The parishes in Lothingland, in which the greatest number of estates are returned are Somerleyton, Lound, and Belton. I believe that these parishes contain the best agricultural land in the district. The church in Somerleyton is mentioned as having 20 acres of glebe belonging to it, but the parish priest—or parson as he was afterwards called—appears to have possessed a small manor of 40 acres in addition.
Gunton is not mentioned in Domesday. Corton appears as containing an estate belonging to the Crown, of which no details are given, except that it was valued at 20s.
The lost Newton is mentioned as a small estate of 30 acres, owned by a freeman, and valued at 3s. Newton existed for several hundred years as a small hamlet to the north of Corton, but has been long since carried away by the sea, except parts of one or two fields still left on the top of the cliff.
In the Half-Hundred of Mutford, the parishes of Kessingland, Carlton, and Mutford, appear as containing large villages, and several estates which had passed from Saxon Thanes to Norman Barons.
In Mutford there were two churches, with lands belonging to them in Rushmere, Kirkley, Pakefield, and Gisleham. In the account of Pakefield we hear that Earl Gurth possessed one mediety of the living, which was divided between two Rectors up to the 17th century. It is probable that the prototype of the present double church was in existence then.
Herring Rents.
Domesday contains evidence of much interest in connection with the history of our herring fishery, in the returns of herring rents from farms in this neighbourhood.
One of the largest Norman landowners in these parts was Hugo de Montfort. He appears to have been connected with the sea when in Normandy, for it is said that he supplied William with 60 ships to carry his men over to England. Whether Hugo was very fond of herrings, or because he wished to encourage the herring fishery we know not, but it appears that when he had turned out the English landowner Burchard, and taken possession of his farms, he not only raised the money rents, but he required many of the tenants to supply him with herrings in addition.
In Kessingland he became the landlord of a small estate held by four freeman, which had been valued at 10s., but from which Hugo demanded a rent of 22,000 herrings. [17]
In Rushmere he had a farm which paid him as rent 700 herrings.