He was an inhabitant of Beccles for about 70 years and saith that it doth contain upwards of 2000 souls at a moderate computation… He remembers the little messnage or tenement called the Parsonage House of Beccles Church and near the South East side of the River Waveney for upwards of 60 years and saith that he never remembers it otherwise than as a licensed victualling or alehouse (though without a sign) it having been used as a common halt for people to land timber and other goods there… For as long as he can remember, the Rectors of Beccles for the time being lived in some great house in the upper part of the town and that particularly Mr Armstrong the late Rector lived in a house in the heart of the town about 50 years ago and after that in Anisbriggstreet where he continued to live till Mr Rage the present Rector came there, but never remembers or heard that any of the rectors lived in the house called the Parsonage house, it being unhealthfully situated and too small being without barn, stable or other convenience for the rectors to reside in and to store their crop or tithes… The Parsonage house hath been kept in tolerable good repair ever since Mr Page came to be Rector there, as far as he this deponent ever observed… The roof, lead walls, windows, floor and seats of the chancel of the parish church of Beccles arlate as long as he can remember and hath ever heard belonged to the Churchwardens there to repair and amend at the charge of the parish and not the rector for this...
Depositions & Examinations
DN/DEP 58/62 (unfol.) Twisse c Page
NRO
Violation of church rights
1724
Beccles, Suffolk, England
Plaintiff
Twisse
[Not specified]
Defendant
Thomas Page
male
Rector of Beccles
Church of England clergyman
Beccles, Suffolk, England
Witness
Thomas Ellsam
male
76
Beccles, Suffolk, England
Linen Weaver
Shipmeadow, Suffolk, England
5
Signature
Event
Beccles Parsonage House a licensed victualling or alehouse and halt for landing goods
from c. 1660 ('for upwards of 60 years')
to c. 1720
Beccles, Suffolk, England
Components
Alehouse licensing
Mentioned Only
Trade and economic exchange
Food and meals
Travel and transport
Mentioned Only
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Statement
Thomas Page
Statement
24 June 1724
Thomas Ellsam