Southmere / Summer Field / Summerfield / Suthmere

INFORMATION

FontID: 19138SOU
Church/Chapel: Parish Church of All Saints [disappeared]
Church Patron Saints: All Saints
Church Location: [cf. ChurchNotes]
Country Name: England
Location: Norfolk, East Anglia
Directions to Site: The disappeared hamlet was located near Docking; the sight is now a farm, Summer-Field House
Ecclesiastic Region: [Diocese of Norwich]
Historical Region: Hundred of Smethdon [formerly in the Hundred of Docking]
Century and Period: 13th - 14th century, Medieval
Church Notes: the Norfolk Heritage Explorer [www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk] [accessed 8 April 2014] notes: "Site of church marked by Ordnance Survey at TF 7479 3850 (1592 context 1) but R.R. Clarke (NCM) said there was no evidence on the ground and suggested that 7481 3839 was nearer the site, as marked on (S2). However Ordnance Survey say that their site is marked from (S3) which claimed that a mound with a yew tree on it stood on the site and produced human bones. [...] The church was All Saint's and was in ruins in 1554; a priory cell had taken over the church but had been dissolved in 1415 and it had passed to Eaton College in 1436. [...] In 1593 the Dragge of Dry Docking (NRO) noted a cross on the site and another to the north. Site visited by E. Rose (NAU) 6 June 1979. It is covered by woods and there is now no yew tree at the Ordnance Survey symbol. E. Rose (NAU)"
There is an entry for Southmere [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/TF7537/southmere/] [accessed 8 April 2014], but it mentions neither church nor cleric in it. Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "The church of Southmere was dedicated to All-Saints; the rector had a manse with half an acre of land [...] The abbot of Ibrey was patron, and had a portion of tithe", and names the first recorded rector: "1313, Clement de Pecham, presented by the proctor of the abbot and convent of Ibrey." Blomefield (ibid.) adds: "Southmere was a considerable town in King Edward's reign, and at the survey, though now all included in Docking: it lies north-west, about two miles from Docking, where now is a large farm and house, called by corruption, Summer-Field House [...] The church was standing in 1378; in Queen Elizabeth's time [i.e., 1558-1603] it was in ruins."

COORDINATES

UTM: 31U 340091 5863946

REFERENCES

Blomefield, Francis, An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk, 1805-1810