A nunnery formerly existed at Carrow Abbey, dedicated to St. Mary and St. John. It was founded in the year 1146 by two ladies named Leftelina and Seyna. It was richly endowed by King Stephen, and consisted of a Prioress and nine Benedictine Nuns, which number was afterwards increased to twelve. The site within the walls contained about ten acres of land, and the revenues and possessions were great. At the Dissolution the abbey and lands became private property.
Anchorages or Hermitages were connected with several of the monastic institutions in the city, and even inhabited by recluses. Anchorets were a sort of monks, so called from their shutting themselves up in anchorages or cells. Of these there were male and female, the eremite or hermit, who pretended to follow the example of John the Baptist, and the anchoress, who professed to imitate the conduct of Judith. All these anchorages were abolished at the Dissolution or at the Reformation.
THE MONUMENTAL BRASSES OF NORWICH AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
To Archæologists, and particularly to those directing their attention to Monumental Brasses, the following list of Brasses in Norwich and the principal villages in the neighbourhood, may be considered useful. They are classified under their distinctive characters, namely—1st, Ecclesiastics; 2nd, knights; 3rd, civilians and ladies; 4th, miscellaneous. The list specifies those consisting of effigies generally perfect, with their inscriptions, unless otherwise mentioned.
An alphabetical list of the churches, with the various brasses in each, is also appended.
ECCLESIASTICS. | ||
1389. | Richardus Thaseburgh, rector of Hellesdon. | Hellesdon. |
1437. | Galfridus Langley, installed Prior of Saint Faith theVirgin, at Horsham, 1401. | St. Lawrence. |
1450. | John Alnwik, in academic costume. | Surlingham. |
1487. | Roger Clarke, priest. | St. Peter atSouthgate. |
1497. | Walter Goos, priest. | St. Swithin. |
John Smyth, priest—chalice. | St. Giles. | |
| Henry Alikok—chalice. | Colney. |
| Thome Coke, rector of Bodham—chalice lost,inscription only remaining. | St. Michael atCoslany. |
| An individual unknown—chalice. | Poringland Magna. |
| Randulphus Pulvertoft—inscription only. | The Cathedral(Jesus’ Chapel). |
1531. | William Richies, vicar of Bawburgh. | Bawburgh. |
1545. | Thome Capp, vicar. | St. Stephen. |
KNIGHTS. | ||
c1460. | John Toddenham. A small figure, with scroll from themouth. | St. John in Maddermarket,Norwich. |
1499. | Thome Heveningham, and Anne, his wife. This is abeautifully executed brass, and is placed under a canopy upon analtar tomb. He died 1499. The blank intended for thedate of the death of his wife still remains. | Ketteringham. |
1559. | John Corbet, and Jane, his wife. He died 1470. The blank left for the date of her death still remains. | Sprowston. |
1565. | Sir Edward Warner. | Plumstead Parva. |
1568. | Sir Peter Rede. Discovered to be a Palimpsest, in1851. | St. Peter Mancroft,Norwich. |
CIVILIANS AND LADIES. | ||
c1380. | Richard de Heylesdone, and Beatrice, his wife. | Hellesdon. |
1384. | John de Heylesdone, and Johanna, his wife. Aninscription only. | Hellesdon. |
1412. | Walter Moneslee, and Isabella, his wife. | St. John inMaddermarket. |
1432. | Robert Baxter, and Christiana, his wife. | St. Giles. |
1435. | Robert Brasyer, and Christiana, his wife. Acelebrated bell-founder. | St. Stephen. |
| Roberti Brasyer (mutilated). | St. Stephen. |
1436. | Richard Purdaunce, and Margaret, his wife. | St. Giles. |
1436. | John Asgar, the younger. | St. Lawrence. |
c1445. | Alice Thorndon. | Frettenham. |
Thomas Bokenham, and wife. | St. Stephen. | |
c1460. | A Lady (unknown). | Frettenham. |
1470. | Jane Corbet, in Brass, of John Corbet, and Jane, hiswife—see “Knights.” | Sprowston. |
1475. | William Pepyr, and Joan, his wife. Inscription andfour shields lost | St. John inMaddermarket. |
1475. | William Norwiche, and Alicia, his wife. A BracketBrass. Canopy mutilated. | St. George atColegate. |
1495. | John Horslee, and Agnes, his wife. | St. Swithin. |
1499. | Anne Heveningham, in Brass, of Thome Heveningham, andAnne, his wife—see “Knights.” | Ketteringham. |
| A Lady (unknown). There are two Inscriptions, with afigure of a Child, inserted with this Brass, in the wall of thechurch, which do not relate to it. | Ketteringham. |
1591. | Richard Ferrers, Mayor of Norwich, in the years 1473,1478, 1483, 1493, 1498. Merchant’s mark andinscription only remaining. | St. Michael atCoslany. |
1502. | Thomas Cook. | St. Gregory. |
1503. | Edward Ward. | Bixley. |
1505. | William Dussing, and Katherine, his wife. In windingsheets. | Kirby Bedon. |
1505. | Thome Tyard. In winding sheets. | Bawburgh. |
c1510. | Juliane Anyell. | Witton. |
1514. | Margaret Pettwode. | St. Clement. |
1515. | Henrici Scolows, and Alicia, his wife. In windingsheets, with four evangelical emblems. | St. Michael atCoslany. |
1524. | John Terri, and Lettys, his wife. An elaborateBrass, with twenty lines of English verse. | St. John inMaddermarket. |
c1527. | John Gilbert. Fragments of canopy and inscriptiononly remaining. | St. Andrew. |
1528. | Edwardus Whyte, and Elizabeth, his wife. | Shottisham St. Mary. |
c1538. | William Layer, and wife. Inscription lost. | St. Andrew. |
1540. | Nicholas Suttherton. An inscription andshield. A palimpsest, now in the church chest, formerly ateast end of nave. | St. John inMaddermarket. |
1546. | Bel Buttry. | St. Stephen. |
1558. | Robarte Rugge, Mayor of Norwich, and Elizabeth, hiswife. | St. John inMaddermarket. |
Helen Caus, wife of Thomas Caus, Mayor of Norwich. This is one of three effigies which represented Thomas Caus,Mayor in 1495 and 1503, and Johanna and Helen, his wives, and isa late example of the pedimental head dress. The othereffigies are lost. | St. John inMaddermarket. | |
| A Mayor of Norwich, and his Wife. Name and dateunknown. Inscription lost. | St. John inMaddermarket. |
1577. | Anne Rede, wife of Sir Peter Rede (whose Brass lies in St.Peter of Mancroft Church). | St. Margaret. |
1600. | Mary Bussie. Lost since 1850; formerly in the churchof | St. Peter ofMancroft. |
1605. | Mis Anē Claxton; an inscription and shield. | St. Mary at Coslany. |
1649. | Clere Talbot, and his Wives. | Dunston. |
1818. | Mary Elizabeth, wife of Edward South Thurlow. Across, brass, with a border inscription; laid down within thelast few years. | The Cathedral (northside of Choir). |
MISCELLANEOUS. | ||
1452. | Thomas Childes. A skeleton figure, inscriptionlost. | St. Lawrence,Norwich. |
| An individual unknown. A heart with threescrolls. | Kirby Bedon. |
| A small figure in winding sheet; comparatively modern. | Bawburgh. |
LIST OF THE CHURCHES WITH BRASSES.
