Norfolk: Hockham

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

HOCKHAM is a pleasant village, 5 miles N.W. by N. of East Harling. Its parish contains 664 inhabitants, and about 3196 acres of land, mostly the property of Henry Samuel Partridge, Esq., who resides at the Hall, a large brick edifice. It gives name to a large Police Division, and was formerly in two parishes, called Great and Little Hockham; but the church of the latter was demolished after the reign of Richard II., though its foundations may still be traced. Henry III. granted to Great Hockham, a charter for a market every Friday, and a fair on Easter Monday; but the former has long been obsolete, and the latter is merely a pleasure mart.

The CHURCH (Trinity) stands in the park, and has a nave, chancel, and aisles, but no tower. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £8. 17s. 11d., and in 1831, at £220. The Rev. John Spurgin, B.A., is patron and incumbent.

The common, and Cranberry fen, which had a lake or mere of 280A., were enclosed and drained in 1795, when a Fuel Allotment of 40A. was awarded for the use of all the parishioners not occupying more than £5 a year. The poor cut turf upon it. The Town Land consists of 16A. 22P., received in exchange at the enclosure, and now let for £22 a year, which is applied with the poor rates.

Here is a National School, built in 1832, by H.S. Partridge, Esq., who purchased the manor, in 1810, of the Dover Family.

         Adams      Robert              shopkeeper
         Adcock     John Lewis          tailor
         Andrews    Barnett             suprndnt. of police
         Boyce      Robert              plumber, painter etc.
         Drake      John                wheelwright
         Edwards    Wm.                 vict. Red Lion
         Goold      James               land agent
         Horrex     Jph. and Jno.       blacksmiths
         Jones      Joseph              shopkeeper and tailor
         Lemmon     John                wheelgt. and smith
         Muskett    James               grocer and draper
         Partridge  Henry Samuel, Esq.  Hall
         Pitts      Jeremiah            grocer and draper
         Smith      Susan               schoolmistress
         Spurgin    Rev. John, B.A.     vicar
         Warren     Wm.                 baker and shopkeeper
 
            FARMERS.
 
         Bidwell    James
         Land       Edmund              The Lodge
         Lane       Heron
         Loveday    Thomas
         Nurse      Philip
         Swann      John Wm.
         Wells      Ann
 

Carrier to Norwich, Wm. Edwards, Friday

See also the Hockham parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
June 1999