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Norfolk: Attleborough
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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883
[Transcription copyright © Richard Johns]
ATTLEBOROUGH, a small ancient market town, near the source of a small rivulet, 15 miles S.W. of Norwich, 14 miles N.E. by E. of Thetford, and 6 miles S.W. of Wymondham, is pleasantly situated on the Norwich and Thetford turnpike, and on the north side of the Great Eastern Railway, which has a station here. It is in Shropham hundred, Wayland union, Attleborough county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Guiltcross and Shropham petty sessional division, Attleborough polling district of South Norfolk, Rockland rural deanery and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 2239 inhabitants in 1881, living on 5200 acres of land. The rateable value is £13,325.
During the Saxon era, Attleborough was a place of great consequence, being the seat of Offa and Edmund, successively kings of the East Angles, who fortified it against the predatory incursions of the Danes. These fortifications were conspicuous in the time of Henry II.; and part of them may still be traced in the ridge called Burn Bank. It was afterwards the seat of the Mortimers, whose ancient hall, now a farm-house, is encompassed by a deep moat.
Sir Wm. Bowyer Smijth, Bart., is lord of the manor of Attleborough-Mortimer and its members (fines arbitrary); James C. Grimwade, Esq., is lord of Chanticlere manor (fines arbitrary); and the Rectory has two small manors, subject to a fine of 2s. per acre on land, and to arbitrary fines on the buildings. The soil chiefly belongs to Sir Wm. Bowyer Smijth, Bart.; Arthur Temple Cockell, Esq.; Sir T. B. Beevor, Bart.; Rev. D'Arcy Harrington Preston, B.A., and some smaller owners.
The town is lighted with gas, from works erected in 1860, and consists chiefly of one long street, with several neat houses, good inns, &c. Its market, held every Thursday, is now well attended. The old market cross, which stood on the Market hill, was destroyed in 1787. The Corn Hall, is a commodious white brick building, erected in 1863 at a cost of £1000, raised in £5 shares. It has a reading room and library attached. Near the station is a handsome hotel, opposite to which is a neat obelisk, commemorative of the Peace of 1856.
Three Fairs are held on the Thursdays before Easter and Whitsunday, and the second Thursday in September, for cattle, pedlery, &c. A pleasure fair, held on the day before the March assizes, originated from the throngs who flocked here to see the prisoners pass from Norwich to Thetford, and is still continued, though the assizes have ceased to be held at the latter place.
The Attleborough Company of Rifle Volunteers numbers about 70 men. William Kirk, Esq., is captain; Lancelot Lane, Esq., is lieutenant; Leonard Palmer, Esq., is second lieutenant.
Near the town, on the turnpike to Wymondham, is a square stone pillar, commemorating the gift of £200 by Sir Edward Rich, Knight, in 1675, for the repairs of the road, which is said to be the first turnpike made in England, being formed under an Act of 1695.
A College (Holy Cross) was founded here in the reign of Richard II., by Sir Robert de Mortimer, for a custos and four fellows. It was granted to the Earl of Sussex at the Dissolution, when its yearly revenue amounted to £21 16s. 3d.
The CHURCH, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, is in the collegiate form, with an ancient square tower and six bells at the intersection of the transepts. The east end was destroyed by the fall of the spire, and the rest of the edifice exhibits a large nave with aisles, north and south transepts, and a handsome porch on the north side. The south transept was built by Sir Wm. Mortimer, about 1296, and the north transept by Thomas Chanticlere, in 1338. To their families and to the Ratcliffes, here are many monumental memorials; and in the nave is a stone recording the death of Captain Gibbs, the celebrated horse racer and gamester, of the reign of Charles II.
The church was thoroughly repaired, and the interior fitted with new seats, &c., in a very handsome manner, at a cost of about £1600, in 1844, when several mural paintings were discovered. The east window was filled with beautiful stained glass in 1853, in memory of the late Rev. Sir E. B. Smijth, Bart. The pulpit is of finely carved oak, and under the tower is an old screen, which has been removed from its original position.
