Pentney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Pentney was first found in Norfolk at Pentney, a village and civil parish about 8 miles (13 km) south east of Kings Lynn that dates back to at least the 3rd or 4th centuries as evidence of a Romano-British local pottery industry was discovered and an ancient Roman road has been found running close to the settlement. The village is situated on the north bank of the river Nar. The Domesday Book, 1 lists this settlement as Penteleist and was held at that time by Robert de Vaux from Roger Bigod, the great Norman Baron. Pentney held 3 mills, 7 beehives and 1/2 a salt mill. About a mile to the west is the gate-house of a priory of Black canons, founded in honor of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Mary Magdalene, by Robert de Vallibus (Vaux) c. 1130, a follower of the Conqueror. In the grounds of the priory, three long swords, and some silver coins, were discovered by the plough. In 1977, a gravedigger found six silver Saxon brooches while digging a grave at the church. Years later, the British Museum identified the 9th century silver disc brooches of national importance and the gravedigger was given £135,000 by the Museum which now proudly displays the items as the Pentney Treasure.