Norfolk: Cley next the Sea

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845

CLEY-NEXT-THE-SEA is a small town and port, on the river Glaven, about 1 mile from the beach, 8 miles W. of Wells, 4½ miles N.N.W. of Holt, and 25 miles N.N.W. of Norwich. Its parish has increased its population since 1801, from 547 to 828 souls, and contains 2167A. of land, a great part of which is salt marsh. W.H.C. Hardy, Esq., is lord of the manor, and owner of a great part of the soil. Cley had formerly a small market on Saturday, and has still a pleasure fair on the last Friday and Saturday in July.

The harbour is very narrow and shallow, but in its course to the sea it forms a junction with the Blakeney channel. The CUSTOM HOUSE for the Port of Blakeney and Cley, (including Cromer and several fishing towns,) is situated here; and according to its returns for 1844, there were exported in that year upwards of 38,000 qrs. of corn, and above 10,000 sacks of flour; and imported more than 20,000 chaldron of coals, four cargoes of timber, and fourteen cargoes of rape and linseed cake. In the same year there belonged to the varous places within the limits of the port, 115 registered vessels, besides 380 fishing vessels; but the latter are chiefly at Cromer, Sherringham, Runton, &c.

The Custom House officers are

         Bacon      Robert, Esq.     collector
         Grieve     David, Esq.      comptroller
         Bacon      Mr. J.W.         clerk
         Jary       Jacob            tidewaiter
         Ramm       John             tidewaiter
         Linom      Geo.             coast waiter at Cromer
 

Cley CHURCH (St. Margaret,) is a handsome Gothic edifice, with a square tower, supposed to have been built in the reign of Henry VI.; but the transepts and west porch are in ruins. In the chancel is a brass, dated 1429, and representing John Yslington, in a priest's habit. Here is also a fine brass, with representations of John Symonds, his wife, and eight children; and in the churchyard is the altar-tomb of Captain John Grieve, who assisted Sir Cloudesly Shovel in burning the ships in the port of Tripoli, in Barbary, in 1676.

The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £22. 13s. 4d., has 17A. of glebe, but no parsonage. The trustees of the late J.W. Tomlinson, Esq., are patrons, and the Rev. Chas. Codd, B.A., is the incumbent. The tithes have been commuted for £405 per annum.

The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here; and in the town is a Lancasterian School, established in 1834. An Allotment of 52A. was awarded to the poor at the enclosure, in 1812.

In 1406, James, son of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, and heir apparent to the crown, being on a voyage to France, was driven by stress of weather on this coast, and detained by the mariners of Cley, who sent him prisoner to London.

The POST-OFFICE is at Mr. Elsy's, where letters arrive at half-past 12 noon, and are despatched at a quarter before two afternoon.

         Allen      Philip           farm bailiff
         Bacon      Robert, Esq.     colr. of Customs
         Bacon      Thos. Waterson   clerk to do.
         Beckwith   Rev Thomas       curate of Wiveton
         Cooke      Corbett J.       surgeon
         Crofts     Mr Thomas
         Davidson   Wm.              farm bailiff
         Dingle     Mrs
         Ellis      Edmund           clerk in Customs
         Elsy       Jph. Cornelius   hairdresser, &c
         Fisher     Judith
         Grieve     Dd.              comptroller of Customs
         Haycock    Jph. jun.        corn & coal merchant, and
                                       maltster (and Wells)
         Jackson    John Barber      clerk
         Jary       Jacob            tide waiter
         Jordan     Mrs Eliz.
         Lee        John             corn and coal merchant,
                                       miller, and maltster
         Marcon     Rev Charles      curate
         Mason      Henry            cooper
         Moore      Mrs Margaret     merchant
         Painter    Clark            glazier, &c. (& Holt)
         Prike      Zachariah        farmer
         Ramm       John             tidewaiter
         Richardson John R.          shipbuilder
         Stirges    David, Edward,
                      and John       bricklayers
         Taylor     Edw.             farmer, Swans Lodge
         Turner     William          gentleman
         Upjohn     Edward           farmer
 
                    INNS AND PUBLIC HOUSES.
 
         Gibbs      Wm.              Fishmonger's Arms
         Waller     John             George and Dragon (and auctioneer)
         Barnard    Wm.              King's Head
         Gogle      Henry            Three Swallows
 
            Bakers.                     Joiners, &c.
 
         Pitcher    Josiah           Brett      John
         Doyle      Thomas           Christmas  Jph.
         Smith      Henry            Coe        Robert (and lime burner)
                                     Curson     James
            Beerhouses.              Dew        Chas. (cabt.)
                                     Jarvis     Wm.
         Ampleford  Stpn.            Waller     John
         Jary       Mary             
 
            Blacksmiths.                Master Mariners.
 
         Lee        John             Barstead   Samuel
         Thurston   John             Bix        James
                                     Mann       Robert
                                     Mann       Isaac
                                     Platten    Robert
                                     Ramm       Howard
 
            Butchers.                   Shoemakers.
 
         Copeman    John             Digby      John
         Curl       John             Mackerell  James
         Shore      George           Sadler     William
 
            Grocers & Dprs.             Tailors.
 
         Doyle      Thomas           Clarke      John
         Muskett    J. & W.          Plumb       J.W.
                      (and Holt)     Sergant     Thos. F.
         Rush       Elizabeth        Stangroom   Jerh.
 

CARRIERS. From Blakeney to Norwich, Tue. & Fri.

Sailing Packets, to London and Hull once a fortnight.

See also the Cley next the Sea parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
January 2009