Norfolk: Stratton Strawless

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845

STRATTON-STRAWLESS is a small but pleasant village, 4½ miles S. by E. of Aylsham, and 7½ miles N. of Norwich, comprising in its parish 277 inhabitants, and 1583 acres of land, including an open heath of 341 acres, and several large plantations.

The whole is the property of Robert Marsham, Esq., who resides at the HALL, a large mansion of white brick, with a well-wooded park. This manor has been held, since the time of Edward I., by the Marsham family; one of whom, Robert Marsham, Esq., F.R.S., who died in 1797, aged ninety, was a distinguished naturalist, and excelled much in the art of planting and rearing trees, as may be seen by the flourishing plantations round the hall.

The Church (St. Margaret,) has a massive but short square tower, rebuilt in 1422, and now containing six bells. It has some curious specimens of stained glass, and several handsome monuments, one of which has the recumbent effigy of a man in armour, supposed to represent the last Sir Ralph de Stratton; and on an altar-tomb of black marble, is the effigy of Thomas Marsham, in his shroud, leaning on a pillow, above which are two angels, blowing trumpets. In a chapel, is an altar-tomb of black and white marble, with four effigies of Henry Marsham, (ob. 1692,) his wife, and his son and daughter.

The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £8.8s., was augmented in 1794, with £200 of Queen Anne's Bounty. Robert Marsham Esq., is the patron, and the Rev. Edward Marsham, of Sculthorpe, is the incumbent. The glebe is 32 acres, and the tithes have recently been commuted for £287 per annum.

In 1693, Thomas Bulwer left £100, to be laid out in land, &c., for the relief of the poor of the parish, whether resident in it or not. There is now belonging to this charity 21A.2R.6P. of land, let for £11, and £150 three per cent. Consols, purchased partly with money arising from the sale of timber. In 1683, Henry Marsham charged the Hall estate with the yearly payment of 20s. for the poor, 20s. for a sermon, and 20s. for the ringers.

Directory:-

Robert Marsham, Esq., Hall;

Robert Watson, grocer;

Robert Bowman, John Cubitt, John Gladden, Thomas Nobbs, Peter Powell, James Smith, and Charles Watson, farmers.

See also the Stratton Strawless 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 1999