Norfolk: Great Ringstead

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883

[Transcription copyright © Paul Beesley]

RINGSTEAD (GREAT) is a pleasant village, in a fertile valley, 2 miles S.E. of Hunstanton, and 8 miles W. by S. of Burnham Market, in Docking union, Lynn county court district and bankruptcy district, Smithdon and Brothercross petty sessional division, Docking polling district of West Norfolk, Smithdon hundred, Heacham rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 458 inhabitants in 1881, living on 2675 acres, and has a rateable value of £3277. Most of the parish belongs to Hamon Styleman le Strange, Esq., the lord of the manor and patron of the living.

Here were formerly two CHURCHES (St. Peter and St. Andrew), but the former was taken down in 1771, except its circular tower, and the materials were used in repairing St. Andrew's. St. Andrew's church comprises nave, south porch, chancel and square tower with one bell, and a clock; and was originally of Decorated architecture, but all the windows are Perpendicular insertions. There is a fine Decorated piscina with a lateral opening in the chancel, and at the south-west end of the nave there is another but plainer one. The building was thoroughly restored, refitted with open benches, and enlarged by the addition of a north aisle, in 1864, at a cost of about £1800.

Here are marble tablets of the Styleman, North and Fysh families.

The two discharged rectories were consolidated in 1771, and were valued in the King's Book at £20.6s.8d., but are now worth £630 a year. The Rev. Wm. Law Hussey, M.A., is the incumbent, and has a good residence, which was enlarged in 1840.

The Primitive Methodists have a chapel containing 140 sittings, and erected in 1867 at a cost of £300.

The National School, a neat Gothic building, erected in 1852, is attended by 100 children and supported by subscription.

The Fuel Allotment, 53A. 1R. 18P., was awarded at the enclosure in 1782, and is let for £25 a year. The poor have also the following yearly doles, viz.:- 10s. left by the Rev. Timothy Swift in 1719; 28s. 6d. from £28 10s. left by L. Hockwell and other donors; and 20s. left by Mr. Reed.

POST OFFICE at Mr. A. Wales's. Letters arrive at 8 a.m. and are despatched, via Lynn, at 5 p.m. Hunstanton is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office.

         Bartaby    Christmas        crpntr. & whlwrt
         Bond       Saml.            butcher, & at Hunstanton
         Burlingham Thomas           butcher
         Clark      William          victualler, Compasses Inn, and brewer
         Crane      John             corn miller and farmer
         Dodman     Thomas           beerhouse, grocer, and ironmonger
         Dowdy      William          bootmaker
         Gathercole William          blacksmith
         Hall       George           blacksmith
         Howlett    Miss Maria       Ringstead lodge
         Hussey     Rev. William Law rector, The Rectory
         Jarrett    Mrs Harriet      baker
         Kitton     Thomas Beck      farmer
         Lewis      Henry            farmer
         Margetts   Stephen          farmer
         Robertson  George Wilby     farmer
         Smith      John             carrier
         Wales      Arthur           grocer, draper and postmaster
         Warton     Leonard Walter   farmer, Courtyard farm
         Wilson     Frederick        farmer
         Wilson     George           farmer
         Wilson     Mr. John
         Wright     Mr Frederick     Rose cottage
 

CARRIER - John Smith, to Lynn, Tues. Thurs. and Sat.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
November 1999