Royal Lordship & Ladyship of Cossey or Costessey

Brief Description:

Costessey Manor was first awarded to the Earl of Richmond by William the Conquerer following the Battle of Hastings in 1066. In 1555 Queen Mary awarded Costessey Manor to Sir Henry Jernegan for his support in proclaiming her the rightful Queen of England in 1553.

Costesseye or Coteseia, that is the [Cote], or dwelling-place by the water’s side, or in the Eye or island, and the situation of it in a great hole by the river’s side confirms its etymology, so that Costessey is the Island of Cottages.

It is reckoned one of the largest manors in this county, extending itself into most of the adjacent villages, over which it hath the superiority, in as ample a manner as the lord of the hundred hath over the rest; it belonged to Guert in the Confessor’s time, who had four carucates of land, a park for beasts, and the several towns and hamlets of Baber, Thorp, Bereford, Easton, Hunningham, Wramplingham, Brandon, Runhall, Carleton, Marlingford, and Tokethorp, or at least berewics or manors in these towns, belonged to it at the Conqueror’s survey, and now it extends into these and several other villages.