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Norfolk: Marham

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

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

MARHAM, or Cherry Marham, is a long village with several good houses, 7 miles W. of Swaffham, and 8 miles N.E. by E. of Downham. Its parish contains 817 inhabitants, and about 4,000 acres of land, a great portion of which is in large open fields, having perhaps the finest grass-turf in the county, and remarkable for large hares, said to be the best runners in the kingdom! Marham was formerly noted for its great abundance of cherries and walnuts; but most of the trees of the latter fruit were cut down during the late war, and sold to the gun-makers, - some of the largest for as much as £100 each. The principal owners of the soil are Sir Thomas Hare, and Rt. G. Winearls and Henry Villebois, Esqrs.; the first is lord of the manors of New Hall and Shouldham, and the last is lord of Old Hall and Westacre, and resides at Marham House.

There was formerly a Nunnery here, belonging to Ely abbey, founded for Cistercians, in 1251, and granted at the dissolution to Sir Nicholas and Robert Hare. Some remains of it may be seen in a farm-house and outbuildings, a little west of the CHURCH, (Holy Trinity,) which is a large edifice, with a lofty square tower and six bells. Here was another church,(St. Andrew,) and some traces of its foundations are still extant.

The vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £6 13s. 4d., and in 1831 at £434, was augmented in 1738 with £200 of Queen Anne's bounty, and £200 given by the Rev. Edward Brooke. The Rev. Arthur Browne, M.A., is incumbent, and the advowson and appropriation of the rectorial tithes belong to St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1840, the rectorial tithes were commuted for £640, and the vicarial for £371 per annum.

Two Poor's Allotments, containing 200A. of fen land, were awarded under the enclosure act of the 33rd of George III. Every parishioner is allowed to cut fuel on this land; and the herbage is let for about £35 a year, which, after the payment of drainage rates, is divided among the poor.

The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel in the village. The National School was built in 1841, with a house for the master, at the cost of about £400, on land given by Sir Thos. Hare.

           Browne     Rev. Arthur, M.A.  vicar
           Bouchen    Mr. James
           Fox        Mr. Thos.
           Gathercole James              victualler, Bell
           Gooderson  Thomas             shoemaker
           Hoggett    Mr. Wm.
           Jerrold    John               fishmonger
           Maddison   George             grocer, &c.
           Parish     Charles            corn miller
           Parish     James              grocer and draper
           Rands      William            bricklayer
           Raven      Ann                shopkeeper
           Ryley      David              victualler, Dog & Duck
           Taylor     Mr. Thos.
           Thorp      P.                 flour seller
           Villebois  Henry, Esq.        Marham House
 
              Beer Houses.                  Butchers.
 
           Dye        Robert             Addison   James
           Dye        William            Butter    John
           Parlett    Benjamin           Rands     John
                                         Rands     Thomas
 
              Blacksmiths.                  Carpenters, &c.
 
           Jempson    Robert             Butter    Thomas
           Parfrey    William            Dye       William
                                         Steel     Carwood
                                         Taylor    James
 
              FARMERS.
           * are Owners.
 
         * Brown      Davis
           Lambert    Henry
         * Makemade   Edw.
           Tompson    Rd. Mills
         * Winearls   Robert Good        East Gate
 

CARRIER, Wm. Yaxley, to Lynn Saturday


See also the Marham parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
July 2015