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TIMELINE PART 1. 670-1483AD
LAKENHEATH AND ELY ABBEY.
673
Princess ETHELREDA founded a monastery for monks and nuns at Ely.
870 Ely Abbey was sacked by the Danes (Vikings) 900
There was a landing place here at the edge of the Fen (the Hythe).
1003 -1066
Lakenheath was given to the monks by Edward the Confessor.
1010
After the Battle of Thetford Vikings advanced into the wild Fens.
1061
About this time pilgrimages to the shrine at Walsingham began. In 1066 after the Norman Conquest Ely Abbey held a manor in the village and also the manor of Undley.
Read about Lakenheath and Ely Abbey.
1086
The Domesday Book now shows four manors in Lakenheath.
1. Undley (Land of St. Etheldreda, Ely abbey) had 7 households 3 of which were smallholders, and 4 slaves. It had 13 acres of meadow, 2 fisheries and a church and it had 24 cattle, 62 sheep and 1 *draft animal.
2. Lakenheath (also The Land of St.Etheldreda) was by far the largest of the four manors with 24 households with 6 villeins, 5 smallholders and 4 slaves. It had 2 lord’s plough teams 5 acres of meadow, a shared mill, 2 fisheries, a church and some church land for the priest. The village had 5 cattle, 17 pigs, 100 sheep and 2 *draft animals.
*Probably ploughing and carting animals such as oxen.
3. ‘The Land of Richard son of Count Gilbert’ which by the 12th century was known as the manor of Clare fee. It had 8 households, a lord’s plough team, 1 acre of meadow and 4 fisheries. This was a very small manor but by the early 13th century it had the right to hold a market. The Fitz Gilbert family held vast lands in the East of England which were granted after 1066 by William the Conqueror. Later the family became known as the de Clare family after their castle at Clare in Suffolk. They were one of the most important families in the land. In 1330 the Lakenheath manor was gifted to Ely Abbey by Countess Elizabeth de Clare.
4. ‘The Land of Eudo the Steward’ had 6 freemen, 4 smallholders and 3 plough teams, 3 acres of meadow and 2 fisheries. Eudo was a tenant of Ely in 1066 but by 1086 was tenant-in-chief, a high position in the service of the King. He may have been a relative by marriage of Richard Fitz Gilbert. After his death this manor eventually became integrated into Lakenheath manor.
By 1331 the Prior of Ely abbey was lord of the single manor of Lakenheath.
1109
Ely Abbey became a cathedral and work rebuilding St. Mary’s Church in the village began.
Domesday sources: Open Domesday. Anna Powell-Smith. Data by Prof. J. J. N. Palmer and team.
13th. C. THE VILLAGE
1201
Lakenheath’s first market was granted by King John. 1304 Warreners were employed to ensure the supply of rabbits to the Abbey. 1339 The vicar’s official seal was lost near the village.
TROUBLED TIMES.
1349
The Black Death.
1379 Fire in the Village. 1381 The Peasants Revolt in Lakenheath
THE BEGINNINGS OF PROSPERITY.
1440
Camping Close.
The Boy Bishop. A ‘fun’ tradition took place at Christmas time.
1483
William Lacy (lLacey), a wealthy villager's gift to the Church.