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Merton

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"MERTON, commonly called Martin, is a small detached village, 1½ mile S. by W. of Watton, comprising in its parish 164 inhabitants, and 1349A. 2R. of land, all belonging to LORD WALSINGHAM, who resides in the HALL, a fine brick mansion in the Elizabethan style, erected on the site of the old one, about the year 1610. . . . It faces the north, and has in front a curious gateway with a clock. It was thoroughly repaired, and the interior modernised by the late lord, about 12 years ago. The surrounding pleasure grounds, which have recently been greatly improved, are richly wooded . . . . William the Conqueror gave this manor to Ralph Baynard. The heiress of Fulk Baynard, Esq., carried it in marriage to Sir Thos. de Grey, who settled here in 1337. His descendant, Sir William de Grey, knt., was born here in 1719, and after being successively solicitor-general, attorney-general, and lord chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, was created Baron Walsingham, of Walsingham, on Oct. 17th, 1780. . . . The CHURCH (St. Peter) stands in the park, and has a round tower surmounted by a small wooden spire, and containing three bells. In the chancel are several monuments, with fine brasses of the noble family of de Grey. The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £6. 0. 5d., is in the patronage of Lord Walsingham, and incumbency of the Rev. Fras. Gregory Lemann, M.A." [William White, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk (1845) - Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

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Merton is about 9 miles N.N.E. of Thetford.
See also Metton. and Morton on the Hill.

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Census

  • 1851 Census
    The entries are for Merton in Devon and for Merton in Norfolk. This list is taken from the 1851 CD, which included the 3 counties of Devon, Norfolk and Warwickshire. This is a link to an archived copy.
  • 1891: Surname List (this is a link to an archived copy)

See also Norfolk Parish Links: Censuses

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Church Directories

  • In 1883 the parish was in the Deanery of Breckles, in the archdeaconry of Norwich.
    It could have been in a different deanery or archdeaconry both before and after this date.
  • The parish church is dedicated to St Peter.
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Church History

Church of St Peter
Description and pictures.
Church of St Peter
Pictures of the church.
Church of St Peter
Services, etc.
Crabbe, George
Merton Church and Hall.
[Norwich, Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society, in "Norfolk Archaeology", vol.6, 1864]
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Church Records

Marriages
These are not included in Boyd's Marriage Index or Phillimore's Marriage Registers.

See also Norfolk Parish Links: Church Records

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Civil Registration

For the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths between 1837 and 1930 (and for the censuses from 1851 to 1901), Merton was in Wayland Registration District.

See also Norfolk Parish Links: Civil Registration

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Description & Travel

Old Merton
Description, history, church, buildings, pictures, etc.
Merton Post Mill
Description.

See also Norfolk Parish Links: Description and Travel

You can see pictures of Merton which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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Historical Geography

Merton is in Wayland Hundred.

Parish outline and location.
See Parish Map for Wayland Hundred
Description of Wayland Hundred
1845: White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk
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Land & Property

Merton Hall
Description and pictures.
Crabbe, George
Merton Church and Hall.
[Norwich, Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society, in "Norfolk Archaeology", vol.6, 1864]

See also Norfolk Parish Links: Land and Property

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference TL907988 (Lat/Lon: 52.553811, 0.811184), Merton which are provided by:

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Military Records

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

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Population

These figures are from the population tables which were produced after the 10-yearly national censuses. The "Families" heading includes families and single occupiers.

Year   Inhabited
Houses
Families Population
1801 17 25 134
1811 17 26 147
1821 29 29 162
1831 30 31 126
1841 32 -- 164
1851 31 -- 188
Year   Inhabited
Houses
Families Population
1861 35 -- 194
1871 35 39 179
1881 38 38 170
1891 41 41 180
1901 41 41 161
1911 -- 39 133

There may be more people living in detached parts of the parish (if there were any) and, if so, the number may or may not be included in the figures above. It is quite difficult to be sure from the population tables.