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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