Recently Mr C H Lewton-Brain, president of Norfolk Research Committee, appealed for information about Norfolk folk tales. He was specially interested in sites where, according to legend, 'golden gates had been buried.' A correspondent writes about the story, 'which the old inhabitants of the neighbourhood love to tell . . ."

Golden Gates of Hautbois Castle
In bygone days there were many important buildings at Hautbois- still pronounced 'Hobbus' as it is spelt in the Domesday Book and as the Saxons seemed to have called it before the Normans came. Most important was Hautbois Castle, built in 1312, on the site of a much earlier Roman villa. This castle had a gatehouse and a moat, and though it seems that at first it was only intended to be a Manor House, the owners soon found it necessary to fortify it, and royal permission was obtained to 'embattle' it. According to one story the castle had 'Gates of Gold!' During those troublesome times when wars swept over the English countryside, and even those within embattled walls were not safe from attacks from their enemies, the owner feared for the safety of his beautiful gates.

'Bottomless' Pond
To prevent them from being captured and taken away. he had them removed, from their proud position and dropped into a neighbouring pond until the danger period was passed. The story goes that the gates were never recovered from their watery hiding place, known to this day to local 'old-timers' as the 'Golden Gates Pond.' But; of course, who could expect otherwise when the pond was 'bottomless?'

As was the case with many other parishes there seem to have been variations of the spelling of Hautbois from time to time, some of these being Hobbies, Hautbois, Hotteboys and Haughtbois.

The Saxons built a church on the meadows near the River Bure, and about half a mile from Coltishall village the ruins of St Theobald's Church are still to be seen, including the round tower the Saxons built and walls of nave and porch of a later period. Thanks to a locally formed Preservation Committee, in 1949 funds were raised to prevent the old ruins from falling into complete decay. In the Middle Ages there was in the church an image of St Theobald, and pilgrims came from afar; hoping to see 'miracles' which 'St Tibbald of Hobbies' was reputed to be able to perform.

Notable Buildings
But Hautbois Magna had other buildings of note. In the 13th century, the then Lord of the Manor, Sir Peter de Alto Bosco founded the 'Hospital of St Mary' which 'stood at the head of Hobbles
Causeway' and was to provide a rest and accommodation for pilgrims travelling between Walsingham and St Benet's Abbey. The hospital, less than a century later, came under the control of that famous abbey; the abbots of which had gained possession of part of t be Great Hautbois Manor.

During comparatively recent years Great Hautbois has been absorbed in Coltishall. its larger neighbour, while Little Hautbois joined Lammas. The narrow winding lane, the principle thoroughfare of this lovely rural parish, has been straightened, widened and resurfaced and many hundreds of motorists have since travelled that way, some on business, others on pleasure bent. How many realised that they were passing through a portion of Norfolk's countryside with a long and most interesting history?

Article by kind permission of Eastern Counties Newspapers

Note: If anyone has any information with regard to the locally formed 'Preservation Committee' I would be very interested.

Audrey Roseborough, Church Warden