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his castle of Bukenham, and the Earl of the King in chief. In 1301, Henry de Rothinge held of the King, as of his honour of Albemarle, at half a fee, one capital manor-house, 80 acres of land, one piece of meadow, and six acres bruery, liberty of a free-fold, 20s. rents of assize, and other rents and services in Brethenham, the whole being valued at 50s. 9d. and also 100 acres in the said town, of William de Bretenham, by the service of 12d. a year, and Alexander was his son and heir, who, in 1308, possessed it; in 1314, Alexander de Rothing, William de Bretenham, the Prior of Thetford, and the Master of Rushford, were lords of the manors in this town. This Alexander it was that divided the manor into many parts, by selling half a fee held of the honour of Clare, to Robert Baynard, Hugh Stopusle, and others, who settled all their parts on Thomas Gardiner, clerk, rector of Croxton, in trust for the Prior of Thetford. In 1345, Henry de Rothing held the other part, which he divided into two manors, and sold one to the Herlings, whose heiress gave it to Rushworth college; and this was that Rothing Hall manor, that belonged to the college, to which there was 60 acres, and a toft added by Will. Fullere, and others; and in 1374, he sold the other part to Rob. de Batisforth, Robert Benbrus, clerk, Richard Pareys, James de Bretenham, John Purri, and Tho. Fullere, who, in 1385, settled it on Tho. Gardiner, rector of Croxton, and he conveyed it, with Baniard's part, to the Prior of Thetford, who was taxed for the first part at 16s. and for this, at one mark; and these constituted that manor called Rothyngs, alias Rothyng Hall, to which the Prior joined his manor of Burnvilles; and in 1413, Alexander, master of Rushworth college, Tho. Crowe, John Mannyng, Will. Parys, and John Greene, clerks, fellows there, released to the Prior of St. Mary at Thetford a yearly rent of 6d. paid them by the Prior, out of lands in Bretenham, and thus there were two manors called Rothing Hall, to the Dissolution, and then they both came to the Earl of Surrey in 1542, who reunited them; and in 1556, Thomas Duke of Norfolk held it in capite of the Queen, and in 1572 it belonged to the Earl of Surrey; and in 1583, Phillip Earl of Arundell sold it to Tho. Lovell, Esq. and in 1622, Sir Francis Lovell, Knt. and William Lovell, Esq. sold it to Tho. Wright of Kilverstone, Esq. in whose family it continued till Tho. Wright of Kilverstone, Esq. lately sold it to Mr. George Proctor of Thetford, who is the present lord [1737.]


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