espoused the cause of the rebels agaiust Killg Henry IL, brought over to Englalld a body of Flemish mercenaries, and seized Haugliley Castle. Robert de Lucy, Lord Chief Justice of England, who was engager! in repelling an invasion of the Scots, hastened with I some horsemen to Bury St. Eclmuud's, and there mustered an army which included many iuhabitunts of the town and numbered about £'500. Uuclcr him were Hu.npluey de Bohun, Heginald. Earl of Cornwall, and the Earls of Gloucester and Aruuclel. The sacred banner of SI. Eclmuucl was borne I at the head of the army by I{oger Bigod. Tile royal army passed out of Bury by the North and Risby gates, and uniting their forces at Foruh.un Bridge, apparently took up their position on the high ground on the road leading to Barton. This bridge was Ior merly known as the" cossie ' bridge, I evidently a corruption of .. causeway." On the 16th or 17th of October, the Ea:'! of Leicester, who had determined to avoid Bury and strike across the county to Leicester, approached Foruh.un with a force of some 3,::?OO men. He m.«le I for a ford near the present Fornluun Bridge, hut probably was unable to cross owing to Hoods, and being prevented from using the Bridge at Babbewell, was compelled to accept battle. It is impossible to say definitely where the battle commenced, but it seems probable that the Earl's army was drawn I up in the valley, nol far from the site of the present school at Forulnun St. Martin, and having the river on its right flank. The royal horse broke throngh the Fleuiings on the left. of the Earl's position, and a general rout ensued. The Couutess of Leicester fled by the river towards Bury, but I was taken prisoner. A couteuipor.uy account says she was thrown into a ditch, and in scrnmbliug out lost her rings. Another account says she threw her rings away. Be that as it may, a gold ring with a very fine ruby in it was found near the spot, and was formerly in possession of Bishop Blomfield, I who however lost it. The Earl made his last stand near the Church of Fornham St. Genevieve, and, after a furious struggle, surrendered. He and his wife were for a time lodged in Bury, whence they were sent to I Normandy. Old chroniclers, in their free and easy way, put down the number of slain at 10,000, but we must remember that even in the 20111 century, journalists occasionally exaggerate. In 1826, while felling an ancient poll.ud ash that stood upon a low mound of earth, about ntteeu I feet in diameter, in the park, near the Church, a heap of not less than forty skeletons was discovered­ They were in good preservation, piled in order, tier above tier, with their faces upward, and their feet pointing to the centre. Several of the skulls bore evident marks of violence, as if they had I been pierced with arrows, or cleft by a sword. It is suggested that these were persons who had held hig}, positions in the royal army, and were honoured with burial-the other slain being left unburied in the valley. I In a ditch near Fornham mill was found a sword, upon which was the inscription in goldlelters, 'c Homine Domine.' A spear-head was found in d:l73' near the same spot, and is now in the Bury Museum. About thirty years ago, near where the sword was found and during the same digging operations, a worku-an found a piece of chain about 10 inches in length. He, thinking it of no value, I gave it as a plaything to the children at the house where he lodged. Some time after, when he tried

