AN ACCOUNT OF THE CORPORATION OF BECCLES FEN, IN THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, WITH A TRANSLATION OF THEIR CHARTER, AND COPIES OF VARIOUS OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SAID CORPORATION. Drawn up in the year 1807 for the use of the Corporation. REPRINTED WITH VARIOUS NOTES AND ADDITIONS, IN 1826. JARMAN, Printer, Beccles. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CORPORATION, OF BECCLES FEN. THE manor and advowson of Beccles were granted to the monastery of Saint Edmund's Bury by King Edwy,* about the year 960. At this time it seems probable that the present tract of marshes, from Yarmouth to some distance above Beccles, was an estuary, or arm of the sea. Some years afterwards, by the shifting of the sands off the coast, or some other cause, the mouth of the estuary began to be obstructed, and the sea to be excluded; in consequence of which, the extent of the marshes was gradually increased, and in process of time they were rendered fit for the pasturage of cattle. These marshes, however, were so slowly reclaimed from the water, that at the time of the Conquerer's survey,† A.D. 1086, there appear to have been no more than ten acres of meadow land belonging to the abbot's manor of Beccles. The * This donation was confirmed, inter alia, by King Stephen. The following is a translation of part of an ancient inquisition, sans date, relating to Beccles. "The jurors present that the Abbot and Convent of "St. Edmund, hold the town of Beccles of the gift of Stephen, once king "of England, and therein they claim to have the view of frankpledge, "&c. &c. they know not by what authority; and the Abbot comes and says, that himself and his predecessors have held the manor of Beccles, "with the liberties aforesaid, from the time of king Edwyn, before the "conquest of England; and he says, that in the book which is called domesday, it is stated, that in the time of king Edward, Saint Edmund "held the aforesaid town of Beccles, and of this he vouches to warrant "the aforesaid book, called domesday.' 66 + At this time the fee-farm rent of the manor, to the king, was 60,000 herrings; and in the time of the Confessor, 30,000.-Domesday Book. |