Tasburgh Manors

Between the eleventh century and 1925, manors played an important local role. Although some elements of the 'manorial system' may be perceived in England before the Norman Conquest, it was really only after 1066 that the manor, as a feudal estate, or fief, developed into an essential unit of local government, as well as becoming a largely agriculturally based economic unit. In the middle ages, manors were ultimately held of the king, either directly or through one or more intermediate (mesne) lords, usually in return for military service. The medieval manor was worked by unfree villeins who held their tenements from the lord, in return for labour and other services. Over time, as the feudal system decayed, villein tenure became increasingly commuted to a money payment, in a form of tenure known as copyhold. This tenure was abolished by the Law of Property Acts, 1922 and 1925.

In English law, particularly as defined by seventeenth-century lawyers, a manor is an estate in land to which is incident the right to hold a court known as a Court Baron. This was a purely manorial court, the main business of which was to deal with matters relating to tenure. Land transactions under the custom of the manor were entered into the court roll and tenants were often given, as a title deed, a copy of that entry, hence the term 'copyhold' tenure. The other main type of manorial court was the Court Leet. Unlike the Court Baron, which was a private jurisdiction, the Court Leet was a manorial court of public jurisdiction, with responsibility for dealing with minor offences and for the View of Frankpledge, a system of joint suretyship for upholding the peace. Because of the manor's importance in the community for some 900 years, the records of manor courts are a very important primary source.

The Manors in Tasburgh

There were three manors in Tasburgh: the capital manor of Tasburgh, also known as Tasburgh Uphall or Boylands; Hunts Manor; and Rainthorpe Hall Manor.

Francis Blomefield recounts how the Manor of Tasburgh in the Hundred of Depwade, belonged, at the time of Edward the Confessor (TRE) (1042-66), to Osbern, Bishop of Exeter and was held by Tarolf (Thorulf). It was a mile and a quarter long and seven furlongs broad (some 700 Acres) and worth 20 shillings, rising to 30 shillings a year. Ralf, one of Tarolf's descendants assumed the surname, de Taseburgh in around 1239. Over the centuries, the manor itself acquired other names, associated with its various owners: Richard de Boyland, who became its lord in 1280, and Richard de Uphall, lord in 1298.

In TRE, Hunt's Manor belonged to Almar, who held it of Bishop Stigand, while under William the Conqueror it was held by Roger de Ebrois. Subsequently, it was variously held of the Honor of Clare and Dunmowe Priory, eventually coming into the hands of Sir Thomas Gresham, who joined it to his other manor of Tasburgh Uphall or Boylands in 1569-70. Thereafter, the manor was known as Tasburgh Uphall with Boylands and Hunts.

The third manor, later known as Rainthorpe Hall Manor was originally held of Roger de Ramis by a William, from whom it descended variously to the de Rainthorpe family and, later, to the Baxters.

In her writings about historical Tasburgh, local historian Sylvia Addington suggested that Boylands or Uphall Manor house was possibly situated in the region of Chapel Hill, adjacent to the B1527, near the monument (outside the current parish of Tasburgh), while Hunts Manor may have been closer to the Enclosure.

Manor Court Book
Manor Court Book

The image above shows Tasburgh Uphall with Boylands and Hunts Manor Court book, record of court held on 30 October 1798 (NRO, MC 1827/99, fo. 1)

The Norfolk Record Office holds an extensive run of court rolls for the manor of Tasburgh Uphall with Boylands and Hunts, 1599-1941, although, unfortunately, no records survive for Rainthorpe Hall Manor. IMAGE TO ADD

Tasburgh Uphall with Boylands and Hunts Manor Court book, records of courts held on 20 April and 12 October 1653 (NRO, MC 1827/96, pp. 224-5). IMAGE TO ADD


Go to the dropdown box for information about Rainthorpe Hall and it's position in relation to Tasburgh.


Page last updated: 12 May 2020 by AW
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