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1357
The Kings Survey

After Thomas D'Lisle had fallen out so spectacularly with Edward III and then fled to France, the King took over the running of Somersham Manor. In 1357 he sent his officials to complete a survey of all the former possessions of the Bishop of Ely. Below are some of the findings related to Somersham. Note particularly the ancient tradition of Waysilver. Not only is this clearly a well established tradition by 1357, the same tax was still being referred to in Georgian times as the turnpike system was starting to be set up.

Croftlands existent in manus dominus qui dimittunt ad firmam diversis hominibus £ xx S ix D x per annum ad festa sancti andr. Apostolorum annunciatione beate maria virginis, nativitat sancti johannis baptiste et sancti nicholae in equalem portiones percipiens

There are Croftlands in the hand of the Lord which render a steady income from various men £20 S9 D10 each year on the feasts of St Andrew Apostle, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the nativity of St John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas secured in equal portions.

Et est ibidem quedam piscar’ separabili voc Crethwater que dimittunt ad firmam per £x S xiii D iiii per annum ad festa sancti andr. Apostolorum annunciatione beate maria virginis, nativitat sancti johannis baptiste et sancti nicholae in equalem portiones percipiens

And in that same place are fishermen particularly called Crethwater who render a steady income of £10 S13 D4 each year on the feasts of St Andrew Apostle, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the nativity of St John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas secured in equal portions.

Et est ibidem quidam boscus de cuius subbose potest vendi quotiens anno absque vasto seu destruccione fac’ ad valorem Sxx

And there are in the same place  woods from which the underwood can be sold once a year, excluding wastes and destructions, to the value of S20.

Et sunt in Sumesham, Fenton et Bluntesham ad dictam manerium pertinens iii molendina ventuit debit valorem per annum ultra repris S lx et sunt ibidem redditur assiso per annum £ xiii S v ad festa sancti andr. Apostolorum annunciatione beate maria virginis, nativitat sancti johannis baptiste et sancti nicholae in equalem portiones percipiens.

There are in Somersham, Fenton and Bluntisham three windmills belonging to the said manor from which a reprise is taken each year to the value of S60 and the same windmills give back to the assize each year £13 S5 on the feasts of St Andrew Apostle, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the nativity of St John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas secured in equal portions.

Et est ibidem quidam alius redd’ nativorum voc’ Waiselver qui se extend’ per annum ad S vi D viii percipiens annuatim ad festum Sancti Michaelis per manus praepositi ibidem qui per tempore fuit et similiter sunt ibidem ex parte Colne in Erith, Colne et Bluntisham.

And there is in the same place another return locally called Waysilver to an annual amount of S6 D8 given annually at the feast of St Michael into the hand, there has at the same time been for some time a similar (tax) for leaving Colne to go through Colne and to Earith and Bluntisham.

From BL additional manuscript 6165 folios 122-124

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