St. Andrew, Norwich. | ||
| John Gilbert | 1527 |
| William Layer, and wife | 1538 |
The Cathedral, Jesus’Chapel, Norwich. | ||
| Randulphus Pulvertoft | 1499 |
| Mary Elizabeth, wife of Edward South Thurlow | 1818 |
St. Clement, Norwich. | ||
| Margaret Pettwode | 1514 |
| William Norwiche | 1475 |
St. Giles, Norwich. | ||
| Robert Baxter, and Christiana, his wife | 1432 |
| Richard Purdaunce, and Margaret, his wife | 1436 |
| John Smyth, priest | 1499 |
St. Gregory, Norwich. | ||
| Thomas Cok | 1502 |
St. John in Maddermarket. | ||
| Walter Moneslee, and Isabella, his wife | 1412 |
| John Toddenham | c1460 |
| William Pepyr, and Joan, his wife | 1476 |
| A Mayor of Norwich, name unknown |
|
| John Terri, and Lettys, his wife | 1524 |
| Nicholas Suttherton | 1540 |
| Robarte Rugge, and Elizabeth, his wife | 1558 |
| Helen Caus | 1560 |
St. Lawrence, Norwich. | ||
| John Asgar, the younger | 1436 |
| Galfridus Langley | 1437 |
| Thomas Childes | 1452 |
St. Margaret, Norwich. | ||
| Anne Rede | 1577 |
St. Mary at Coslany,Norwich. | ||
| Mis Anē Claxton | 1605 |
St. Michael at Coslany,Norwich. | ||
| Richard Ferrers | 1501 |
| Henrici Scolows, and Alicia, his wife | 1515 |
| Thome Coke |
|
St. Peter of Mancroft,Norwich. | ||
| Sir Peter Rede | 1568 |
| The Brass of Mary Bussie, date 1600, has been lost since1850 |
|
St. Peter at Southgate,Norwich. | ||
| Roger Clarke | 1487 |
St. Stephen, Norwich. | ||
| Robert Brasyer, and Christiana, his wife | 1435 |
| Thomas Bokenham and wife | 1460 |
| Roberti Brasyer |
|
| Thome Capp, vicar | 1545 |
| Bel Buttry | 1546 |
| John Horslee, and Agnes, his wife | 1495 |
| Walter Goos, priest | 1497 |
Bawburgh. | ||
| Thome Tyard | 1505 |
| William Richies—chalice | 1531 |
| A small figure, in winding sheet |
|
Bixley. | ||
| Edward Ward | 1503 |
Colney. | ||
| Henry Alikok |
|
Dunston. | ||
| Clare Talbot, and his wives | 1649 |
Frettenham. | ||
| Alice Thorndon | c1445 |
| Lady (unknown) | c1460 |
Hellesdon. | ||
| Richard de Heylesdone, and Beatrice, his wife | 1380 |
| John de Heylesdone, and Johanna, his wife | 1384 |
| Richardus Thaseburgh | 1389 |
Ketteringham. | ||
| Thome Heveningham, and Anne, his wife | 1499 |
| Lady (unknown) |
|
Kirby Bedon. | ||
| William Dussing, and Katherine, his wife | 1505 |
| An individual unknown. A heart with threescrolls |
|
Plumstead Parva. | ||
| Sir Edward Warner | 1565 |
Poringland Magna. | ||
| An individual unknown—chalice |
|
Shottisham St. Mary. | ||
| Edwardus Whyte, and Elizabeth, his wife | 1528 |
Surlingham. | ||
| John Alnwick | 1450 |
Sprowston. | ||
| John Corbet, and Jane, his wife | 1470 |
Witton. | ||
| Juliana Anyell | c1505 |
CHAPTER II.
The Aborigines.
Norwich is very remarkable for its antiquities, its historical associations, its manufactures, and its trade; and also for the eminent men who have flourished at various periods in the city. It was the scene of many important events in the times of the Iceni, the Romans, the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and Normans. It was the royal seat of Anglo-Saxon princes. It was the Hierapolis Monachopolis of the middle ages; famous for its churches and convents; and in later times, celebrated for its Norman castle and cathedral.