Hide

Norfolk: Sheringham

hide
Hide

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

[Transcription copyright © Juanita Hadwin]

SHERINGHAM parish, 5 miles W. of Cromer, and 5 miles E.N.E. of Holt, comprises the villages of Upper and Lower Sheringham -- the latter, on the sea cliffs, is entirely a fishing place; and the former, more than a mile inland, is mainly agricultural. It is in Erpingham union, North Erpingham hundred and petty sessional division, Holt county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Cromer polling district of North Norfolk. The rateable value in 1881 was £3168, and the population 1159. The estimated extent of the parish is about 2139 acres, divided into Upper and Lower Sheringham.

Most of the soil, and the manor of Sheringham, belong to Henry Ramey Upcher, Esq., J.P., D.L., of Sheringham Hall, a large and elegant mansion, built by the late A. Upcher, Esq., who died in 1819, before it was completed. The hall was finished in 1838, and its grounds have been tastefully laid out at great expense by the present owner. It is sheltered by a woody acclivity to the north. The Old House, another pleasant residence belonging to Mr. Upcher, is occupied by his sister, Mrs. Pigott.

The CHURCH (All Saints), situated in Upper Sheringham, is a handsome building, comprising nave with aisles and clerestory, porch, chancel, and lofty square embattled tower with six bells. In 1849 it was partially restored, and since, principally in 1872, when a new ceiling was put up and the space beneath the tower opened out. The ancient and finely carved screen and rood loft still remain, and the open seats retain much of their old carving, and have poppy heads. Here are also several good brasses, one of which represents two female figures. The east window was enriched with stained glass in 1854; and a memorial window in the south aisle was inserted by Mr. Upcher in 1857, in memory of his mother, the Hon. Charlotte Upcher. The chancel contains an elegant white marble monument to the memory of the late A. Upcher, Esq., who is buried beneath a mausoleum adjoining the church.

The vicarage, certified at £16, and now valued at £83 per annum, was augmented in 1817 from Queen Anne's Bounty. The Bishop of Norwich is patron, and the Rev. Lethbridge Moore, M.A., incumbent, for whom a vicarage house was built in 1868, at a cost of about £1500. The Bishop of Ely is appropriator of 30 acres of glebe, and of all the tithes, which are held on lease by B.B. Cabbell, Esq., and were commuted in 1839 for £361 per annum.

At Upper Sheringham there are a Wesleyan chapel, a school supported by H.R. Upcher, Esq., and under Government inspection. A reading-room established in 1863. At Lower Sheringham the Primitive Methodists erected a chapel at a cost of £700. Several querns have been found here near the Holt road. They are made of a coarse plumpudding stone clamped with iron.

LOWER SHERINGHAM is a considerable fishing station, having a road and rivulet winding down to the beach through a ravine in the lofty sea-cliffs. It has three curing-houses, and 23 large and about 150 small fishing boats. Cod, skate, whiting, crabs, and lobsters are taken in abundance, especially the two latter, of which great quantities are sent to London. As at Cromer, the sea is here continually encroaching on the cliffs, of which about a yard disappears every year. In 1800, a large inn was tumbled in a heap of ruins upon the beach; and on St. Thomas' Day, 1862, a large portion of the cliff was washed away.

Here are two lifeboats. One presented to the parish by the Royal Lifeboat Institution, in 1866, and of her class larger than the ordinary lifeboats, rowing twelve oars; and the other a private lifeboat, as large, and supported by Mr. Upcher; both lifeboats have been usefully employed and saved many valuable lives. The coast-guard stationed here consists of an officer and three men. The Two Lifeboats Coffee House was established here in 1879.

Here was anciently a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas, and a small chapel-of-ease was built in 1842 by the Rev. A. Upcher. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel in the village, the former erected in 1859, and the latter in 1844. Here is also an infant school.

The parish Poor's Land, 11A. 1R. 7P., awarded at the enclosure in 1811, in lieu of other land, is let for £10 a year. The Poor's Allotment, awarded at the same time, consists of 34A. 3R. 6P., on which the poor parishioners cut furze and flags. A close of 7 acres in Kelling, purchased for £50, left by John Cooke, in 1662, is let for £10 a year, of which £1 is paid for two sermons, and the remainder is distributed among the poor of Upper Sheringham. An annuity of 20s., left by John Goate, and seven pecks of wheat yearly, left by the late A. Upcher, Esq., are charged on Mr. Upcher's estate.

A large reservoir was constructed at Upper Sheringham in 1814, and affords a copious supply of pure spring water. A similar reservoir was formed in 1862, at a cost of £220, at Lower Sheringham, for the accommodation of that village.

