Prior of Thetford was taxed at 22d. ob. for temporals here; the Prior of Walsingham 6d. the Abbot of Sibeton 10s. and the Prior of Bukenham 2s. 9d. ob.
The church hath no steeple, the nave is leaded, and the chancel thatched; in the east window are the arms of Thorp, Clifton, and Caily, and az. three croslets arg. but there are no other memorials. There is a bell hanging in a wooden frame in the churchyard.
On the stocks:
Those that fear God, and keep an honest Name, Shall not come here, to undergoe the Shame, Then you that suffer, don't true Justice blame.
There was an ancient family sirnamed from the town; in a deed without date, Stephen son of Eustace de Habeton, was an owner here, and in 1348, Will. de Habetun, and in 1412, John Hapton of Wimondham.
By a deed without date, William Apuliensis gave to God and the church of St. Michael at Florendona or Flordon 3 acres in Habbetona or Hapton, between the land of Roger son of William the priest, and the glebe of St. Margaret's church at Hapeton, for the benefit of his own soul, and those of his father and mother, of Margaret his wife, and of Roger Glanvile, and all his ancestors; Safrid, the priest of Habbeton, and Michael the parish chaplain of Flordon, and many others, being witnesses.
The manor was joined to that of Fundenhale at the Conquest, by Walter de Dol; the church had then 15 acres of glebe. The town was a mile long, and a mile and a quarter broad, and paid 6d. 3q. to the geld. It was always held of the Norfolk family, as of Forncet manor, at one quarter of a fee, and always attended the manor of Ashwell-thorp, as at p. 142, to p. 162, to which I refer you. The manor-house is called Hapton-hall, and was always the jointure-house of the Knevet family. The style of the manors now runs, Ashwellthorp with Wreningham, and Fundenhale with Hapton.
The manor of Forncet extended into this town, and hath done so ever since the Conquest, for then Herbert, chamberlain to Roger Bigot, had a freeman and 15 acres; and another freeman late of Bishop Stigand, held 30 acres, &c. and there were 4 freemen that always belonged to Forncet, that held 36 acres, &c.
There was another part in this village of about 90 acres, and some small rents held by knight's service of William de Vallibus, or Vaus, and in 1221, was settled by William de Langham, on Robert de Nerford, and was held in 1341, by Robert son of William Dun, of Roger le Strange, lord of Knokyn, and Dame Joan his wife. In 1421, Sir
