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Norfolk: Upwell
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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883
[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]
UPWELL, sometimes called Well, is a long and populous village adjoining Outwell, 6 miles S.E. of Wisbech, and 9 miles W. by S. of Downham, in the fens, where the old rivers Nene, Welney, and Well Creek, fall into the Wisbech Canal. The parish includes the hamlets of Lakesend, Tipsend, and Christchurch, from 4 to five miles south of the village, and North Delph about 4 miles south, and is in Wisbech union and county court district, Lynn bankruptcy district, Clackclose petty sessional division and hundred, Upwell polling district of West Norfolk, Fincham rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry.
Upwell parish extends into Cambridgeshire; the Norfolk portion comprises 8930A. 1R. 38P. of land, and had 2082 inhabitants in 1881; the Cambridgeshire portion, 7398A. 3R. 8P., and had 1357 acres [sic] in 1881; the estimated rental of the latter is £15,754 19s., and the rateable value £13,951 8s., and the estimated rental of the former £19,598 8s., and the rateable value £17,395 10s.
Until 1862 Welney chapelry formed part of the ancient parish of Upwell, but in that year it was, by Act of Parliament, constituted a distinct parish for all purposes, ecclesiastical as well as civil.
The Norfolk portion of Upwell is in the manor of Beaupré Hall, which is held by C.W. Townley, Esq., and the Cambridgeshire portion in the manor of Wisbech Barton, which is held by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and extends over the whole of Wisbeck union. The principal landowners are, C.W. Townley, Esq., T.F.C. Huddleston, Col. Geo. Croft Huddleston, J.C. Townsend, A.A. Vanisthurt, Jackson Hunt, J.C. Jones, and M. McKean, Esqrs.; Lord Overton, Sir John Smith, the Hon. Sir J.B. Byles, Rev. John Fenwick, Rev. J. Worton, and Messrs. Thos. Ebworthy, John Wooll, Saml. West, Hy. West, and others.
King John granted Upwell a weekly market on Wednesday, to which Henry VI. added a fair to be held on St. Peter and St. Paul's day. The market is obsolete, and the fair, held on June 29th and 30th, is merely a pleasure mart. The greater part of the parish is fen, but now well drained and cultivated under an Act passed in 1801, and there are several steam engines and windmills in the parish for drainage purposes.
The CHURCH (St. Peter) is a large edifice comprising nave with aisles and clerestory, chancel, north porch with parvise, and square tower with octagonal belfry, six bells and a clock. The interior is neatly pewed, and contains a few ancient brasses, and a modern one recording the names of 67 persons, who died in this parish of cholera in 1832 from June 21st to August 13th. From 1836 to 1838, the church was thoroughly repaired at a cost of more than £6000. The doors, pulpit, reading-desk, and seats are of oak, exquisitely carved by Ollett, of Norwich. The roofs are fine specimens of open timber-work, and are ornamented with large and small figures of angels.
The magnificent east window is filled with beautiful stained glass, representing the Descent from the Cross, Christ bearing the Cross, Our Saviour appearing to Mary Magdalen in the Garden, and many other subjects, executed in the finest style of art by Messrs. Hoadley and Oldfield, of London, at a cost of more than £1500. It was the gift of a former rector, and was inserted after the old one had been blown out by a hurricane in 1842, when the exterior battlements were added.
The churchyard has been several times enlarged. It was enclosed in 1842, the gates and the vases being the gift of the late patron; the former were brought from Peterborough Cathedral, and the latter from Wanstead House. In the chancel are three sedilia and a piscina, and in various parts of the church are monuments of the Townley, Hutchesson, Wooll, Berry, Hopkin, Bell, Lee, and other families. The pulpit is finely carved, and the old brass eagle-lectern still remains.
The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £16, is in the patronage of C.W. Townley, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. J.B. Dalison, M.A., who has a yearly rent-charge of £3088, and a good rectory-house, which was enlarged and improved in 1877 at a cost of £1742 from Queen Anne's Bounty, the repayment of which extends over a period of 30 years.
Until the death of the late rector in 1862, the whole parish, with the chapelry of Welney, was consolidated in one living; but it is now divided into three separate ecclesiastical parishes, in accordance with an Act of Parliament passed in 1846. Under this Act £15,000 was borrowed in the Economic Assurance Society, repayable in 35 years: of this sum Upwell St. Peter had £7797 4s. 2d., Christchurch £4024 16s., and Welney the remainder.
