THE MESOLITHIC PERIOD  5300BC to4500BC

After the final melting of the ice of the last great Glaciation groups of hunter and gatherers  occupied  Norfolk.
     Flint workings and flint axes of this period have been discovered along the valley of the River Wensum adjacent to Costessey indicating that  "Stone Age" man was active hunting in the area which at that time consisted of swampy river land along the rivers  Wensum and Tud and pine and birch forests on the higher ground 
     As the climate warmed thick forests of oak, lime, hazel and elm replaced the  pine and birch. It was at this time that the people began to change from a nomadic existence to one of  prehistoric farming

 THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD 4500BC to 2500BC

In this period the people became more dependent on growing crops and raising stock. More sophisticated stone tools were made Axes, Scythes and  Querns (for grinding grain)  Pottery appears in the archeological record, plain round bowls  at first then more decorated.  Many flint Axe heads of this period have been found around Costessey and  a Neolithic long barrow burial not far away at Felthorpe.

THE BRONZE AGE  2500BC to 800BC

The Age of Bronze started in Norfolk about 2500 BC.  Norfolk contained many skilled smiths and  at least 60 hoards of finely  made  tools, weapons, ornaments and dress wear, harness fittings of bronze and jewellry and  in gold have been found in Norfolk.  A late Bronze Age hoard was found in Costessey and Round Barrow burials are found close by in the Wensum and Yare river valleys. Indications are there was a thriving farming community in the area

THE IRON AGE AND ROMAN OCCUPATION 800BC to 600AD

 The use of iron weapons and tools began about 800 BC with iron ware imported from the Continent. The beneficial feature was their sharpness and by about 650 BC British smiths were capable of providing the requirements.  Pottery and coins of this  Iron Age period have been found in and around Costessey.

After the Roman invasion of 43 AD the Icenian kingdom was at first  treated as a client kingdom with a great deal of independence but after the revolt led by Boudiicca their Queen in 60 AD
Roman control became absolute and a new administration centre was built at VENTNA ICENORUM.
This Roman city was only 10 miles from Costessey and a Roman road passed close by.
Several hundred thousands people lived in Roman Norfolk enjoying 300 years of peace and good government.   Roman finds have been made in Costessey.

 600AD to Present

The village  name "COSTESSEY"

 Costessey was  settled by the Anglo Saxons  and then the Danes some time in those centuries called the "Dark Ages". 
In spite of some differences of opinion between historians it is now agreed that it is the    'EY' or  Island ( Scandinavian) of the family  of some person with the name of ' Cost ' (also a Scandinavian personal name)  or some variation  perhaps Kostr.
On the Tithe Aportionment map of 1839 of Costessey there are three fields of pasture called Dowsingham.  They are on the banks of  the River Wensum  across the river from the village of Taverham. The suffix HAM is indicative of a settlement of the Early-Saxon period, HAM can also denote a water meadow.   Perhaps Dowsingham, now vanished,  pre- dated the growth of Costessey further down the River Wensum ?

1016AD SAINT WALSTAN OF NORFOLK .

Seemore at  .....      SAINT WALSTAN (CONFESSOR)

1184AD Charters of Alan Vicomte of Rohan ,

(1) He has given to St,. Mary of Bon Repos for the weal of his soul and Constance his wife's, with the consent of Alan his son and heir and of Margaret and AElizia his daughters the churches of Costesia,  (Costessey),  Bamburg, (Bawburgh) and Huninigham, ( Honingham), and half the church of Bereford, (Barford)
(2) Addressed to his seneschal and to all his men, French and English,  With the consent of his son Alan, who is his heir, he has given the Abbey of Bon Repos all the rights in the advowson of the churches of Costesia (Costessey) , Bamburg (Bawburgh), and Huningham ( Honingham ) and half the church of Bereford (Barford),  and the church of Fuleburna (Fulburn).   At that time Vicomte Alan  of Rohan held the manor of Costessey from the Earl of Richmond.

