Norfolk: Gressenhall

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

GRESSENHALL, a village and parish on the Litcham road, 3 miles N.W. of East Dereham, had 957 inhabitants, in 1841, including 242 in Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, which is already noticed at page 308. [This is the description of Mitford hundred]. The parish contains 2,582A. of land, including 350A. 33P., which anciently formed part of the dissolved parish of Great Bittering. The manors, are North and South Soken and Rougholm, of which J.D.H. Hill, Esq., is lord; and Hareford's, of which A.C. Spurgeon, Esq., is lord, but part of the soil belongs to other proprietors.

The CHURCH, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, is a large structure, in the cathedral form, with a short but massive tower, rising in the centre, and formerly surmounted by a spire, which was taken down in 1698. The north transept is called Feraur's chantry, or chapel; and that on the south, Hasting's chapel. Here are inscriptions to the families of Estmond, Le'Estrange, Vessey and Davy.

The rectory is valued in the King's Book at £15.13s.4d., and is in the patronage of King's College, Cambridge, and the incumbency of the Rev. Dennis Hill, who rebuilt the Rectory House, about 1808. The glebe is 50A., and the tithes were commuted, in 1842, for £750 per annum. In the reign of Henry the VIII., Wm. de Stutevil, founded a chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in that part of the parish called Rougholm; but it was in ruins when Blomefield wrote, and was afterwards converted into a house.

Two annual FAIRS for horses, cattle, &c., are held on Dec. 6th, and the Tuesday before Whit-Sunday, and the former is numerously attended.

A National School was built here, in 1842, by J.D.H. Hill, Esq.

The church land is 2A.1R. The Poor's Allotment, 7A.3R.34P., let for £8, was awarded in 1810. The poor have also £6 a year, as the rent of 6A., received at the enclosure, in exchange for 4A., left by John Curson, in 1667; and also 10s.6d., paid yearly, for the right of setting stalls on the "Fairstead."

         Alpe       Mrs Ann
         Bradfield  Rt.            Workhouse School
         Christmas  Eliz.          beer-house keeper
         Clarke     Robt.          wheelwright
         Dodman     John           wheelwright
         Everett    Richard        blacksmith
         Frost      Samuel         bricklayer
         Golding    Jas.           shoemaker
         Hannent    John           corn miller
         Hill       Rev. Dennis    Rectory
         Hill       John David
                      Hay, Esq.    Hall
         Howard     Wm             cattle dealer
         Lemon      Jas.           shoemaker
         Peck       Robert         farrier
         Riches     John           shoemaker
         Spragg     Wm.            carpenter
         Spurgeon   Astley Cooper,
                      Esq.         Wood-lands
         Tuck       Mary           shopkeeper
         Twigg      Thomas         carpenter
         Tye        Benj.          grocer and draper
         Wardlaw    Mary           National School
         Watson     Isaac          tailor
         Whelan     Geo. Francis   master of the Union Workhouse
 
            INNS AND TAVERNS
 
         Chequers           Robt. Tye (and cooper)
         Royal Oak          (empty)
         Three Horse Shoes  John Hewitt
         White Swan         Geo. Dodman
 
            FARMERS
 
         Alpe       William        Hill       Joseph
         Archer     Joseph         Nicholson  James
         Brown      James          Pease      David
         Brown      George         Pease      Samuel
         Burton     John           Rosher     John
         Hill       John           White      James
 

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See also the Gressenhall parish page.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 1999