of it being purchased in, it is much wasted since that time, though there are now [1737] about 120 inhabitants. It paid 2l. 14s. to the tenths, and is valued at 280l. 10s. to the land tax.
The rectory of the parish church of St. Andrew in Rowdham was appropriated to the priory at West-Acre, and the priors of that monastery were patrons of the vicarage to the Dissolution. It was valued at 4l. 16s. 5d. ob. in the King's Books; but being sworn of the clear yearly value of 23l. 2s. 0b. it is discharged of first fruits and tenths, but still pays 2s. synodals, besides the archdeacon's procurations. The Prior of West-Acre was taxed at 10 marks, for the impropriate rectory, and the portion belonging to the Abbot of Bury, which was appropriated to the hospital of our Blessed Saviour there, was taxed at 20s. Here was a gild dedicated to St. Andrew.
Vicars
- 1313, 10 kal. June, Henry de Swaffham, priest.
- 1323, Walter de Horstede, priest.
- 1328, non. Nov. Thomas de Rudham, priest.
- 1349, 27 July, John Saunsale de Roudham, priest.
- 1361, 8 Sept. Thomas Le-Smith, priest.
- 1402, 11 Sept. Reginald Quylter de Castle-Acre, priest.
- 1410, 5 Oct. John Northgate de Swanton, priest, on Quylter's resignation.
- 1423, Walter Southbury, priest.
- 1430, 9 Jan. Peter Benne, priest.
- 1466, 13 Nov. John Munke, on Benne's resignation.
- 1475, 18 Nov. Tho. Wright, on Munke's resignation.
- 1482, 23 Dec. Tho. Sygar, on Wright's deprivation.
- 1490, 4 March, brother Rich. Rolstonne, a canon of West-Acre, on Sygar's resignation.
- 1504, 19 March, Sir Rob. Newman, on Rolston's resignation.
All the above were presented by the Prior of West-Acre.
Rich. More, sometime vicar of Rowdham, was buried here Aug. 5, 1561.
John Bulle, was buried here 6 May 1589.
- 1589, 23 July, Stephen Angolde, A.B. on Bulle's death. Tho. Lovell, Esq.
- 1600, 11 Aug. Will. Hill, on Angolde's death. Tho. Lovell, Knt. He was buried here Nov. 22, 1640.
- 1640, 29 Nov. Henry Moyse, A. M. on Hill's death. Anne Moyse, widow.
- Henry Gill held it with Harpham, (see p. 419.)
- 1677, 24 Sept. John Starkey, A. M. on Gill's death. John Lovell.
- 1699, 23 June, Thomas Lone. The King, by lapse.
- 1701, 3 March, Henry Pitts, John Lovell, Esq. united to Harpham.
- 1729, Samuel Birch, A. M. on Pitts's death. Thos. Wright, Esq. united to Eccles.
- 1732, The Rev. Mr. John Verdon, the present vicar on Birch's death, who holds it united to Hockham, and was presented by Tho. Wright, Esq. who is since dead, and Mr. John Wright, his eldest son, is now patron.
