Rackheath Parva / Little Rackheath / Racheia / Racheisham / Rackey / Rakeia

INFORMATION

FontID: 19153RAC
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Church/Chapel: Parish Church of the Holy Trinity [disappeared]
Church Patron Saints: The Holy Trinity
Church Location: [cf. Directions Geo]
Country Name: England
Location: Norfolk, East Anglia
Directions to Site: [location and coordinates are given for the present mid-20thC church]
Ecclesiastic Region: [Diocese of Norwich]
Historical Region: Hundred of Taverham
Century and Period: 12th century (late?), Late Norman
Church Notes: the exact whereabouts of the original church here unknown; parish was consolidated with Rackheath Magna in the early-15thC -- the present church is mid-20thC
Font Notes:
There are three entries for Racheath [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/TG2714/rackheath/] [accessed 16 April 2014], one of which reports 0.5 churches in it [NB: it must be the 'moiety' associated with Beeston, as it was in Ralph de Beaufour's holding]. Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "There were formerly two distinct towns, one called Great Rackheath, the other Little Rackheath, and each village had its church. [...] Edith, daughter and coheir to her brother Geff. son of Peter le Constable, recovered the right of patronage of Rackey Parva church, in the 7th of Edward I" [i.e., 1279]. "The church of Rackheath Parva, was a rectory, dedicated to the Holy Trinity [...] In the 9th of Richard I [i.e., 1198] Roger de Gisnei, impleaded William de Repham for the right of the advowson of the church of Rackey, and in the 5th of King John [i.e., 1204], an assise was brought to show if Walter de Evermow had disseised Roger de Gisney of lands here. In the 7th year of Edward I [i.e., 1279]. Edith, daughter of Peter le Constable, lord of Melton in Norfolk, sister and coheir of Jeffrey le Constable, recovered the presentation of the church of the Holy Trinity of Rackey Parva, against William, son of Alexander de Refham; this Edith was then the wife of Sir Thomas Astley, and held the lordship of Rackeath Parva." Blomefield (ibid.) lists the recorded rectors for Holy Trinity church, Rackheath Parva, the last of whom was "Laur. Briston [...] Soon after it was consolidated to the church of Rackheath Magna." This has been consolidated long since to the church of All-Saints Rackheath Magna. [...]

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 52.662394, 1.377377
Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 52° 39′ 44.62″ N, 1° 22′ 38.56″ E
UTM: 31U 390262 5835951

REFERENCES

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