1212AD.  Seven Studies in Medieval English History  Ed.Rich.H.Bowes. Univ Press of Mississippi 1983.
The early career of Walter de Grey  (Archbishop of York, 1216)
King John soon presented Walter to two other Norfolk Churches, Stradbroke 1208,  and Cossey in 1212

1227AD Calendar of Charter Rolls 1226- 1287 11 Henry 3rd

Grant to Henry de Trubeville and his heirs by his espoused wife, of the manor of Costessey, late of the Viscount of Rohan to hold until the right heirs of the said viscount shall recover it of the King's free will or by a peace,  whereupon the King will make to the said Henry a complete exchange of escheats wardships and marriages

1237A, 16 JULY  Calendar of State Papers-  Papal Letters 1198-1304

Articles objected against the bishop elect of Norwich....... that he is of servile condition and that on the witness of his daughter that he is not continent.  Also that both the elect and his electors are guilty of Simony in buying from the Abbot of Bon Repos the patronage of the churches of Bawburgh, Honningham and Costessey.....

1237AD The Book of Fees ( Liber Feodorum) (page 619)

Electus Valencie holds the manor of Costessey in the gift of the King  (Guillame , Bishop of Valence. Uncle of Eleanor Queen of England

1241 AD Westminster Calendar of Charter Rolls 1226-1257 Henry III (page 259)

Gift to the kings uncle Peter de Saubadia [Savoy] for his homage and service the towns of Richmond and Bouis...........and in county Norfolk...the manor and soke of Costessey  etc
(Pierre II baron of Faucigny & Vaud, Earl of Richmond Count Of Savoy died 1268 )

1280 AD 15 May Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem   Edward I  (Vol 2  page 213)

Peter of Saubaudia (deceased)
Norfolk.-
   Knights fees pertaining to the honour of Richmond.
Costessey
         The manor with all its members held by Queen Eleanor the King's mother by socage 
excepting the advowsons of the churches which are granted in arms viz. the churches of Costessey, Bawburgh,Honingham, Ringland and a moiety of Barford......

1285 Sept 12, Winchester Calendar of Close Rolls   Edward  I  1279-1288 (Vol,2 p. 337)

To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer.
Order to cause Nicholas of Bassingburn, whom the King lately deputed to tax and assess the thirtieth lately granted to the King  in Co. Cambridge, to be acquitted of £ 20 of the said thirtieth, which the King out of piety has pardoned him because it is testified before the King that Nicholas was robbed of this sum at Costessey

1292 AD  THE RIGHTS OF THE COMMON MAN !
From "Villainage in England" by Paul Vinogradoff (Oxford, Clarendon Press 1892)

"Ancient Demesne" pages 103 & 104. 

Petition to King Edward I from the Poor Men of Costessey
( original written in Norman French)

"A mandate of King Edward I to the Barons of the Exchequer is entered in behalf of the men of Costessey in Norfolk who complained of divers grievances against Athelwald of Crea , the bailiff of the manor.  The petition itself  is enrolled also, and it sets forth, that whereas the poor men of the King of the base tenure in the manor of Costessey held by certain usages from a time of which memory runs no higher, as well under the counts of Brittany as under the kings to whom the manor was forfeited,  now bailiff Athelwald distrains them to do other services which ought to be performed by pure villains.  They could sell and amerce their lands in the fields at pleasure, and he (the bailiff) seizes lands which have been sold in this  way and amerces them for selling; besides he makes them serve as reeves and collectors, and the bailiff of the late Queen Eleanor tallaged them from yeat to year to pay 20 marks which they were not bound to do , because they are no villains to be tallaged high and low."

 1299AD Calendar of Close Rolls.    Edward I  (vol 4, p.324)

Enrolment of release by Amadeus, Count of Savoy to the King of his right in the barony and honour of L'Aigle (Aquila) and in the manor of Costessey and in all the other lands in England that belonged at any time to his ancestors in England.

