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Norfolk: Acle

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

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

ACLE is a pleasant and well-built village, on two opposite acclivities, 11 miles E. of Norwich, and now only about 8 miles W. by N. of Yarmouth; a new turnpike from hence, across the marshes, to the latter place, having shortened the distance nearly four miles. (Vide p.235 [which is the entry for the History of Yarmouth].

At the Conquest, it was a fief of the Crown, and was granted by the Conqueror to Roger Bigod, who obtained for it a market and fair. The former has long been obsolete, but the latter is now held on Midsummer day. Richard the Second granted the inhabitants freedom from all tolls, suits of shire and of hundreds, with some other immunities.

The parish contains 864 inhabitants, and 3165 acres of land, the greater part of which is a marsh; a small portion of which is a detached allotment, made at the enclosure, in 1797, and lying near Yarmouth.

Lord Calthorpe is the principal owner, lord of the manor, and patron of the CHURCH, which is a neat structure, dedicated to St. Edmund the King, and has a highly florid Gothic screen. The organ was presented by the patron, in 1837. The living is a rectory, valued in the King's Book at £20, and now enjoyed by the Rev. Wm. Spooner, Archdeacon of Coventry. The tithes have recently been commuted for £720 per annum; and the glebe is 6A. 19P.

Acle Bridge, on the Bure, a mile east of the village, is called in all legal documents Weybridge; and a little below, a short canal branches to a staith or wharf. At a short distance east of the church, are some small remains of Weybridge Priory, founded in the reign of Edward I., by Roger Bigod, for regular canons of the order of St. Augustine. At the dissolution, it was valued at £7. 13s. 4d., and granted to the Duke of Norfolk.

A National School, established here about thirty years ago, is attended by about 100 children.

Land, left by an unknown donor, for the poor, and to pay 10s. 6d. for a sermon, and 1s. to the clerk, is now let for 30s. a-year.

The Post Office is at the Queen's Head; and letters are despatched to Yarmouth at 11 morning, and to Norwich, at 3 afternoon. Most of the Yarmouth and Norwich coaches and carriers, which formerly passed daily through the village, have been discontinued since the opening of the railway, which passes four miles south of Acle.

In the following DIRECTORY, those marked * live in that part of the parish called Damgate, where the marshes are now well drained.

           Baker       Benj. Heath      gent. high constable, Acle Hall
           Bailey      Wm.              glover
           Bensley     Wm.              plumber & glazier
           Birt        Wm.              tailor and draper
           Boardman    Geo.             boarding academy
           Boyce       Daniel           glazier, painter, &c
           Clarke
             and Jay                    surgeons [see note below]
           Clarke      Thos. Edw.       surgeon  [see note below]
           Case        Robert           tailor
           Cooper      Rev. Robt.
                         Henry, M.A.
           Crowe       Sarah            confectioner
           Cufaude     Wm. Hy.          surgeon, & registrar for
                                          Walsham District
           Dawson      Thomas           wheelwright
           Drake       Lieut. Spencer,
                         R.N.
         * Dunt        Mr Adam
           Dunt        James            tailor and grocer
           England     Geo.             vict. Queen's Head
         * Fromow      Geo.             gent. Hill House
         * Fowler      John             joiner
           Farrance    George           bricklayer
           Gales and
             Banham                     grocers & drprs
           Garwood     Benj.            veterinary surgeon
           Hart        Charles          gentleman
           Hoste       Rev. Geo.
                         Chas. MA.      curate of Stokesby and Runham
           Hunn        Joseph           thatcher and vict. Hermitage
           Hunn        Jas.             thatcher & beer seller
           Knight      Wm.              grocer and draper
           Leeder      Richard          hair dresser
           Lemmon      John             vict. King's Head
           Lemmon      Thos. Jas.       coach painter
         * Maddle      Mr George
           Money       John             basket maker
         * Moore       Edm.             shopkeeper & joiner
           Newton      Phillis          National School
           Porter      Benj.            lime burner and vict. Angel,
                                          Acle Bridge
           Randell     Henry Kemp       surgeon
           Riches      John W.          veterinary surgeon
           Russell     Robert           blacksmith
           Sherrington Samuel Benjamin  solicitor (and Yarmouth)
           Shingles    Miss Mary        ladies' school
           Sidney      Rev. Edwin, M.A. curate
           Slipper     Mrs My.
           Spendlove   Robert           saddler
         * Springall   Edw.             smith & vict. Crown
           Sword       Thomas           agent to Norwich Union Fire
                                          Office, &c
           Tice        Danl.            cooper
           Ward        George           baker
           Ward        Robt.            miller and maltster
           Wilkin      Susan            butcher
           Whittingham Thos.            National School
 
              FARMERS.                     Shoemakers.
 
         * Adams       Benj.            Church     John
         * Curtis      Joseph         * England    Robert
         * Daniels     James            Evans      Benj.
           Harrison    Wm.              Evans      Wm.
           Harrison    Henry          * Hardy      John
         * Newson      James
         * Nicker      Henry               Watchmakers.
         * Riches      Hy. Jno.
           Sparraw     Wm.              Last       Wm. Robt. (&
         * Squires     Mary                          sheriff's offcr)
         * Taylor      Walne            Thompson   John
           Wigg        George
                                           Wherry Owners.
 
                                        Gales      Daniel
                                        Porter     Wm.
 

CARRIER to Norwich, John Holmes, W. & Sat


Note: in the original, these two entries are bracketed together.


See also the Acle parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
November 2008