Somersham.info

Throughout the Middle Ages most of the land in and around Somersham was held the Lord of the Manor, the Bishop of Ely. The church was a powerful land owner across England right up until the time of Thomas Cromwell. Here the Bishop makes a transfer to the Prior of Ely of some of his prime farm lands. Then in the next grant to a secular, we see some interesting detail about the geography of the village, the fact that the end nearest to Pidley is described as a separate community and that at the Chatteris end is surrounded by marshland. The idea of a great street running through the centre of the village suggests a thoroughfare much wider than that today, probably sufficient to allow carts to be parked by the roadside in the manner of those found in rural communities in Australia and the US.

Charter from the Episcopal Records of Ely
Held at Cambridge University Library
Original parchment - reference EDC1/B/63

All holy mother church, your son Eustace Bishop of Ely fairly gives to the prior and convent of Ely the fallow lands from Somersham free from tax and with our full charge to let this place to farm. Eustace sanctifies in full the will of William Bishop of Ely, to have and hold fully in free and pure alms.

Simon de Insula, Peter Capptus master of Leicester, Thomas de Driss master of York.

Transcription/translation © Andy Lee

From the Charter Rolls
18th Year of Henry III
20 November 1228

Inspeximus and confirmation of a charter of Geoffrey, bishop of Ely, giving to Master William de Argenteoin and his heirs 100 acres of land by the perch of 20 feet, in the manor of Sumeresham in the place called Strode adjoining the bishops demesne at Pidley and running towards his wood of Sumeresham and from the magna strata (great street) leading from Sumeresham to Hermetesworth, up to the marsh; rendering therefore 4 shillings yearly to the sacristan of Ely for the maintenance of a wax candle before the high altar of Ely church and saving to the bishop the homage of the said Master William and his successors, their fealty to be done to the sacristan of Ely.

Witnesses
William de Bancis
Thomas de Engaldestorp steward of Ely
Robert de Ulmo
William de Waldingefeud
Matthew Christian
Benedict de Bodelstan
Roger de causton
Ralph de Bereford
Henry de Colne