to recover it, he could find only a piece about 2 inches long, which he took to Bury ami sold {or I several pounds, as it was found to be of gold. I I H~ ~w-\W- LJ e-&r- ~~"- 1\.\.-,..1.~J. I t '\07 I ..~;~:IiIf'._i. IW.....'-••,. ~,i .~••_ ~ IIIIiI ---- ;' .,~~ .~·:~.:::'.~>I' .: I. . ~. , .'. ,"~. ., ~'. .: I ....r: ~~:, ,;' . "S'little' ·dust. :Outside ~ury se.': Edmund'sa. ------.• y.; I ...;; . _.::..'.,.. "" ...... ~("".__'--__-:. L-_~ .... ,", . Leitester tried to rallv them. 11ls wile at- i '~~ .~ H~n:A1C'E ItM~erwal'(!~ .}Jassed,into .the. po's~es'si6n" "f .. : ;,' !,'.. P.ART. H.-LBCTUlRiE '.By ,itlt. D .A:RJKEl\:.' I t6i'n~ted escape,' was thrown 1I. 'I' to but into lll~. !>lsIIOP: was ;J(J1t;,and was··neve.r'rocovir: dj'~~. and iri extricating herselflost her rings, 1 e~...~Iumau Iem:tl.ug hnve: been found iit' b(~~rnh~m Minor, Doniesday Book teUs I . '. " "A ISTrRiRT~G .CO':-!'FLT,c:t, 0,1'. all an(lthera~count says, she threw them j ·llway. She tlnng herself into .the watpr, but: c1ealllng out lhe river.. .and hi 182itwentv" us it· was' held. by'the Abbey' ill the time of I ..', In October; -1173; Fernham St. l\lnrtin .wns r~ltr sk;letons. were; Iincoyercd to ti;ii ~auUI .~I\S taken thence by WaltC'l' de Wahull,who I King' Edward :the Confessor as' a manor one Hill~ scene of a stirring ~onnict. The' EaI~~ of : I Side of r~lllgate Lane -. Humnn bones rece!)t' L~icester, ~itb carucate:'.··· Aild·lQ freemen and 6 borders held · had rebelled against Hem)' IL,and '! ·thus adure'ssed her I "Lady,' come away . [I.... f,o'Ulld ill .that Vi,:<:illiti,:\I'e,' th,Ollght, ii,V lit,IS~ 30 ~ct;{~;';and )anothel' freeman held 12 acres. b'rougli,t'~oEngla;rtu a boo)' of I<:lemingsiHe. me, gi ve up that idea, for thus it fares' UI v,'al'j' ~ N: Lnyard to bc Anglo,Sa,\on;' , In..iile"nJSby' ,jal!uelle must have had a try. pllth ·field~, forn~el'tyFornhan! treat,li; "{any AnJ:to. the' 'chtil'ch belonged 16 acres. . '- whel;~ Th~" .t.Q·.Frarll!ingha:nl;· hlY was not apparent­ ing day.] Leicester seems to have made his I:sk,e'.~tons h~vp. been found. wI.thol" blJc.rde~. old ,'Tollgate britigewith its ford on lyvery welcome, 'ilndattcrlln' unsuccessful lust staud near where the ruins of the churclJ. , and fra>(ments of metal. An Il'onsncar.head the: ·:so~th·.iride 'y,:as:I"cplaced by the present .•&tta~k upon Dunwieh, he marched- in' the of St. ~ Genevieve stand in the park. "lie now , of ,the 12th ,century. was. found; in 'ljl73 on':i'he bridge' ~bo·~~. 1890. \\00 pass a 'Iong sil'etch ·direction of Leicester.. 'His object seems to surrendered, and with the countess and othel" : field or battle, -nnd II ~a~ger .is'sIJPPOSl\d.'. to' of wa:ll', part of it beuriug traces of Tudor '~~ye b~en" to avoid.nIYry, a~d, by seizing prisouors was subsequently sent Into Nor' .c?mc.from thp. same Iocallty. J)othlhllse' ate work•. ThIS .encloses a. vegetable .gnrden, and -:·l11shy.. to.. secure fhe road, to Leicester via mandy and placed ill confinement at Fnlaiair :' . ndw, Ill. the. Tri~pollecti?n ~t Moyspsi ~J~ll'. ' this pillee of, ground' seems' to ha ve been add­ ',1Iullfingdon, Robert de Lucv, Lord Chief The church here wns destroyed by fire on In a dItch ~p.ar } or~hnm . mtllwn~~,!ounlt S ed ':lIlter the' dissolution of, the Friary, and :~. J~lsticeof ~'ngiitnd, who W,!S .r~p~,lling ail in- 'June 24, 1782; owing, it is said; to the cnre­ swor~1 01.'. wll1ch was, 1n ~old· letters "H0rr.ino' pl'obably \vas·thesitewhere the Killg's Coutt · tllsion·.o.f. the Scots, hastened tfo}l1?~lIrY. His Icssncs~ of 1\ man slllluting at j{lckdaws,' Thd Domllle: I. About. .45yea~s ..ago" npilr tiJhi of Pleas was' held; when the Friars 111 30 .l!:d. .: lit'iiii, inchi\lec1 360 knights, witli'- the forces tower Mtill remains, alld 50\110 of -the toml1' spot,. a wo.rk~an .dug· uP·.1l pillce'Qf' chniri. I. repre'sen'ed't~ the Killg that it would be ~ I)'f the district hasfilygat hered togcthcr ill'luer' stones in the old churchY3rl!. In July;'I843j ., abont len Inch.es long.,,' TJ~ink.ingi£.o(n9' "a. ,greh.r griev:mceand loss, because if I'ain ··.ono 01 the:,shel'iffii,- and possibl·/ some nrined the manor, ..... hich pnssed ,like. that- of 'Fdrl1: ;. vaiue he ~a\'e It a~ a.playtlVnlr·, to the"ehild" or a storm' should happen to come" the people · ~~ervants of the' \Ahbl.',·..· With him wern ham St, ~fartiil, was, 801d. by the Duke of" . ren at thc house ',Vhere he lodge,d:SoOle time would' have no rduge for themselves.And their ·.