The Church is dedicated to St. Ethelbert, and is a rectory valued at 10l. 2d. ob. in the King's Books, and pays 1l. 1q. yearly tenths, and 12d. synodals; it hath a rectory-house and glebe belonging to it. The Prior of Castle-Acre had two third garbs of the tithe corn of the demean lands of Denevere manor in this town, which were given to that priory by Osbert de Denevere, lord thereof, who afterwards gave them the land called Osbern's Hagh, in Sipedeham (or Shipdam) in exchange for the said tithes, and Osbert de Denevere, his grandson, confirmed it, Jeffery, the Dean of Fincham, William Talebot, the Dean's brother, Ralph, the chaplain of Acre, Gilbert de Denevere, Eustace, the butler at Acre, and others, being witnesses. The Prior of the Canons at Thetford had lands in this parish, which, in 1428, were taxed at 10s. but of whose gift I do not find. In 1603, there were 92 communicants, and now there are about 22 dwelling-houses, and 150 inhabitants. [1787.] It paid 58s. 4d. to the tenths, and is now assessed at 280l. 10s. to the land-tax.
The church and chancel are thatched, the tower is square, and hath three bells, on which are these inscriptions,
1.Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis,
2.Fac Margareta, nobis hac munera lcta.
3.Coclesti Mana, tua Proles nos cibct, Anua.
There is a stone for THO. CATON, Gent. who died Nov. 28, 1712, aged 37, on which are these arms.
Quarterly, - - - - and Vair on a bend, an annulet and crescent.
Another stone is laid over SARAH, wife of JOHN BRETT, who died 25 Sept. 1660.
And there are three stones in the chancel robbed of their brasses.
ROWDHAM
Rudham, Rudeham, Roodham, or Rowdham, takes its name from a remarkable rose or cross that stood in it, upon the great road leading from Thetford to Norwich; the remaining stones of it were carried thence to Herling, about five or six years agone, by Mr. Wright, who was then lord here. In the Confessor's survey it was heid by a freeman of Herold, at one carucate, but at the Conquest it was divided into three parts; besides 30 acres that belonged to the manor of Bridgham; the three first was in the Conqueror's hands, he second belonged to William Earl Warren, and these two consti tuted