 1302AD April 13, Wendover.      Calendar of Patent Rolls  Edward  I   (vol 4  ps. 29 & 30)

Grant , for life to Roger le Bygod, earl of Norfolk and marshal of England :..............................
the manors of Costseie (Costessey), with the soke and burgh, and Causton, the town of Ailesham   etc. etc. etc., ...of the value of £1,000 a year, saving to the King the advowsons of churches, wards, reliefs and escheats of knight's fees, held of the King by reason of the said lands when they fall in, rendering at Midsummer a chaplet of roses for all services ; on condition that he keeps the houses and buildings in good repair. etc.

1305AD   Calendar of Patent Rolls  Edward I,  (Vol. 4 p.371)
Grant to Roger le Bygod earl of Norfolk and marshal of England, to to whom the king lately granted by extent the manor of Costessey, in compensation of £10 a year which the abbot and convent of Bonrepos ought to receive therefrom by charter of Alan, vicomte de Rohan, sometime lord thereof, and confirmation of the same by Henry III, of a like sum from the farm of the town of Norwich, by the hands of the bailiffs thereof.

 1308AD   Calendar of Close Rolls  Edward II ( 1307-1313  p.35)
To William de Carleton
Order to pay to the abbot & monks of Bon Repos (de bona requie) a yearly rent  of £10 at Michaelmas out of the manor of Costessey............. for the time that the said manor has been in the keeping of the said William by the King's commission.....etc.

1309AD to 1312AD  Calendars of Close Rolls and Patent Rolls.
The keepers of the King's manor of Costessey were in succession:
Walter de Mouncey, Robert de Haustede, John de Thorp and John de Claveryng.  All were required to pay the rent of £10  per annum to the Abbot of Bon Repos
In 1309 the king's park of Costessey was breached and Robert de Haustede was ordered to take 20 fallen oaks in the park and to repair the enclosure of the park, extending to the sum of 20 marks.

 1312 AD The men of Costessey again stand up for their rights !

General Introduction to Domesday  by Sir Henry Ellis- 
Vol I pages 64 & 65

"..........According to the Laws of the Conquerer a quiet residence of a year and a day would enfranchise a villein who had fled from his lord"

Blomefield in his History of Norfolk,vol. i, p. 657 fol.edit. quotes a remarkable instance of the Appeal to this Law.
Sir John de Clavering, in 1312,  sued William Fiz (Fytz) and seventeen others, villeins of his Manor of Cossey, for withdrawing themselves, their goods and chattels,out of his manor, and dwelling in other places, to his and the King's prejudice , upon which a writ was directed to force them to come and dwell in the Manor, and bring all their goods with them
; upon execution six of them pretended to be free men, and came to their trial , and pleaded that they came to their freedom in this manner, Viz. by being citizens of the City of Norwich, having lived there, and paid scot and lot for above thirty years with the free citizens there
; and two of them pleaded that they were born in the walls of the City, and, as such, produced the Conqueror's Charter, in which it was contained that if any Servants or Villeins lived witout claim of their Lords, (i.e. without paying any Chevage, or a fine for licence  so to do,) for a year and a day,in any of the King's Cities, walled Towns, or in the Camp, from that day they should be free men, and their posterity; upon which these six were declared Free-men and an Appeal from the King's Charter was not admitted : and two more pleaded and obtained their freedom, that Eward I granted their Father's houses and land in Norwich , to hold of him and his heirs, according to the custom of the City , and that they were their father's heirs : but all the rest were forced to return and live in Villeinage under their Lord.

 1325 AD Jan. 5.Henley.     Calendar of Patent Rolls  Edward II    1321-1324  (Vol 4  p.385)
  Commission of oyez and terminer to Walter de Norwyco, John de Thorp, and Simon de Hedersete, on complaint by John de Claveryng that Robert de Morley and others broke into his park at his manor of Costeseye, which he holds for life of the king's inheritance and the said John's park at Horsforde co. Norfolk, set up tents in a warlike fashion in the park at Costeseye, felled trees in the said park, carried away deer in the said parks , and assaulted his men at Horsford