Christchurch was built in 1865, for the southern part of the parish, and consists of nave, chancel and transept: it originally had a tower on the north side, but the foundations being unsafe, it was taken down. The church cost £3500 and provides accommodation for 360 persons. The chancel contains a good organ and has two memorial windows. The living is a rectory with a tithe rent-charge of £1594, in the patronage of C.W. Townley, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Geo. Metcalfe, M.A.; a rectory house has been erected at an outlay of £3368.
In 1866 a Chapel of Ease at Delph (Holy Trinity) was built at a cost of £2500, and a parsonage at an expense of £2000; the latter is now occupied by the curate.
Here are nine dissenting chapels, of which five belong to the Primitive Methodists, two to the Wesleyans (the one at North Delph has a clock on the front, and was erected in 1861), and one each to the Baptist and Methodist Free Church.
The Upwell Church Institute and Literary Association was formed in 1875, and has a library of 400 volumes. The Rev. J.B. Dalison, M.A., is president, and Mr. W. Welchman, secretary.
In 1874, a SCHOOL BOARD for Upwell united district was formed, the present members of which are Messrs. Hy. West, chairman; Wm. Prethro, vice-chairman; Nathan Booth, George Cawthorn, and Jph. Morton. Mr. James Webber is their clerk. Handsome and commodious schools with teachers' houses attached, were erected in 1878 at St. Peter's, at a cost of £4200: it is in three departments, boys, girls, and infants, and is attended by 350 children. North Delph Mixed School was built at a cost of £2000, and is attended by 100 children. Lake's End Mixed School cost £2000, and is attended by 70 children. The school of Christchurch is also under the control of the board, having been leased for 21 years at a nominal rent, and is attended by 160 children.
The PUBLIC HALL, near the church, was erected in 1868, by a company of shareholders at a cost of £800, in 800 £1 shares. Mr. F.T. Ollard is secretary to the company. The hall will seat 500 people, and is let for concerts, meetings, &c.
The Upwell and Outwell Gas Company, with a capital of £2000, raised in £5 shares, was formed in 1867, and the gas-works were erected in that year at a cost of £2000. Mr. W. Welchman is secretary to the company. Gas is supplied at 4s. 8d. per 1000 feet.
Popham's Eau, which empties itself into the river Nene on the west,and the Well Creek on the east, has two pumping engines (one 40-horse power, and one 16-horse power), and a windmill on its banks to pump into it the water from the drains.
An iron bridge was placed over the river at North Delph in 1865.
The rents of two tenements and 10A. 1R. 28P. of land, left by John Fox in 1626, and 7A. 3R. 29P. allotted in 1686, are applied in repairing the church. They are now (1880) let for £43 16s. 3d. Certain 'Bishop's Land's,' 36A. 1R. 20P., in the fen, called Welney Runs, were devised in 1765 for three lives by the Bishop of Ely, renewable perpetually to the poor of the Cambridge parts of Upwell and Welney, and are now let for £70 a year. The Cambridge part has also 23A. 3R. 31P. of land, let in 1880 at £75 per annum, for the poor. Thos. Dixon left £20 for Cambridge part, and Matthew Bartman left £5 for the poor. The Charities, &c., belonging to the Norfolk part of Upwell, are as follows:- Two houses divided into several tenements, and about 48A. of land, let for £120 per annum; partly allotted at different times, and partly bequeathed to the poor by Thomas Lamb in 1562, and John Fox in 1626. The clear rents, together with the interest of £30, left by John Boss and Thomas Dixon, are distributed among the poor at Christmas.
An Oddfellows' Lodge meets at the Public Hall.
POST, MONEY ORDER, and TELEGRAPH OFFICE at Mr. James Henry Inman's. There is also a receiving office at Mr. Thomas Newton's, North Delph. A mail cart leaves Wisbech at 4 a.m., calling at Elm, Emneth, Outwell, Upwell, Three Holes, Christchurch, Tip's End, and Welney at 6.30 a.m., and leaves Welney again in the evening at 6 p.m., Upwell at 7 p.m., and Wisbech at 8 p.m. There are several Wall Letter-Boxes in this parish.
Those with 1 opposite their names are in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire; and those with 2 opposite their names should be addressed North Delph, Downham.
