On Berner's death Othestranda passed to William de Warenne, adding to the many 'lordships' he held. Little Domesday records him as 'lord' of many neighbouring lordships including: Sidestrand, Mundesley, Southrepps, Northrepps, North Walsham, Gresham, Gimmingham, Trunch etc.
The de Warenne's were named for their castle on the River Varenne, near Bellencombre in Normandy. William was a distant cousin of and key advisor to William I before and after the conquest and unsurprisingly was granted title to many lands throughout England.
He was created 1st Earl of Surrey, and Lord of the Rape of Lewes. At the time of his death in 1088 he held lands in 13 counties and had built 4 castles. He was worth an estimated modern equivalent of £57 billion - a record during the last millennium.
He was succeeded by his son William who inherited his titles and estates and is most commonly referred to as the Earl Warren.
His daughter Edith married Gerard de Gournay - a family name that features large in Overstrand's more recent history.
Othestranda was held for de Warenne by Roger de Reymes a norman knight who fought in the Conquest and who was later honoured with a barony in Essex.
The de Reymes (also recorded as Raimes, Reynes, Raines, Rames) held the 'lordship' until the late 1600's, but not without incident it seems.
By 1268 it seems the lordship had become known as Overstrand. In this year a Richer de Reymes sold the lordship to Roger de Herleberge for 80 marks of silver. His (probably) cousin Agnes pleaded for a fourth part of the lordship as one of the co-heirs. It seems that a duel or combat of trial was fought between Roger de Herleberge and, acting for Agnes, a freeman called Simon son of Hugh. The result of which ended in agreement being reached by both parties.
In 1275 a Hugh de Reymes was by then the 'lord' and as such claimed the spoils from a shipwreck.
In 1305 a John de Reymes established a trust equivalent to half of the value of the manor.
In 1387 a Sir John de Reymes was lord and he attended John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster on expeditions to Spain under the King's Letters of protection. In his absence administration was granted on his goods and property to a Bartholomew de Reymes in 1388. Sir John died intestate in 1406.
In the early 1500's an Anne de Reymes married into another important Norfolk family - Calthorp.
By 1660 things began to get tight for the then lord - another John de Reymes. He wrote that his son William had sold part of the estate, mortgaged the remainder and died, leaving a wife and 5 children in his care. This plight caused him to take action against the family of his dead son's wife for monies due by marriage contract.
His grandson, another William, sold the lordship to a Thomas Baxter who gave it to his sister's son, a Bodham, who in turn gave it to his sister.
By 1714 the title had passed to a Nathaniel Life who was High Sheriff of Norfolk. He died in 1727.
To be continued.....(contributions welcome)
Today the Feudal Lord of Overstrand is Frank Charles Hayer III and his wife Lady Nancy Christine Hayer.