Beachamwell No. 2 / Beechamwell / Bicham / Bicham-Well / Bycham / Uuella / Wella

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "B[icham]-W[ell], Though now looked upon, and accounted as one town, was, at the time of the grand survey, two distinct and separate towns, Well, and Bicham. Well was the most southern part [...] St. John. This church (which is now in ruins) stands on the northwest part of the township of Beecham-Wells; part of the north wall of the nave is standing, as is part of the four-square tower, as high as the sounding windows; which tower and church was built of flint, &c. The church, as appears from the foundation, was about 66 feet in length; and, on the site of the church some poor people have made themselves little cottages. The patronage of this church seems to have belonged always to the lords of Well-hall; and they who held that lordship of the capital lord, presented to it. Hugh de St. Philebert was patron about the beginning of Edward I.[i.e., ca. 1272] [...] 1304, Robert de Suthfeld to the 3d part of Becham, by Gregory de Felmingham. [...] It is a rectory, [...] together with the rectory of St. Mary, to which it was consolidated in 1686". [NB: we have no information on the font of the medieval church here].