Each of these houses had some outbuildings--cowsheds, barns, &c., and
a small croft fenced round. Opposite these houses was another row
facing west, as the others faced east; but these latter houses were
apparently occupied by the poorer inhabitants--the smith, the
carpenter, and the general shopkeeper, who called himself, and was
called by others, the _merchant_. There was one house which
appears to have stood apart from the rest and near Wesenham Heath. It
probably was encircled by a moat, and approached by a drawbridge, the
bridge being drawn up at sunset. It was called the Lyng House, and
had been probably built two or three generations back, and now was
occupied by a person of some consideration--viz., Thomas Middleton,
Archdeacon of Suffolk, and brother of William Middleton, then Bishop
of Norwich. This house was on the east side of the road, and the road
leading up to it had a name, and was called the Hutgong. In front of
the house was something like a small park of 5? acres inclosed; and
next that again, to the south, 4 acres of ploughed land; and behind
that again--that is, between it and the village--there was the open
heath. Altogether, this property consisted of a house and 26 acres.
Archdeacon Middleton bought it on October 6, 1283, and he bought it
in conjunction with his brother Elias, who was soon after made
seneschal or steward of Lynn for his other brother, the bishop.
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