TIMELINE PART 1. 670-1483AD
LAKENHEATH AND ELY ABBEY.
673 Princess ETHELREDA founded a monastery for monks and nuns at Ely.
870 Ely Abbey was sacked by the Danes (Vikings).
900 There was a landing place here at the edge of the Fen (the Hythe).
1003 -1066 Lakenheath was given to the monks by Edward the Confessor.
1010 The Battle of Thetford. Vikings advanced into the wild Fens.
1061 Pilgrimages to the shrine at Walsingham began.
1066 Ely continued to hold the lordship of the village after the Norman Conquest.
1086 The Little Domesday Book showed Lakenheath to be a large village of 24 households.
1109 Ely Abbey became a cathedral and the monks began the re-building of St. Mary’s Church.
Read about Lakenheath and Ely Abbey.
13th. C. THE VILLAGE.
1201 Lakenheath’s first market was granted by King John.
1304 Warreners were employed to ensure the supply of rabbits to the Abbey.
1339 The vicar’s official seal was lost near the village.
TROUBLED TIMES.
1349 The Black Death.
1379 Fire in the Village.
1381 The Peasants Revolt in Lakenheath
THE BEGINNINGS OF PROSPERITY.
1440 Camping Close.
The Boy Bishop. A ‘fun’ tradition took place at Christmas time.
1483 William Lacy (Lacey), a wealthy villager’s gift to the Church.