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Norfolk: Hockwold cum Wilton
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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883
[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]
HOCKWOLD-WITH-WILTON are adjoining villages, on the north side of the vale of the Little Ouse river, from 4 to 5 miles W. of Brandon, and 8 miles S. by W. of Stoke-Ferry. They form one parish, in Thetford union and county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Grimshoe hundred and petty sessional division, Methwold polling district of West Norfolk, South Cranwich rural deanery and Norfolk archdeaconry. The parish had 809 inhabitants in 1881, living on 7478 acres, and has a rateable value of about £8000. A new road was made, with a suspension bridge across the river to Suffolk, through the two villages, in 1829. Wilton fair, for toys, pedlery, &c., is held on July 25. The principal owners and lords of the manors are Lieut. Francis D'Arcy Newcome, owner of Hockwold manor; Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, of Carles manor.
HOCKWOLD CHURCH (St. Peter) is a small edifice, comprising nave, south aisle, chancel, and square tower with three bells. There are sedilia and a piscina in the chancel, and in the south aisle is another piscina. The building was restored in 1857, and is furnished with open benches seating 270 persons.
WILTON CHURCH (St. James), comprises lofty nave and chancel, with a square tower containing six bells, surmounted by an octagonal spire of freestone. The screen is of carved oak, and two piscinas and the entrance to the rood loft still remain. The benches have good poppies, and afford accommodation for 250 worshippers. This church was restored about 30 years ago.
Hockwold rectory, valued in the King's Book at £9 13s. 11d., and Wilton vicarage at £6 7s. 6d., are consolidated, and are in the gift of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. William Wayman Hutt, M.A., who has a good residence, rebuilt in 1862. Here are about 92A. of glebe, and the tithes were commuted in 1839 for £766 a year. The two churches are nearly a mile apart, and service is performed in each of them, once every Sunday.
The National school, built in 1840, is attended by about 140 children. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here. Within the bounds of the parish is an extra-parochial farm, called Redmere, on which are two houses.
On 30A. of fen land, the poor cut turf without any restraint. They have also about £10 from 5A. of land left by Robert Clough, in 1733; £10 from 9A. of fen purchased with the poor's money, in 1769; and £10 as interest of £200, left by the Rev. William Adamson, in 1776. These doles are distributed about Christmas. A rent-charge of 24s., left by Thomas Blackerly, in 1839, appears to be lost.
About twenty-two years ago, a beautiful gold cross of Byzantine workmanship, containing in its centre a coin of Heraclius I., and his son Heraclius Constantinus, was found in a gravel pit at Wilton. Three limbs of the cross, and the parts surrounding the central coin are filled up with pieces of brilliant red glass, elegantly disposed in a mosaic pattern, and the upper limb forms a ring or loop by which the jewel was suspended.
POST OFFICE at Mr. John Pettitt's. Letters arrive at 3.40 A.M., and are despatched at 8.30 P.M. viâ Brandon.
Baker Charles George baker, corn, and flour dealer Balding William vict. Black Horse Barker George saddler Bell Henry bootmaker Bell Henry grocer Cater George farmer Clark Jeremiah fish & marine store dlr Cock Charles farmer and coal dealer Cock Mrs Elizabeth Cock Miss Mary Cole Thomas corn and coal merchant and surveyor Cossey William farmer, Fen Enefer James bootmaker Enefer Jesse vict. New Inn & farmer Enefer Joseph farmer, Fen Enefer Luke farmer, Fen Enefer Samuel blacksmith Gillott Mrs Elizabeth farmer Green John farmer Green John firewood dealer Green William farmer, Fen Green Wm. vict. Anchor Inn & frmr Greenacre Henry farmer, Fen Greenfield James carpentr, builder, and wheelwright Harrison Granger butcher & shopkpr Hicks James vict. Red Lion Hutt Rev. Wm. Wayman, M.A. rector Jacob George Robert farmer Jacob Henry farmer & landowner Johnson Edward farmer Johnson Mark farmer Lamb George farmer Lawson John farmer, Manor house Malt Mrs Eliza shopkeeper Moore John Simon seed, corn, cake, and coal merchant, and Lakenheath Morley Robert George grocer, draper, and bricklayer Morley William bricklayer & builder Oxer George vict. Ferry Boat Palmer George Robert blacksmith Peacock Robert farmer, Field farm Pearson Henry farmer Pearson William Henry nursery and seedsman, and assistant overseer Pettitt John tailor and postmaster Shinn Henry farmer and carrier Stallon Mrs Sarah farmer Watson James schoolmaster Watson Samuel beerhouse Webb Mrs Rebecca West Miss Sophia shopkeeper Williamson George firewood dealer Wisbey Henry farm bailiff to F. D'Arcy Newcome, Esq. Wright Mr Job
CARRIER - Henry Shinn, to Thetford, Saturdays
See also the Hockwold cum Wilton parish page.
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 2009