Santon Warren

Map of Location

Warren Features

Earliest documentary evidence
In Register of Thetford Prior June 1499- June 1500
[NRO MC662/22/793X5]

Other documentary evidence
Until 1250, manor of Earl de Warenne
1250 Peter de Barew
1316 Nicholas de Santon
1341 Roger de Bodney and descendants until
1384 Given to Thetford Priory through trustees
1428 Licence obtained by overlord Duke of Norfolk to grant Santon to Thetford Priory 1437 -38
In Register of Thetford Prior June 1499- June 1500 ‘pro reparac fact apud Santon logge 1s 1d and in !502/3 8d and in 1505/6 4s 10d.
1535 Duke of Norfolk with lease of manor to William Toppyng of Kenninghall
1551 Sir John Cheeke given manor when Duke of Norfolk attained.
1558 returned to Howards , Dukes of Norfolk
1559 sold to Sir Thomas Gresham
1625 sold to Thomas Bancroft
1636 Copinger and Pittiward as owners of manor then 1661 purchased by Richard Aylett of Rivenhall
1778 owned by Thomas Wright
1791 Charles Sloane, Lord Cadogan -then as for Downham High Warren
[From Blomefield’s History, NRO C143/452/3, NRO MS7293 7 B S, NRO MC662/22/793X5]

Enclosure Acts
Tithe Map 1840 shows ‘old roads’ and ‘field barn’ not ‘lodge’. Shows shelter belts and plantations, including Horse Shoe Plantation to the south.
[NRO CHC 456079]

Lodges
In Register of Thetford Prior June 1499- June 1500 ‘pro reparac fact apud Santon logge 1s 1d and in !502/3 8d and in 1505/6 4s 10d. by Richard Large, carpenter to the Priory.

The warren lodge is marked on Faden’s 1797 Map

Map of 1805, surveyed by T Skynner shows the warren of 1487 acres and the ‘warren house’ with a red roof and yellow walls
[NRO NRS 21391 37X]

Maps
Map of 1805, surveyed by T Skynner shows the warren of 1487 acres and the ‘warren house’ with a red roof and yellow walls
[NRO NRS 21391 37X]

Other documentary evidence
1685 Flock of 800 ewes on the sheepwalk (ref?)

Leases
1535 Duke of Norfolk with lease of manor to William Toppyng of Kenninghall

Boundary Banks
Section 1 Slight bank ,single , north of track (Santon Street) 0.5 m high x 3 m wide
Section 2 As above but with pines along it
Section 3 Less distinct; mature pines on top; 0.2/0.3m x 1.5m.
Section 4 Slight bank to north of track then to north of that is hummocky ground 0.2m x 1m
Section 5 Bank indistinct, 0.1m if at all
Section 6 Bank at right angles 0.8m x 3.5m up through clearfell. Blood Hill tumulus is to east Section 7 No bank visible on either side of track.
Section 8 Bank to east of track, drops slightly to the east. Making asymmetrical profile 0.2m x 6m
Section 9 No evidence of bank
Section 10a 10a Slight bank at right angles 0.2m x 4m 10b Slight bank running along edge of road 10c as for 10a
Section 11 Bank to south of track through broadleaf belt 0.5m x 9m then to south again is a second bank with the same dimensions
Section 12 Bank virtually disappears as crosses field but may be marked by line of tress; second bank also disappears.
Section 13 Very slight bank 0.2m x 3m. At 13a bank parallel to 13 but very low 0.1m x 4m and at 13b which at right angles to 13a it is as low as 13a. Then parallel to 13b is another bank, 13c very celar 0.4m x 4m running across open heathland
Section 14 Triple banks among vegetation – difficult to record dimensions
Section 15 Double banks about 8m apart and each 0.3m x 8m
Section 16 Bank to north of railway and south of track, single 0.1m x 2m. Aligns with bank at Section 1 to complete circuit.

The boundaries of the warren were the same as those of Santon parish – earthwork banks NHER 31217 and NHER 8155 to west and east, the modern road to northeast and the river to south.’

Lodges
One wall and parts of two others of medieval lodge remain as part of the field barn at TL8259 8904 . Clunch and brick.
Trapping Banks
See under Boundary banks and Sections 13,14 and 15.