1328 AD Feb 19 York.    Calendar of Patent Rolls  Edward III   Vol I
  Licence for John son of William Juel, the king's bondsmanof the manor of Costeseye , now in the tenure of John de Claveryng for life, to be promoted to holy orders, notwithstanding his condition

1331 AD Jan. 24 Westminster      Calendar of Charter Rolls 1327-1341    4 Edward III ( Vol IV p. 211)
  Whereas lately with the assent of prelates, earls, barons amd other magnates at Westminster assembled in consideration of good service rendered by ROBERT de UFFORD and especially of the danger incurred by him at the castle of Nottingham..............................the king granted to the said Robert £200 of land provided for him and his heirs male of his body to hold..........and also the reversion of the manor of Costeseye co Norfolk now held for life by John de Claveryngof the gift of king's Edward II..........and by paying £10 yearly to the abbot of Bon repos  after the death of John de Claveryng etc.

1336 AD April 3 Nottingham as above  page 327

 Grant of special grace to Robert de UFFORD and his heirs of free warren in all the demesne lands of Costeseye, Baburgh, Erlham, Bouthorp, Eston, Honyngham, Colton, Thorp , Tudenham etc. etc.

1364  June 27. Westminster Calendar of Close Rolls  Edward III  ( Vol 12 p. 67) MEMBRANE 16d 

Indenture of accord between the Abbot and convent of Bonrepos (de Bona Requie ) in Brittany and the abbot and convent of  Sawtry (Salteria)  between whom the pleas and debates were lately moved touching a writing produced by the abbot and convent of Bonrepos under the name of the abbot and convent of Sawtry with a demand for a yearly farm of  80 marks for ever for the churches of Fulborne, Hunyngham, Costessey and Fendrayton,..................................................
;and the abbot and convent of Bonrepos grant that henceforth they will claim no greater farm of the said churches than 70 marks but for that sum the abbot and convent of Sawtry and their succesors shall have and hold the said Churches for ever.
         Dated.   Sawtry Abbey, Easter Day  1363   37 Edward III.
          Memorandum of acknowledgement by the said abbots.   4  July this year, 1364..

 A link  to the Abbey of Bon Repos today

1381 Norfolk 607--Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem Vol XV (1-7)    Richard II 1387-1384

WILLIAM DE UFFORD  Earl of Suffolk  (dec'd)
       Inquisition taken at Costeseye 3 March,  5 Richard II
He  held the manors of Costeseye, Causton and Burgh and the undermentioned rents of £20 ,
£76 16s 8d in his demesne as of  fee tail by gift and grant of Edward III to robert Ufford late earl of suffolk, his father, and heirs.  He died without male issue of his body, but the jurors do not know  whether Isabel his wife, is pregnant or not.
COSTESEYE. The manor (extent given) is held of the king in chief, service not known.  Te extent includes a park with deer,  £13,6s,.,8d., common tallage of the whole homage,  a water mill beyond 'Westmill' with a fishery in its pond with the fishery of the stew by Frethbridge, a water mill at Baubergh with the fishery there, a leet is held at Whitsun and two tourns are held after Michaelmas and Easter respectively.  The manor is charged from time immemorial with a yearly pension of £10 to the abbot of Bon repos.

1381 611  Continuing Inquisition above: ( taken at Costeseye, Wednesday after Anunciation , 5 Richard II
Costeseye. The manor including.......... a park with deer  a custom called maltsilver, a rent of two horseshoes perquisites of courts , tourns and leets and a warren of rabbits, pheasants and partridges

 1384 Aug 3 Westminster      Calendar of Patent Rolls   Richard II         (vol 2 , p.419) Membrane 30

 Grant to Michael de la Pole of the reversion , in fee simple of the manor of Costeseye, co Norfolk, which  the countess of Suffolk holds for life, to the value 182 marks 21d ., which is extended at £131. 8s. 5d and for which she pays £10 yearly to the queen;......