Amos William saddler
Arbin Thomas vict. Black Horse
2 Bailey Richard F. fmr. Nth. Delph
Baker James Morton blacksmith
Baker Miss Susan
Balding James Fras. solr's. managing clerk, estate
agent, & agent for the Imperial
Fire & Life, Royal Frmrs'. Hail
and Accident Offices
Balding John Smithee blacksmith
Barnes Chas. E. grocer, draper, and ale and porter
merchant
2 Bates Jph. frmr. London Lode drove
1 Beckett Joseph butcher
1 Beeston Peter farmer, Christchurch
Bennett Geo. Wm. vict. Old Ship, and farmer, Lake's end
1 Bensley Charles carpenter, Tip's end
1 Bensley Mrs Elzh. carrier, Tip's end
1 Berry Miss Charlotte
1 Berry Miss Lucy Christchurch
1 Berry Samuel farmer, Christchurch
1 Berry Walter, surgeon, medical officer and public
M.R.C.S., vaccinator for the 11th and 12th
L.S.A. districts of Wisbech union, & Nth.
Welney district of Downham union
1 Berry Wm. farmer
Bettinson George farmer, Pingle hs
Bettinson Joseph farmer and potato merchant,
Squire's drove
Bettinson Rbt. Smith fmr. Squire's dro
1 Bickley Alfred Henry hairdresser and toy dealer
1 Bliss George fmr. March River side
1 Blunt Henry farmer
2 Booth Nathan farmer & landowner, Wood house,
North Delph
2 Bossingham Joseph farmer, Hall farm, North Delph
Bowers Mr John Small lode
Bowers Thomas farmer
Bowles Thomas D. baker and butcher, Three holes
1 Boyce James farmer, Tip's end
Bradfield William grocer and draper
Bradley Wm. farmer, Small lode
Brewin Misses Mtlda.
& Julia day schl
1 Brown Rev. Joseph Baptist
1 Brown Wm. vict. White Lion & fmr
Butcher Mrs Emma laundress
Carrick George (Welchman & C.); h Wisbech
Carter John grocer, Lake's end
Carter Jno. mkt. gardener, Small lode
1 Cave Jno. frmr. Sixteen Foot bank
1 Cawthorn Geo. secretary & manager co-operative
society, Christchurch
Cawthorn Mthw. Wm. fmr. Lake's end
Cawthorn Wm. Walter grocer, draper and sub-postmaster,
Three holes
Chapman Mr Charles
Chapman Jno. carpenter, Small lode
2 Chapman John baker, North Delph
1 Chenery William farmer
1 Cole Joseph farmer, Rollingham hl
2 Coverley Rev. Samuel Lee, curate in charge, North Delph
B.A.
Cowan Rev. David Charles
Russell, M.A. curate
1 Cragg Nathaniel grocer, draper & dealer in
paperhangings
1 Cross Isaac tailor & btchr. Chrstch
1 Crouch Samuel farm bailiff, Sixteen Foot bank
1 Curtis Robert farmer, Tip's end
Dales Joseph farmer
Dalison Rev. John Beauvoir,
M.A., J.P. rector
Dalton Robert farmer, Tip's end
1 Dalton Thomas farmer, Tip's end
Delph John poultry dealer
Deptford John vict. Rose & Crown
Doffin David farmer, Lot's bridge
Doncaster Jno. farmer, Squire's drove
1 Drake William corn miller, Sixteen Foot bank
Elger Miss Kate day school
Elmer Robert farmer, Squire's drove
1 Elvin Chas. farmer, Exmoor drove
Elworthy A. & C. auctioneers, valuers, land and
estate agents, and agents for
artificial manures; and
4 Exchange square, Wisbech
1 Elworthy Alfred John (A. & C.E.), accountant, surveyor,
assistant overseer & collector of
poor & highway rates for Upwell
& Outwell, assessor & collector
of land and income tax for Upwell
and Outwell, surveyor of highways
for Upwell, Norfolk, highway rate
for Upwell, Isle of Ely, manure
agent, and agent for the Phœnix
Fire, Western Counties and London
Life, and Norwich and London
Accident Offices, and agent for
Stubbs
Elworthy
& Son builders & contractrs
Elworthy Charles Stanbrough (A. & C.E.) & (E. & Son), and farmer
