Norfolk: Croxton near Thetford

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

CROXTON, 2 miles N. of Thetford, is a village on the acclivity of a steep hill, crowned with trees, which may be seen at the distance of many miles in this champaign country. Its parish, which has 428 inhabitants, is in Thetford union and county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Grimshoe hundred, Gallow petty sessional division, Watton polling district of West Norfolk, Cranwich rural deanery and Norfolk archdeaconry.

It had 308 inhabitants in 1881, living on 4609 acres of light sandy land, and has a rateable value of £3625. Wm. Dalziel Mackenzie, Esq., is lord of the manor of Sibton in Croxton, and principal landowner. A Court Leet is held at the Bell yearly, and Mr. John Houchen is steward. Christ's College, Cambridge, and Captain John Wm. Davy, are also landowners.

The CHURCH (All Saints) was built about the year 1280, and was enlarged and altered in the middle of the 14th and 15th centuries. It was restored in 1856, at a cost of £800. One bell and good clock hangs in the tower, which is built of flint, and is round at the base, and octagonal above.

Christ's College, Cambridge, are patrons of the vicarage, which was valued in the King's Book at £6 13s. 4d., and was augmented in 1809 and 1819, with £400 of Queen Anne's Bounty, and is now worth about £100 per annum. The Rev. Hy. Williams, M.A., is the vicar, and has a good residence built in 1843, at a cost of £700, and enlarged in 1862. The tithes have been commuted - the rectorial for £400, and the vicarial for £73 a year.

The National School, which was enlarged in 1875, to accommodate 60 scholars, is attended by about 45 children.

The Primitive Methodists and Wesleyans have chapels here.

The Fuel Allotment, 20A., was awarded at the enclosure in 1815, and is let for £5.

POST OFFICE at Mr. Fredk. Brighton's. Letters per mail cart arrive at 3.30 a.m., delivered at 7 a.m., despatched at 9 p.m. Sunday Box closes at 7.30 p.m., via Thetford, which is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office.

         Barker    Thos.         farmer, Village farm
         Brighton  Frederick     shoemaker, & post office
         Burrell   Chas.         farmer, Croxton lodge;
                                   h St. Mary's Hospital, Thetford
         Butcher   James         police constable
         Cole      Edward Noah   farmer, Croxton hall, clerk to the Thetford
                                   union and superintendent registrar
         Daniel    Arthur        farmer, Bulwer hall
         Garland   Miss Mary     National schoolmistress
                     Elizabeth
         Howlett   Alf.          coal dlr. & pork butcher
         Howlett   Mrs Elizabeth beerhouse
         Matthew   Benjamin      farm bailiff to W.D. Mackenzie, Esq
         Rayner    Wm.           blacksmith & vict. Bell
         Sims      James George  land and estate agent, Hill house
         Smith     Richard       parish clerk & sexton
         Taylor    Walter        wheelwright & blksmth
 

From ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS on pages 13-16:

In the first paragraph, for
   "Grimshoe hundred, Gallow petty sessional division"
read
   "Grimshoe hundred and petty sessional division".

See also the Croxton near Thetford parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
January 2000