 1388
July 5
Westminster

 1388 July 5     Calendar of Patent Rolls    Richard II   (volume 3)
Pardon, for 30 marks paid to the king by Isabella, countess of Suffolk to her for demising the manor of Costeseye to Michael de la Pole, lord of Wyngefield, for the term of her natural life, at the yearly rent of 200 marks and  £10 payable to her and queen Anne respectively, which manor she entered in in default of his payment thereof and of his fulfillment of other conditions of the said demise. 
 NOTE: Michael de la Pole forfeited his earldom on 13 Feb, 1388 and died in Paris  5 Sept. 1389

 1397 Oct 2 Wstminster    Calendar of Patent Rolls  Richard II   (vol 6 p.213)
Grant in tail male, to the king's uncle Edmund, duke of York, of the manors of Mileham etc......;
and further grant in like manner to him of the reversion of the manor of Costessey in the same county expectant upon the death of Isabel, countess of Suffolk, which by the kings grant should revert at her death to Thomas, duke of Gloucester, in fee tail, but which reverts to the king by the duke's forfeiture, together with the liberties , franchises, wardships, etc. belonging thereto:......

 1415 23 Dec.   Calendar of Close Rolls       Henry  V  (vol 1 p. 253/4 )  Membrane 6 

To the escheator in Norfolk and Suffolk .  Order to give Katherine who was the wife of Michael de la Pole  [2nd Earl of Suffolk 1398-1415] , of whom the king had taken oath etc.......... a yearly rent of £10 sometime pertaining to the abbey of Bon Repos issuing from the manor of Costessey, and another yearly rent of £10 issuing from that manor.............

 1434 June 18     Westminster Calendar of Patent Rolls   Henry VI   (Vol 2 p.346)
.......Licence , for £20 paid at the receipt of the exchequer, for John Hampden, esquire, Thomas Hasely, esquire, Richard Restwold, esquire, Thomas Walsyngham and William Hervy to grant the manors and lands as in the last entry, (including the manor of Costessey ) to William de la Pole  earl of Suffolk and Alice his wife and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to his right heirs.
By p.s.

 1450  Calendar of Close Rolls   29 Henry VI  (Vol 5 p. 131)
To the escheator in Norfolk.  Order to give to the said Alice  [duchess of Suffolk] livery of the manor of Costessey , and the issues and profits thereof taken....... ; as it is found by inquisition taken before John Fox late escheator , that at his death William duke of Suffolk held jointly with her the manor of Costessey in fee tail by gift of John Hampden, Thomas Hasely, Richard Restwold esquires and Thomas Walsyngham, by fine levied of the king's court in the quinzaine of Trinity 13 Henry VI to them and the heirs of their bodies..... and that the manor of Costessey is held in chief  by the service of one knight's fee , ..... 

   1465.et seq  CLICK HERE TO  See all the references  to  COSTESSEY  in the "Paston Letters"

  1502      Calendar of Patent Rolls. Vol 2 17 Henry VII  (Part 1 p.259)
 Grant in favour of William Cope.  Whereas by an indenture dated 26 February 8 Henry VII, between the king and Edmund de la Pole,Knight, son and heir of John late duke of Suffolk, reciting that John earl of Lincoln, eldest son and heir apparent of the said duke and brother of the said Edmund, had on the previous 9 March forfeited his lands by high treason, and the king afterwards agreed that the said Edmund and the heirs of the said duke should have such title of inheritance as though no act of attainder had ever been; in the manors and lands in Kingston -upon-Hull and Mitton........  and the manors of Bliburgh, Westwoode etc in the county of Suffolk and the manors of.......Cossey,Claxton , Helughton etc etc in the county of Norfolk

1510   Calendars of Letters and Papers. 1(i) 2 Henry VIII  (p.318)

27. Anne, Daughter of Edward IV., wife of Thomas lord Howard.  Grant in tail ( for performance of indentures between the King and thomas lord Howard and the said Anne, dated 1 july 2 Henry VIII)  of the castle and manor of Wyngfield, the manors of Syleham.....etc Suffolk , of Costessey and Stokton cum Soca Norfolk, and other manors, as held by Elizabeth late duchess of Suffolk and forfeited by Edmund De la Pole, earl of Suffolk