Elworthy Mrs William (E. & Son)
1 Elworthy William Henry farmer, March River side
1 Elworthy W.H. & C.S. farmers, March River side
1 Ely Edwd. coal mert. (Bros.), Outwell
Esgate John (exors. of), farmer
Everson Edgar carpenter, builder, wheelwright,
and coal merchant
Everson Egbert builder, contractor, wheelwright,
plumber, painter, and glazier,
Lake's end
Felsted William beerhouse
Filby George William carpenter
Filby John farmer, Lake's end
Fillenham John tailor
Finsher Frederick farmer
2 Flegg Charles beerhs. North Delph
Forth Marshall corn miller, Lot's bdge
2 Garton Edward farmer, London Lode drove
Goodman Henry carpenter
Goodyer Richard frmr. Christchurch
1 Goulding Miss Sarah grocer and draper, Christchurch
1 Goulding William chemist, druggist, and newsagent
1 Green Christopher farmer
Green Fredk. B. farmer, Plough field
2 Green Jas. frmr. Hill hs. North Delph
1 Green Wm. frmr. March River side
Guttridge James vict. Red Hart; and pig dealer,
Three holes
Haddon Mrs Elizabeth dressmaker
2 Hall Thos. farm bailiff, North Delph
1 Handbury John (exors. of), farmers
Hardy Henry blacksmith, Lake's end
Harris Mrs Maria mstrs. [see note below]
& Wm. master, St. Peter's Bd. school
Hartley Henry bootmaker, bill poster, public hall
keeper, and school attendance
officer
Hartley Jno. Edwd. frmr. Lot's bridge
1 Harvey Frederick farmer
2 Harvey John farmer, Flint house, North Delph
Harwin Mr Edward
Hawkins Matthew farmer, Small lode
Hawkins Mrs Sarah
1 Headin William farmer
Hercock Mrs Alice Mary farmer
Hill Mrs Eliza Small lode
Hill Jeremiah farmer
1 Hinkins Geo. frmr. March River side
Hobourn Stephen farmer, Small lode
Hobourn William farmer
1 Hodson Mr George
Holman Thomas farmer, Small lode
2 Humphrey John Carrol farmer, North Delph
1 Hunt George tailor
Hurst Thomas Thompson victualler, Five Bells; and farmer
1 Ilett William farmer, Christchurch
Inman Henry grocer, draper, ale, porter, and
coal merchant
1 Inman Jas. Hy. grocer, draper, wine and spirit
merchant, agent for the Norwich
Union Fire Office, emigration
agent, and postmaster
1 Jakens Mrs Susannah baker
Jakes Jane vict. Chequers, Lot's bridge
James John farmer, Small lode
2 James William farmer, Moor's hall, North Delph
1 Jermany Mrs A. vict. Horse & Groom
Jarvis John carpenter and builder
1 Johnson Jas. farmer, Exmoor drove
1 Johnson Jas. frmr. March River side
1 Johnson John farmer
Judd John beerhouse and poultry dlr
1 Julian Matthew vict. Wheatsheaf; and blacksmith,
Sixteen Foot bank
1 Kisby Wm. beerhs. March River side
Knowles William blacksmith
1 Lavender Roger vict. Dun Cow, and steam thrashing
machine proprietor, Christchurch
2 Law Miss Helen
Granville mistress Board school, North Delph
1 Lawrence Jph. vict. Old Duke's Head
Leaton William farm bailiff
Lister Edward farmer
Lister Mr John Middleton
1 Lock Jonathan farmer
Long Miss Theresa
Eugene mistress Board school, Lake's end
1 Lowden James corn miller, Sixteen Foot bank
1 Marsh George bootmaker
Mason William bootmaker
May Job shopkeeper, Small lode
May John carpenter
May Wm. (exors. of), frmr. Pingle ldg
1 Mayhew Willm. Emanuel plumber, glazier and painter
Maywood John vict. Duke's Head
Means Abraham farmer, Small lode
Means Mr John
1 Melbourn Wm. farmer, Exmoor dro
Melton Geo. farmer & potato mercht
1 Metcalf Rev. George, M.A. rector, Christchurch