The rectory is in two consolidated moieties, called Great and Little; the former valued in the King's Book at £19 8s. 9d. and the latter at £8 2s. 6d. Sir W. B. Smijth, Bart., is patron, and the Rev. William Chartres Safford, M.A., is the incumbent, and has a spacious residence. The tithes were commuted about 1844 for £1504 per annum.
The Baptists, Wesleyans, Friends and Primitive Methodists, have each a chapel here. Gilbert Berkeley, Bishop of Bath and Wells, was rector of Attleborough in 1544. A great part of the town was burnt in 1559.
In 1678, the Rev. Thomas Nerford left 8A. of land towards the support of a graduate of one of the Universities, who should be appointed to teach grammar, and should, in consideration of this land, teach six poor children, to read, write, and cast accounts, without any charge. The school land now comprises about 10A., including an allotment awarded to it at the enclosure, in 1815, and is now let for £21 12s. 6d., which is received by the rector (the nominal master), who pays it towards the support of the National School, where the free scholars attend. Here is a Board School attended by about 100 boys and 80 girls.
The Church Land is 11A. 3R. 14P., and the clerk has 1A. 2R. 32P., for ringing the morning and evening bell.
The Fuel Allotment, awarded at the enclosure for the benefit of all the poor parishioners who do not occupy more [than] £10 a year, comprises 57A. 2R., now let for £53 14s. 9d. per annum. In 1760, Sir Francis Bickley left the College Close, 5A. (let for £22), and directed the rent to be distributed at Christmas, among the most needy poor of the parish; who have also about £8 17s. a year, as the rent of 2A. 3R. 23P., left by Andrew Reeder, in 1655; and £2 12s. from land left by the before named Rev. T. Nerford.
ATTLEBOROUGH COUNTY COURT is held every two months for the parishes enumerated on page 40. [This is the section about County Courts]. Edwin Plumer Price, Esq., Q.C., is judge; Thomas Holloway Slann, registrar and high bailiff; Walter John Amis, clerk; Charles Foulsham, sub-bailiff.
POST, MONEY ORDER AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE AND POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK, at William B. Page's. Letters despatched to London and all parts at 9 am., and to Norwich and all parts at 12.12 p.m. and 1.15 a.m. Delivery at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Adams Fredk. farmer, Dairy farm
Adamson Miss Rosa stationer
Allen George horse dealer & trainer
Allen Henry horse clipper
Amis Walter John law clerk
Bacon Jas. auctioneer, valuer & estate agt. & agt.
for Norwich Union Fire & Life, General
Hail-Storm Insce. Society, & agt. for
Norfolk Agricultural Association, & at
East Dereham and Lynn
Balls Rev. Wm. Prim. Meth. minister
Barker Henry pork butcher and vict. King's Head
Barley John shopkeeper
Barnard Mrs Mary dressmaker
Barwell Mrs Mary
Bateman Colin builder & upholsterer
Bateman William wine and spirit merchant,
The London Tavern
Baxter Ezaniah James farmer
Bayes Jph. bricklayer & shopkeeper
Beales George machinist & agent for Hornsby's
agricultural implements
Beck Wm. blksmith & shoeing smith
Beckett John grocer and draper
Bennett F. J. H.M. Geological Survey
Brooke M. W. Lombe solicitor, commissioner for affidavits,
clerk to Attleborough School Board, &
agt. for Norwich Union Fire and Life
Insurance Company
Brothers George thatcher
Brown Mrs Sophia
Buddle Benjamin wheelwright
Bush Robert farmer
Caley William bill poster
Capes John farmer, carrier and vict. The Crown Inn
Carleton John farmer & horse dealer
Chatters Henry boot & shoe maker
Childerhouse Fredk. frmr. & horse dlr
Childerhouse John shoemaker
Childerhouse Robert leather cutter & shoemaker and farmer
Clarke Wm. frmr. & (h) Gt. Ellingham
Claxton Miss Harriet dressmaker and milliner
Claxton James shoemaker
Claxton Noah saddle & harness mkr
Clifford Henry John vict. Dolphin Tavern, Ludgate Hill,
London; h Kent House, Attleborough
Clowes Wm. C. chemist and druggist
Cockell Mr. Arthur Temple Hill hse
Coleman Abraham chemist
Coleman James Sergeant-Instructor, Attleborough
Volunteers
Coller R. & Sons merchants, and Norwich, Watton, Lynn,&c.
