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Norfolk: Sheringham
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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.
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
June 2003