POST OFFICE and MONEY ORDER OFFICE at Mr. Benjamin Barcham's, Lower Sheringham. Letters, from Norwich viâ Cromer, arrive at 9 a.m., and depart at 2.25 p.m. There is also a receiving house at Miss Hannah Lown's, of Upper Sheringham, where letters arrive at 10 a.m., and depart at 2 p.m.

Marked * are at Lower Sheringham

          ALMOND      Thomas and         British school teachers
                        Mrs Elizabeth
         *BARCHAM     Benjamin Barcham   grocer, draper, butcher,
                                           fmr. & postmaster
         *BISHOP      William Charles    fisherman
          BLACHFORD   Major-General      Elcot
                        Augustus George
         *BOXHALL     Thos.              chief boatman, Coast-guard station
         *BROOKES     Wm. George         grocer, draper, druggist, and outfitter
          CHAMBERLAIN Corba              head carpenter
          CHASTENEY   William            tailor
         *COOPER      James              rope maker
         *COOPER      Robt.              coxswain of lifeboat
         *COX         Chpr.              fish curer & dlr. & lodgings
         *COX         John Sims          grocer & draper
         *COX         Richard            fisherman
         *CRASKE      John Robt. & Chpr. fishermen
          CRITOPH     John Robt.         frmr. and surveyor
          CRITOPH     Robert             miller
          CUBITT      James              farmer
          DENNIS      Robert             farmer
         *DENNIS      Robert             butcher
         *DENNIS      Rbt.               vict. Dunstable Arms Inn
          DYBALL      Jonathan           tailor and draper
         *EMMERY      Lewis              boat builder
         *FRANCIS     Jas.               ironmngr. oil, colorman, and cutch
                                           merchant, and Cromer
         *GASKIN      Danl.              gardener and lodgings
         *GRAY        Rowland            manager, the Two Life Boats Coffee House
         *GRICE       Charles            fisherman
         *GRICE       Henry & Sons       fishermen
         *GRICE       John               fisherman
         *HAMMOND     Robert             lodgings
         *HOLSEY      Chas.              vict. Crown Inn, & fish merchant and
                                           boat owner
         *JOHNSON     Benjamin           boat builder
          LAMBERT     William            shoemaker
         *LEEDER      Robert             baker
         *LING        James William      shoemaker
         *LITTLE      Richard            coal manager
          LOADS       Robert             farm bailiff
         *LOVE        Geo.               barber & toy & fancy dlr.
         *LOWN        Henry              boat builder
          LOWN        Miss Hannah        postmistress
         *MALLETT     John               hosier and tea dealer
         *MIDDLETON   Miss Ann           earthenware dlr.
         *MIDDLETON   Robert             fisherman
         *MIDDLETON   Wm. & Son          blacksmiths, ironmongers, and
                                           general dealers
         *MIDDLETON   William (Wm. & Son)
          MOORE       Rev. Lethbridge,   vicar, The Vicarage
                        M.A.
         *NIGHTINGALE Jph.               fish mert. boat owner, assist. overseer,
                                           & clctr. of rates & taxes
         *OLLEY       Mrs Elizabeth      vict. Windham Arms Inn, and carrier
         *OLLEY       Robert             farmer
          PANK        Philip             grocer and draper
          PIGOTT      Mrs Emma           Old House
          PIGOTT      Robert             farmer
          PIGOTT      Robert, jun.       farm bailiff
          PURDY       John               sexton
          RANSOME     Pegg               vict. Red Lion Inn, & fmr.
         *REYNOLDS    Jas.               farmer and fish curer
         *REYNOLDS    John               rope maker
         *REYNOLDS    Wm. Thos.          vict. Lobster Inn, hay dealer, and
                                           watchmaker
          RISEBOROUGH Thos.              head gamekeeper
         *ROOK        Joseph             fisherman
         *SHEPHERD    John               fisherman
         *STOREY      Seaman             shopkeeper
         *SWALLOW     Richard            beerhouse
          THURSBY     Jph. Augustine     regr. of births and deaths for Cromer
                                           dist. of Erp. Union, vac. and school
                                           attendance officer, and farmer
          UPCHER      Henry Ramey, Esq., The Hall
                        J.P., D.L.
         *WARBY       John Wm.           baker & lodgings
         *WEST        Edward             fisherman
         *WEST        Christopher        fisherman
         *WEST        Claxton            fisherman
         *WEST        Joshua             fisherman
          YOUNGMAN    Hy.                painter and plumber
 

CARRIER -- Mrs. Olley, to Norwich, Tues. and Fri.


See also the Sheringham parish page.

These pages are for personal use only. They may not be copied, and the links within them may not be harvested for use on your own web pages. Please see the Copyright Notice.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
June 2003