Clere and Alice his wife had two elements of the manor and advowson settled on them in tail, with remainders to William, Walter, Robert, and Nicholas, their sons; and in 1343 the said Robert and Reginald de Refham held two components of a price, late William Marshall’s and John de Refham’s, of the honour of Clare in chief; and in 1361 the opposite third part was purchased of William Bretoun of Essex, and Joan his spouse, by Will. In 1312 the manor was settled by Eustace de Dalling, their trustee, on Reginald de Refham and Joan his spouse in part; and in 1314 the heirs of Bartholomew Hauteyn, William de Merkeshall, and Reginald de Refham, held it at one charge of the honour of Clare, by the title of Stratton Parva. William de Stratton lived in 1195, and afterwards I find Ralf, son of Robert de Stratton; this household centered in feminine heiresses; for in 1267 Reginald de Refham and Annora his spouse held a 4th part of the advowson and manor, and sold it to Henry de Hauten or Houton, and Alice his spouse, and this was after held by Alice Hauten, John de Refeham, and William Marshall. In 1271 Benedict de Dufford and Agnes his spouse had the opposite components of Stratton Streless; and before 1285, the whole advowson was sold to William de Merkeshale, who was sole patron.
This afterwards belonged to Richard Fitz Gilbert Earl of Clare, who infeoffed Rosceline in it, whose son William was lord and patron here, and was succeeded by William his son, who assumed the title of Stratton, from this his lordship, which was always held by them and their successours, lords here, of the honour of Clare, as it is at today of the King, who in right of that honour is lord paramount of the waste, as appeared in a trial in Sir Edward Clere’s time, who was lord right here, when the lord and tenants recovered their right to all the bushes belonging to them, growing on the waste, by proving that they immemorially had liberty to plant on the waste, and take down and convert all such timber at their pleasure. The whole belonged to Herold in the Confessor’s time, and on the Conqueror’s survey, the chief part of it was held by Walter Giffard, and was appendant to Marsham manor; it had then three carucates of land, a wood able to maintain 30 swine, was worth 40s. per annum, and was a mile lengthy and half a mile broad, and paid xid. There was then additionally another half right here, which belonged to William Bishop of Thetford, in his personal proper; this he gave to the see, and it was always held of it, after it was granted off.
A 3rd part was then a berewic or appendant to Cawston manor, from which it was soon separated, and joined to this manor. The manor being in that department of the Bygods which settled at Felbrigge, it descended to the Felbrigges, and in 1336 Sir Roger Felbrigge, Knt. In 1466, John Windham the father settled it on John his son, and Margaret daughter of Sir John Howard, Knt. Elizabeth Wife of Samuel Elden, 1732. 38. Willaughry Wife of Francis Bullen, Daughter of William and Alice Elden, 1730. 21. Francis their Son 1730, and likewise Francis Bullen. In 1333 William de Merkeshall and Alice his wife had the manor and advowson settled on them in tail; in 1343 Rob. Robert Clere and Dionise his wife, who had the whole manor and advowson; and in 1365 they settled them on William de Wichingham, and other their trustees. 1397 Sir Simon Felbrigge, who died seized in 1442, and it was settled on John Windham, senior, who purchased a considerable property here, of John de Banningham and Joan his spouse, a family sirnamed of the town, and had continued in it, ever since Richard the first’s time, when John son of John de Banningham lived right here; and in 1281 John de Banningham, senior, and junior, are mentioned as house owners.
Ormesby owned it, and by will in 1445, gave it, after the death of Elizabeth his wife, to Thomas his second son, and his heirs; in 1498 Sir Robert Clere had it after the loss of life of Elizabeth his mother, and after him Sir John Clere, Knt. In 1507 Edward Burrowe gave an acre and more of land, mendacity on the west side of the Oak, to discover a mild within the chapel of our Lady on this church, which is devoted to St. Botholph, who had a gild held right here, and there was one other gild in honour of all of the Saints. Beneath this Marble Stone interr’d doth lie, One among a Known diffusive Charity, Shee unto all was Generous and Free, But to people who were Poor, especially, None at the Door, would she let craving stay, Or ever go with out an Alms away, Nor did she only Good in publick View, But often (unaskt) in personal too: What her Right Hand did freely thus bestow, So secret was, her Left Hand did not know; She liberal was according to her Store, And oft Times griev’d, because she gave no more; On this alone, Reader, I want that you simply, Not solely Praise, but imitate her too.