GENUKI: Norfolk: Stow Bedon, Norfolk

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

STOW-BEDON is a parish, 4 miles S. from Watton, and 7 miles from Attleborough, on the Thetford and Watton Railway, in Wayland union, hundred, and petty sessional division, Attleborough county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Watton polling district of West Norfolk, Breccles rural deanery, and Norwich archdeaconry.

It has a rateable value of £1971, and in 1881 contained 324 inhabitants, and comprised 1692 acres. R.T. Gurdon, Esq., M.P. (who is lord of the manor), G.S. Corley, Esq., Lord Walsingham, Sir E.C. Kerrison, Bart., and G.T. West, Esq., are the principal landowners.

The CHURCH (St. Botolph) is a small edifice in the Early English style, comprising nave, chancel, vestry, and bell turret; and containing an elegantly carved rood screen, a reredos of Caen stone, a font of Portland stone, communion rails of brass, a harmonium, given by the rector, carved stalls in the chancel, and good open benches in the nave. In the churchyard are three ancient tombstones ornamented with floriated crosses.

The discharged vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £4 19s. 4d., was augmented in 1714 with £200, given by Mr. James Smith, and in 1718 with £200 of Queen Anne's Bounty. It is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Daniel Race Godfrey, M.A., who has 14 acres of glebe, a yearly tithe rent-charge of £335, and a good residence, built in 1849 and 1852, at a cost of £1200.

Stow Mere, a large sheet of water, covering about 25 acres, is the property of the lord of the manor.

The Primitive Methodists have a chapel here, built in 1844.

A SCHOOL BOARD was formed on April 4, 1877, and consists of H. Stelbargs, Esq. (chairman), Messrs. George S. Corley, John Osborn, T.C. Littleproud, and T. Lait. Mr. H.F. Grigson, Watton, is clerk.

The Fuel Allotment, 28A. 1R. of sterile land, was awarded at the enclosure in 1814, and is let for £10 10s. The poor have also the dividends of £51 5s. 8d., three and a half per cent. consols, left by Rebecca Ray, and given in bread on Sundays 'to the poor in church.'

POST OFFICE at Mr. Arthur Harvey's. Letters from Attleborough arrive at 8.30 a.m., despatched at 6 p.m., and Sundays at 10.30 p.m. Wall Box closes at 5.30 p.m., and Sundays at 10.30 p.m. Hockham is the nearest Money Order Office.

         Adams        Thomas          farmer
         Childerhouse Robert          farmer
         Colly        Richard         vict. White Horse
         Colman       Thos. Banyard   corn, coal, and cake mert.;
                                        depôt, Railway station
         Corley       Geo. Smith      frmr. & landowner
         Corridge     Walter          farmer, Whews frm
         Dennis       John            farmer, Mere farm
         Drake        George          poultry dealer
         Drake        Philip          farmer
         Goddard      Mrs Julia A.    vict. Mill Inn
         Godfrey      Rev. Danl.
                        Race, M.A.    Rectory
         Grosholz     Mrs Agnes       The Cottage
         Harvey       Arthur          horse and general dealer, post office
         Howes        Mrs Mary        farmer, The Whews
         Knights      Solomon         farmer, Church frm
         Littleproud  Thomas          corn, coal, & coke merchant,
                                        depot & granaries, Railway statn.;
                                        h Waterloo farm, Caston
         Layt         Robert          pork butcher
         Mateham      William         beer house
         Osborn       James           shopkeeper and former [sic]
         Prewer       James           farmer
         Rout         Jacob           grocer and draper
         Webster      Wm.             shoemkr. & parish clerk
         Webster      Mrs Rebecca     laundress
         Wellingham   John Jph.       farmr. Hall frm

RAILWAY STATION - Samuel Jackson Rice, stationmaster

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Norfolk: Stow Bedon

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