Copland Robt. School Board officer
Cushing Stephen baker
Dawes William watch maker
Downes Robert bricklayer
Drake John toy dealer
Dunnett Jeremiah dealer and vict. The Old Railway Tavern
Edwards Geo. saddler & harness maker
Edwards Thomas farmer
Ellis & Horn physicians and surgeons
Ellis George Carteret (Ellis & Horn)
Ettridge Henry shoemaker
Forkes Frederick Wm. blacksmith
Foster Henry George surgeon and medical officer of health,
College Hill House
Foulsham Mrs Susan porkbutcher
Foulsham Chas. auctioneer and county court bailiff
and vict. The Cock
Fox Charles painter, plumber, glazier and house
decorator
Francklin Mrs Rebecca
Frost Arthur Stammers baker and confectioner
Gayford Dennis farmer
Girling Walter Harry merchant tailor, hatter, and general
outfitter
Goldspink Charles frmr. and horse dlr
Goldspink Richard farmer & butcher
Goodwin Wm. cabinet mkr. & joiner
Gurney & Co. bankers. Alfred Muskett, agent
(branch)
Hall William Henry baker
Hammond P. & W. W. butchers
Hammond Philip (P. & W. W.)
Hammond Wm. Walden (P. & W. W.)
Hanton Henry farmer
Harbour John vict. The Royal Oak
Harrison John carpenter and builder and victualler,
The Angel Inn
Harwood Thos. gardnr. The Vineyards
Hewitt Mr James
Hewitt Mr William
Hook Ephraim farmer
Houchen Mr William
Howard William coal dealer and victualler,
The Oddfellows
Howlett Mrs Rebecca farmer
Hubbard Charles farmer
Huggins George cattle dealer
Humphrey Theophilus grcr.'s managr
Jary Thomas farmer
Jessup George (exors.of) farmers
Jessup Robert & Joseph farmers
Jessup Joseph (R. & J.)
Jessup Robert (R. & J.)
Johnson Mrs Elizabeth fishmonger
Johnson Horace Cornelius ironmonger and machinist, & agt. for
Lancashire Fire and Life Insurance Co.
Johnson James fishmonger
Jones Mr Edward
Kenny Robert merchant's clerk
Ketteringham Mrs Caroline
Ketteringham Robert builder and contractor, brick, pipe,
and tile manufr
Ketteringham Mr William
Ketteringham Wm. jun. miller & grdnr
Ketteringham William H. bricklayer and plasterer
King Miss Helen dressmaker
Kirk Wm. frmr. & owner, Besthorpe
Knights John sergeant of police
Knights Robert butcher
Land Mr Robert The Ferns
Lane Mrs Mary
Lawrence Jessie boot and shoe maker
Lawrence Michael farmer
Lebbell Isaac Thomas farmer
Le Grice Charles grocer and draper, and agent for
W. & A. Gilbey's wines and spirits
Le Grice Mr Samuel
Leverington James farmer & coal dlr
Leyton J. & W. butchers
Leyton John (J. & W.)
Leyton William (J. & W.)
Limmer Jas. agt. for Finch's manures and cake
Littleproud Robert shopkeeper
Long Charles coal and corn merchant
Long Zedekiah farmer, corn and coal merchant
Loveday Nathaniel iron founder and agricultural
implement maker and machinist
Lovett Mr Robert J. Tenby villa
Lusher George market gardener
Lusher James thatcher
Macro Mrs Mary
Manning James H. music-teacher and agent for Northern
Assurance Company (Fire and Life)
Middleton William farmer
Mills Mr James
Moore Henry drill-owner
Murrell Charles shoemaker
Muskett Alfred grocer, draper, and stamp office,
& agent to Gurney's Bk
Muskett William farmer
Myhill John farmer
Myhill Mrs Sarah Elizth. shopkeeper
Nash John grocer's manager
Nicholls John farmer
Nicholls William Miles general supply stores, tailor,
draper, milliner, &c.
