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Norfolk: Cawston
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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845
[Transcription copyright © Richard Johns]
CAWSTON is a considerable village and parish, 2 miles E. of Reepham, and 4 miles W.S.W. of Aylsham, comprising 1130 inhabitants, 4296A. of land (only 3805A. assessable,) and the scattered hamlets of Eastgate, Southgate and Woodrow, the latter of which has a good inn on the Norwich and Holt road, 1 mile E. of the village. Three FAIRS are held here annually on Feb. 1st, and the last Wednesdays in April and August; the latter of which is a large sheep fair.
W.E.L. Bulwer, Esq., owns a great part of the soil, and is lord of the manor, which he holds in free soccage of the Duchy of Lancaster; in token of which, he has carried before him (or his steward,) on the court days, a brazen hand holding a ploughshare, and a mace surmounted by a bearded arrow. The custom of the manor is gavelkind, with dower and arbitrary fines. In 1263, John de Burgh obtained a charter for a market here every Wednesday, and a fair on October 1st and 2nd, but these have long been obsolete.
The Church (St. Agnes,) is a noble Gothic structure of freestone, in the crucifix form, with a fine square tower, containing six bells; the whole built by Michael de la Pole, (Earl of Suffolk,) and Catherine his wife, except the north aisle. In the windows are some fragments of ancient stained glass, and on the screen have been painted figures of the apostles, &c., but these are nearly obliterated.
The Rectory, valued in the King's Book at £15. 13s. 11d, is in the gift of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. A.E.L. Bulwer, B.A., who has a yearly rent of £1023, awarded in 1845, in lieu of tithes. The Church Land is 1A.3R.
In the chancel, are neat mural monuments to the late rector, and his second son, Major Baker, who was killed at the battle of Toulouse, in 1814. In a small planting, near Woodrow Inn, is a monument in memory of Sir Henry Hobart, who was killed there in a duel with Oliver Neve, in 1698. On the north side of the parish, is Docking farm, where it is said there was anciently a large village called Alvington. The Independents have a chapel in the village.
The Workhouse, which was built for 70 paupers of this and adjacent parishes, is now converted into tenements, let by the overseers to the poor parishioners, who have the interest of £120, left by Robert Mott, in 1760, Edward Dewing, in 1764, and Edward Lombe, in 1740. In 1818, Dr. Baker, the late rector, left the interest of £100 for the support of a Sunday School. At the enclosure of the Heath, in 1802, an allotment of 100A. was awarded to the parishioners for fuel.
In the following Directory, those marked 2 are at Eastgate; 3, Southgate; 4, Woodrow; and the rest in Cawston:-
Austin Matthew beerhouse keeper
Austin Lydia straw hat maker
Austin Thomas butcher
Austin Watts confectioner
Baker Wm. chimney sweeper
Bennett Robert baker & flour dealer
Bulwer Rev Augustine
Earle Lloyd,
B.A. Rectory
Cook Martha dressmaker
Dewing Robert joiner
Dewing Richard joiner
Dewing Wm. pump maker
Dyball Samuel vict. Bell
Easton Edward vict. White Horse
4 Easton Isaac vict. Woodrow Inn
Ellis Wm. saddler
Fisher Marker grocer and draper
Fox Thos. tailor
Holmes B. fishmonger
3 Howes J. beerhs
Hurrell Dennis vict. King's Head
Jary Hy. tailor
2 Lewis Leond. vict. Ratcatcher Inn
Massingham Sarah Ann straw hat mkr
Massingham Wm. cooper
Matthews John rat catcher
Mears John blacksmith
Morrell John surgeon
Ottway Thomas blacksmith
Pye Saml. miller [see note below]
Pye Matthew joiner [see note below]
Robins Joseph baker & flour dealer
Russell John watchmaker
Sendall Mr Joseph [see note below]
Sendall Thomas postman [see note below]
Slipper George smith, wheelwright, beerhouse,
and shopkeeper
Southgate Barnard sawyer
Spencer Rev C. curate
Sparks Wm. wheelwright
Springhall Charles bricklayer
Tallant Wm. land agent, &c.
Thomas Rev Richard
Caddy
Towell Mr Mtn
Tudnam James tailor
Wakeford Eliz. & Son grocers & drspr
Wardigan Jacob baker
Watts Wm. bricklayer
Watts Wm. hardwareman
Wells Wm. schoolmaster
Yallop Robert D. schoolmaster
Boot & Shoe Mkrs.
Blogg John
3 Comer Wm.
Douglas Wm.
Drake Samuel
Harvey James
Wiggett Wm.
Williams Brettenham
Woods James
FARMERS.
* are Owners.
3 Bird Edward Howes James
Bond John 3 Ireland Sarah
*Cable James 2 Page Samuel
Cook Wm. Plane Wm.
4 Dix James 2*Roberson Hy.
*Easton James Soames William, Docking farm
3 Easton John Spencer John
3*Easton Haylett 2 Taylor Thos.
Hickling Samuel Williams John
CARRIERS. Jas. Howes and Wm. Tudnam, to Norwich, W. and Saturday
POST to Reepham, Thomas Sendall.
Note: in the original, these are:
Pye Saml. miller, & Matthew, joiner
Sendall Mr Joseph || Thomas, postman
See also the Cawston parish page.
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
February 1999