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TIMELINE PART 2. 1509-1603.
LAKENHEATH IN TUDOR TIMES.
1509 Henry VIII became King and married Katherine of Aragon.
1520-30 SIMEON STYWARD, brother of the Prior of Ely Abbey arrived in Undley as the
Abbey’s Steward. He later moved to Lakenheath to be Steward here also.
In the early 16thC large quantities of wild fowl were being sent to the Abbey as
well as large quantities of sedge being sent to Cambridge market.
1527 Henry VIII’s request for an annulment of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon.
was refused by the Pope.
1534 The Act of Supremacy declared Henry to be ‘Supreme Head of the Church in
England’ thereby replacing the Pope.
At some time in this century the early origins of Goward House were built in the
High Street.
THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.
1536 Monasteries and religious shrines began to be confiscated and their wealth went
to the Crown.
1537 Lakenheath men took part in a military exercise at Mildenhall led by Simeon
Styward.
1538 Walsingham shrine was destroyed. Pilgrims had passed across the Warren on the
Pilgrim Trail. Was there a royal connection to the Village?
1539 Ely Abbey was dissolved loosing it’s lands and treasure.
Read about the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
1541 Ely Abbey was returned to the monks and Simeon Styward was the Steward of
Lakenheath. The governance of the former Abbey was now in the hands of the
‘Dean and Chapter Of Ely Cathedral’.
Read about the Stywards and Lakenheath.
RELIGIOUS TROUBLES.
1541 ROBERT UPTON, vicar of Lakenheath had his vicarage where 64 and 66 High Street
are now. He remained here until 1557 and would have witnessed the religious
troubles which were to come.
1542 The first Witchcraft Act was passed.
1547 Death of Henry VIII.
1547 King Edward VI, the Protestant ‘Boy King’ reigned for a short time.
Religiously motivated destruction at St. Mary’s Church.
1549 Kett’s rebellion began at Wymondham in protest against land enclosures by
landowners. Robert Kett was later hanged at Norwich Castle. There was a rebel
camp near Brandon.
1552 The first Poor Law was enacted. Each Parish had a duty to register and collect alms
for the poor of the Parish.
1553 Queen Mary Tudor. (Bloody Mary), a Catholic Queen reigned. The costs of
Heresy were great.
Read about Lakenheath and it’s Religious Troubles.
ELIZABETH I
1558 The reign of Queen Elizabeth I began and religious changes soon
followed. Elizabeth was declared Supreme Governor of the Church of England and
The Act Of Uniformity was passed enforcing church attendance.
1562 A revised Witchcraft Act was passed.
1565 Sir John Hawkins brought tobacco from America.
1566 Immigrant weavers fleeing persecution come to Suffolk from the Netherlands.
1568 Simeon Styward died a very successful and wealthy man.
1570 The Pope’s excommunication of Elizabeth I was virtually a declaration of War.
1572 Undley Manor was leased by Sir Henry North.
1575 The first printed map of Suffolk was produced by Christopher Saxton.
1584 Potatoes were brought from America.
1587 Mary, Queen of Scots was executed.
1588 Spain threatened Invasion. The Spanish Armada.
1600 It was still possible for boats to reach Mildenhall from the coast.
An Act of Parliament was passed to allow land to be reclaimed from the fens.
In 1601 a new Poor law was passed by Parliament which had implications for
parishes across the country.
Read about Social problems and the Poor Law.
1603 Queen Elizabeth I died having reigned for 45 years.