Nobes Philip victr., The White Horse
Nurse William farmer
Page Wm. B. postmaster & parish clk.
Parson Mrs Alice printer
Peck Mr Richard
Peck Mrs Sarah
Petley Chas. Edwd. frmr. & cattle-dlr
Pratt George corn-miller
Precious Miss Hannah
Preston, Rev. D'Arcy Point House
Harington. B.A.
Reeve Mr James
Riches Mrs Elizabeth victualler, The White Lodge
Riches Charles maltster and farmer
Rose Mrs Margaret grocer and draper, and agent
for Green's Bury Ales, &
Reid's Stout & Allsopp's Ales
Rowat Miss Isabella schoolmistress
Safford Rev. William
Chartres, M.A. The Rectory
Salter &
Simpson auctioneers & valuers
Salter William (S. & Simpson), house Attleborough Hall
Sanford Rev. Elias Thos (Wesleyan)
Saunders William farmer
Sayer George Walpole watchmaker
Scott Mrs Fanny
Self Robert farmer
Sewell Thomas fishmonger
Sheldrake Alpheus carpenter
Shepherd George farmer, Fen farm
Shorten William nursery and seedsman, and
victualler, Bear Inn
Simpson William Thomas (Salter & S.), & farmer; h Old Buckenham
Simpson John T. draper's manager
Skoyles Henry beerhouse, The Castle
Slann Thomas Holloway solicitor (Wilkinson & Slann), and
registrar, Attleborough Count Court;
comsnr to administer oaths in the
Supreme Ct of Judicature in England,
perpt comsnr for taking
acknowledgments by married women, and
agent for Sun Fire Office; and Holt
Smith Robert bricklayer and beerhouse, The Grapes
Snelling Robert carpenter and joiner
Snelling Robert pork butcher
Sparrow Charles corn chandler
Sparrow Charles fishmonger and beerhouse, Spread Eagle
Sparrow Mr Jonathan Bellevue House
Sparrow William F. painter, plumber, and glazier, and
house decorator
Spence Mathew market gardener
Stebbings William ironmonger
Steele Robert postman
Steff William land surveyor
Stubbings Mrs Maria draper
Stubbings William dealer
Taylor Arthur stationmaster
Taylor Charles tea dealer
Tillot John tailor
Tillot Leonard victualler and posting establishment,
The Royal Hotel
Tillot Wm. Self mineral water manfr
Turner John blacksmith
Turner Rev. Thomas Baptist minister
Tyrrell Rice Baly manager to Coller & Sons, merchants
Upston George nursery and seedsman
Wales George confectioner
Want Robert victualler and carrier, The White Hart
Warren Mr Samuel
Warren Wm tea hawker and shopkpr
Watling George farmer
Watling James vict. The New Railway Tavern
Watling Jonas vict. The Grove Inn
Webster Miss Elizabeth dressmaker
Webster George coachbuilder
Webster Joseph hairdresser & glover
Webster Miss Lucy dressmaker
Webster Wm. shoemaker & shopkeeper
Wells Arthur Gasworks manager
Welton George schoolmaster
West Mr Robert
Wharton Chas. corn and coal merchant
Wick John Park coal merchant
Wigby Frederick fowl dealer
Wiles Dr Charles Barsham
Wilson David farrier
Winch Robert James printer
Wingfield John shopkeeper
Woor David wheelwright and blacksmith,
cart and carriage builder
Wordingham Misses ladies' private sch
Wordingham John boys' private school
Wright Frederick coal dealer
Wright Jno. painter, plumber, & glazier
Wright Mrs Martha
Wright Mrs Mary
Youngs George stone & marble mason
CARRIERS.-
John Capes to Norwich, Tues. and Sat.;
Robert Want to Norwich, Wed. and Sat.
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See also the Attleborough parish page.
Copyright © Pat Newby.
November 2001