 1538 Calendar of Letters and Papers. Vol 16   32 HenryVIII  (p.717)
Lady Anne of Cleves for certain considerations. Manors of Tangham, Bawdesey,  etc.etc....................also manors of Stoketon and Costessey, Norfolk........etc
  Records the grant by patent of King Henry VIII of the tenure of the Manor of Costessey (for her life) to Lady Anne of Cleves who was divorced by Henry VIII in luly 1540.  After her divorce "she settled down to eighteen years of complete and apparently contented obscurity as an exile in a land which openly disdained her"  {Henry VIII by J J Scarisbrick Pelican Books 1974.] She died in 1557 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.  It has not been decided whether she ever lived in Costessey.

 1547AD
  7th May

 1547  7 May    Calendar of Patent Rolls .  1 Edward VI  Part 1
   In fulfilment of the will of the King's father and a tripartite indenture made between the king on the first part, The Protector Somerset and other executors (named) of the said will of the second part, and the mayor,sheriffs, citizens,and commonalty of the city of Norwich of the third part, dated 8 March 1 Edward VI.
Grant to the sauid mayor etc. of the city of Norwich of the house and site of the late hospital of St. Giles in Norwich and the said hospital with its rights and appurtenanceshere follows a long document listing the items granted to the City
including a rent of assise or free and annual rent of 4s. 3 d.from lands in Costessay and Ryngland.... in the tenure  John Aldrych, the rectory of Costessay
.....and the advowsons of the vicarages of Cryngleford, Costessay etc

1553 June 27      Calendar of Patent Rolls    7 Edward VI  Vol5    p221
 For £ 400 paid in the Augmentations by Robert lord Dudley, knight gentleman of the Privy Chamber:
Grant to the said lord Robert Dudley and William Glaseour, gentleman of the reversion of the manors of Corsey alias Costessey alias Cossey and Saxlingham etc and the park of Corsey Norf. 
late of Charles late duke of Suffolk and granted by Henry VIII to lady Anne of Cleves for life; also the manor etc.
.........and all kinds (long list) of appurtenances of the said manors in Corsey alias Costessey alias Cossey

.....the said lord Robert Dudley and William Glaseour... holding the manors of Corsey, Saxlingham and Knyghtwick of the king in chif by the service of the fortieth part of one knights fee.

  1555 20 May     Calendar of Patent Rolls -   Philip and Mary vol 2 p321

Robert Dudley, knight ... bargained and sold to Sir Henry Jernyngham, knight, vice- chamberlain of the Household and to dame Frances his wife, the said reversion 
(of the manor and park of Corsey alias Costessey alias Cossey, late parcel of the lands of Charles,late duke of Suffolk, then and now in the tenure of the lady Anne of Cleve for life by patent of Henry VIII, also the said manor and park and all lands and liberties (long list) belonging to the same in Cossey, Earlham, Bawburgh, Bowthorpe, Easton, Colton, Marlingford, Barford, Wramplingham, Melton, Hethersett, Honingham, Thorpe, East Tuddenham, Brandon, Runhall, Weston, Morton, Ringland, Felthorpe, Taverham, Carleton, Sall and Yaxham, co. Norfolk.  )
and all rights and interest in the premises to hold to them and the heirs of their bodies and in default to their right heirs in fee;
   Confirmation, in consideration of Jerningham's service to the queen at Framlyngham, co. Suffolk, in suppressing the rebellion of the Duke of Northumberland and in Wyat's rebellion, of the estate and interest of him and Frances in the said reversion and premises and release to him of all claim which the queen has in the reversion, to hold them as aforesaid in chief by the service of one fortieth part of a knight's fee.
These without fine or fee.                                                                   By p.s

Anne of Cleves died in 1557 and the manor of Costessey then reverted to Henry Jernyngham , knight and dame Frances , his wife,  to hold  as recorded above.
      The Jerningham family held the manor and estates until it was sold in 1919, a period of 362 years.

See  The Jerningham / Stafford Family and the Catholic connection

See People and events  through the centuries - Part two from 1555