Cromer and Shipden from Documents

It is difficult to tell the story of Shipden and then Cromer through the Medieval period, but we can pick out clues from the documents that are available as to the advance of the sea, particularly in the 14th century. Here's a suggested timeline of the town as a port

• 1086 Shipden is recorded in the Domesday Book, marking its early significance.
• 1262 The first mention of Cromer by name in the will1 of Sir John de Repps.
• 1272 A reference indicating that Shipden church is established.
• 1317 The churchyard at Shipden is reported as being "wasted by the sea".
• 1318 Walter Rye's 'History of Cromer' records the use of the name "Shipden juxta Felbrigg" in a legal record.
• 1333 Rye points to and prints the Subsidy Roll2 for Norfolk to illustrate that "Shipden was inhabited by many well-to-do merchants". Other documents from the period illustrate that vessels were importing and exporting grain, pine and a variety of other items, rather than being concerned only with fish. A moderately wealthy trading port which could afford to rebuild its church to the size we know today fits well with this evidence.
• 1337 A further document reports that Shipden church is threatened by the sea; a new site is obtained for a Cromer church. This begins the transition, with John Broun granting an acre of land to build a church, which we take to be the site and church of the 21st century. The acre on which it is to be built is still referred to at Shipden rather than Cromer.
• 1340 Edward III assembles a fleet which will sail across the Channel with his army to defeat the French at the battle of Sluys. 69 vessels were supplied from Yarmouth, including vessels from the ports of Blakeney, Cromer, Holme, Warham and Wiggenhall. (Lyon, after Runyan). Both this and the record of 1417 suggest a port of some significance.
• 1362 There is considerable documentary evidence for the January storm which swept from west to east across England, with records of damage to the sea defences in west Norfolk and damage in Norwich. While there is no specific known mention of Shipden, the 'St Mary's Day Storm' must have had some considerable influence.
• 1380 Letters Patent from King Richard II seek to protect the fishermen of Blakeneye, Cleye and Crowmere and other local villages from having their vessels 'arrested' for transporting horses or warlike stores, unless for urgent occasion or necessity.
• 1382 The church of Shipden juxta Mare is conveyed to the Carthusians.
• 1390 Letters Patent indicate moves to construct a pier. Tradition suggests that there was a port between Shipden and Cromer.
• 1417 11 Cromer vessels are listed in the "Rotuli Normandi" as amongst those released at Caen from service to Henry V's army in France. The Merchant Fleet of Late Medieval and Tudor England 1400–1580 has brought together such medieval records as are available.
• 1449 The Paston Letters refer to the Haven Courts of Cromer.

1De banco roll, Michs. 11 Edward II, memb 282
2Subsidy Roll Norfolk 6 Ed III
3Weathering a Medieval Climate: Gauging the impact of natural hazards on north European society through archaeology and history AD 1000-1550