~itumphrcy de Bohun. High Constable. and Norfolk lo Lord Mallners for £75,350, and irf.. aftf!r he· .tried to ·l'et"Qver. it. but. cotiid' :finci ' horile~.hut·the church ,of the frinrs:" Toll" ,,-(fin. EBils 01'Cornwall. Glou·cester.and Arnn· 1862 Sir Wm, Gilstl'l1pboughtit for £85,000: ~ oniy .a pi~ce about. two, inches Icing;' ,vlii~i{ ·gate lane' ,tall forinerly known as l'eddar-way. 'flel.l'hf) . ·entire..' array' numhered "perhaps In 1lJ20, \vhile fellinl; an ancient polla.rll ball,' h,c ~ook to Bury ·an~.soI9 for. several pou'r~ds;, The' old wall at .the 'back of the greenhouses ·,1,500: Wit.h.-the sa~red banllp.r' of St., Ed- that stoo,l upon a low Illound of earth aboli~ as .It, \Vas gold., ,.' .. ;.' . '. '.' , ,WB'~ ~he' southern' boundary, and excavations • J'nlllld at~t,heit'helld they marched out of Bliry 15 feet. in diametet in the- 'park' nea'r thO. . ·the late, Mr. Trigg rocordeu' that 'he\b5' Ahowed itsextensttm In a true line with thc' by..the N'o~th and Risby gates" and united church, a heap of 'no fewer thall 40 skeletollli ',:,f~rmp.r1 U~.at many years a~o "vestig~s of' an ftont: of .the present hou~e. From the 'road {heirfor~es at the bridge'formerly known as ":,a~ dis.cove~ed. They: were· ill good preserv'u',­ ancient bunal ground wPore fourid in FOl'nham·.' <.'Co~sie"(e~;dently 9ne ·~ali.'sec a rubb\tl pier shnding near the , ca.use,vlly) at FOl'nhnm. tlon, piled III otdel'.(ler'llpon tier, faces up" Ht. Gerreviev,e in one or the fiidds horderinll.,J · b:lr.n, and, tho trllee bf an i!arly. g:tteway ,in , "Mr; Snow. has pointed Ot.lt to me that the ward, feet to thc ccntre; Several of the skull;'. t.he cross .1'0a,llea.site ot the .:. 'In 1782 a' volunteer encampment was~'hrld stilllds th~ j{I'ar.t1te ,.rciss.commemora'ting "Qui now stands. .With tbe folk·lo.re of th.eneigh­ somo airehers... 'V:ilter de 'Vahull, :\ ba\'(lIlct lel1iii~a bOllrhoocl I cannot now' deal in detail. . · iq a field npnriy opposite the, cilUrt",h. This of Ued'ford'shi:re; was- onc of his commandprs.: drat-hless dead'l who far greater.·coo, wori~.- wa~ f1id.. '. .'.. '-' •. .It remains to. me .to record' my gratefut ehurrhjsof Perprndicillar. anlf rp· He drew up·.his'l!imy' in th~ Fornham l,'neacl­ "storpd in 1846., The south riisle WIIS' rebnilt thanks to Mrs. C. Andrews for the loan· or 6Wll; .facing. ~ury, wi~h tI'Ie swollelt river :iiEi,iCI.(d~;TjjE FnA-v; f~U;cr, . iril870"1her~ ,ia a; p!ili"of silt hpils. Thp. the 71113. n9tes col!ected by· her , the' 'guarding its r~ht flank... . Relics of. the-fight ar~ IIIalIy... Ili 1811 li late.Mr. Henry,Trlgg, and td·l\fr.·lt Sno,v' · fegls!.t'rS date from 1537., The oid hall stands Waiter Fitz Rober~ made ~ furious' charge hear the river. . lahourer ill: tUl'lling over '.some mud throwli . lor.·.f.l.'e ,use of the p~'1n ·of the Friary, for fult .pon thl!m •. bl,lt was repuls.ed, and on rejoin-. I out'of theriv,er near l'ornham St:' l\Iartir~(.~ permIssIon. to examme.the. existing remaiosi ing the main bod' urged the Earl of Arunc1el where ollce .was a foZ:d, stuclf ~is ,fork throl!gl1. ' an~ for' other ~ollrtllous help, &, .ad'vancl!, othet)vise t,heir l!nemies ,,,ould de· n small pl:ulI gold 1'lIlg set With II fine'ruby: ;, . A few misprints in last.week's shOl;Id' n~QY ~hem. H~lmphrey pa.per . de Dohun thlln It 'was so\,I' to a goldsmith lit Bury; fronl . here ~e <:orr~cted. "The north. ~\'I\I.I of. the', th",geit. and to.ok .over. 100' prisoners. Thc whom it, was bought>.. by. ille f/lther of Chllrl"" tower. should be ,"of. .t.hf1 towri"; Hl'nhame' w,Mle .line of the RO)'iLI army attacked, and Blonllield, Bishop of London.. It wlls ShOWl1 should of course be Henhowe;' \lnd' "iea~d • ·(h.e Flemings .\\'ere broken and s('nttered. i to (:eorge Ill:, and believed. to:b/l the identi' should be Weeyer. .. .-. ',fhey Mero ~ have still f.ought !>!.avel~: an,d i cal ring WOi'll bY' th,e Countcss 61 L~iCe~tl!r... J