11th Century
Apart from the tantalising Roman remains the next date that we can assign to Sutton is of a fragment of an 11th-century cross shaft found in the Church. It has, on one side, a representation of the Virgin and Child. This cross is thought to be Anglo Danish in origin and made circa 1000 A.D.
In 1066 there were two estates at Sutton of 6 carucates each.
The first estate was split into two parts with the first part, of 5 carucates, being held by Bernulf and Norman whilst the second part, of 1 carucate, was held by Segrida. The value of the whole estate was £1 16s.
The second estate, of 6 carucates, was held by Orm, Colgrim, Ulf and Game. The value of this second estate was £1
The village is mentioned in Domesday in 1086. Although there is no mention of the church this should not be taken to mean it did not exist, as several counties have no church mentioned at all, even though they were known to exist.
The village, in Domesday, is named SUDTON(e). The village name appears in various forms and spellings over the years and the consensus of it’s meaning is that SUTTON is a composite of ‘SUD’ meaning South and ‘TUN’ meaning Farm. TON or TUN in Anglian Norse and allied tongues, indicates a farmstead with a few huts within a fence circle.
In 1086; the year of Domesday; there were still two estates at Sutton. Picot de Percy held the first estate under William de Percy and the second estate was held by Niel Fossard who held it of the Count of Mortain. Note that ‘The Manor’ comprised both of these estates and was held by Picot de Percy.
It is thought that Picot de Percy was William de Percy’s younger brother and it is known that the over-lordship descended in the main branch of the Percy family – that is William’s branch – whilst the demesne lordship descended through the minor branch of the family – through Picot’s descendents. (Note: a Mesne Lord is a feudal lord who holds land as tenant of a superior but who is lord to his own tenant).
William de Percy was the Tennant–in-Chief of the first estate at Sutton but he also held other 86 Lordships in Yorkshire plus others in Lincoln, Essex and Hampshire. It is thought that the name ‘de Percy’ derives from ‘Percy’ in the Arrondissemont of St. Lo in the department of la Manche – although there are three other places called Percy in Calvados. William came over to England in 1067 and arrived in Yorkshire by 1070. He was present at the Scots campaign of 1072. He founded the castle at Topcliffe. The principal family seat was at Spoffoth. He joined the 1st crusade of 1095 to 1099 and died in the Holy Land. He (or more likely only his heart is buried along with his wife Emma and his son Alan in the Chapter House at Whitby Abbey)
In 1086 the Percy estate at Sutton upon Derwent had land for 3½ ploughs. Picot de Percy had one plough and 11 villeins had three. There were also 3 fisheries. The value of the estate had decreased from £1 16s. in 1066 to £1 in 1086. The Mortain estate also had land for 3 ploughs. Niel Fossard had one plough and 6 villeins and 4 bordars had three. The estate was worth £1 in both 1066 and 1086.
It is thought that the first Stone Church was built at about 1080~1100 by Picot de Percy.
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