Milk Benjamin Notson farmer
1 Morton George frmr. March River side
Moxon Thomas beerhouse, Lot's bdg
Mulley James bootmaker
2 Newton Thos. grocer, drapr. butchr. farmer,
land measurer & postmaster,
North Delph
2 Nix Thomas farmer, Neatmoor hall, North Delph
Norburn Mr Richard Small lode
1 Oatey Wm. farmer, Exmoor drove
2 Oldfield Robt. farm blff. Three holes
Oldfield William farmer
Oliver Mrs Jane baker & confectioner
Osborn Mr John Small lode
Osborn Mr John Charles
1 Overland Charles plumber, glazier, painter
and paperhanger
Palmer Hy. farm bailiff, Lake's end
1 Palmer Mrs Rebecca
Parker James bricklayer
1 Pegg William butcher
Pell Lupton vict. Huddlestone Arms
2 Plane John carpenter and wheelwright,
North Delph
Pleasants Henry cooper
Pleasants Henry bootmkr. & shopkpr
Plumb Robert Minson farmer and manure agent
1 Plumbtree Joseph shopkeeper
1 Poole James bootmkr. Christchurch
2 Potter Thomas tailor, North Delph
1 Prethero Wm. farmer, Fluke cottage
Prior Benjamin farmer
1 Prior Joseph farmer, Christchurch
Proctor Robert farmer, Small lode
2 Rayner Benj. blksmth. North Delph
1 Ream Jno. Fosbrook farmer, March River side
Rhodes John farmer, Small lode
Ritchie Miss Fanny Mary infant mistress, St. Peter's
board school
1 Roe Robert farmer, Christchurch
Rogers William farmer
Rowlett Fisher cattle dealer
1 Russell Mrs Ann frmr. Exmoor dro
Russell George farmer, Lot's bridge
1 Russell Geo. farmer, Exmoor drove
1 Russell Geo. farmer, Exmoor drove
1 Russell James sluice toll collector,
March River side
1 Russell John farmer, Exmoor drove
1 Russell Thos. farmer, Exmoor dro
Russell William G. farmer
Say James farmer, Small lode
1 Scott Abm. blacksmth. Exmoor dro
Scott Jesse farmer, Lot's bridge
Scott Jno. fmr. & lndownr. Lot's bdge
1 Scott Jno. jun. fmr. Sixteen Ft. bnk
Searle Frederick farmer
Searle Mrs Mary Ann grocer
Searle Robert farmer, Lot's bridge
1 Searle Stephn. farmer, Christchurch
1 Sears Richd. H. farmer, Christchurch
Seba John farmer, Three holes
Seba Thomas carpenter & millwright
2 Sharman Thos. btmkr. Nth. Delph
Shephard Samuel farmer, Small lode
1 Shephard Thomas corn miller
1 Smith Mrs Elizh. vict. Queen's Hd
2 Smith Wm. farmer, North Delph
1 Smithee John farmer, Exmoor dro
Southwell John farmer, Three holes
Stevens Abrm. grocer, draper, butcher and
farmer, Lake's end
Stevens Mrs Ann
Stone Roger market gardener
1 Stricklen Wm. farmer, Exmoor dro
1 Sutton Jph. fmr. Sixteen Foot bank
Sutton Richard bricklayer
1 Sutton Wm. builder, plastr. & slatr
Swann George farmer & landowner
1 Swann Lister, M.R.C.V.S. vet. srgn
1 Tebbs Martindale fmr. Exmoor dro
Tennant Mthw. fmr. Popham's Eau bnk
2 Thrower Miss Sarah shpkeeper and coal dealer, North Delph
1 Tombleson Joseph Cole farmer, Christchurch
Tombleson Philip crpntr. & whlwrgt
Tombleson Wm. carpenter, wheelwrgt. and blacksmith,
Three holes
Towler Jeffery carpenter
1 Townley Valentine grcr. & butcher
1 Trower Edward farmer, Tip's end
1 Trower Welfare coal dlr. Christch
Truman Wm. beerhouse and cowkeeper,
Brackenborough Three holes
Tuck Aaron farmer and landowner
1 Tuck Henry bootmaker
2 Tuck Wm. farmer, North Delph
Tuck Wm. beerhs. & fmr. Small lode
Turner George gardener
1 Turner Mr James
1 Turner Mark farmer, Christchurch
Turner Wm. gardener and thatcher
Utridge Richard vict. Lord Nelson, & butcher,
Lake's end
1 Vawser David farmer, Christchurch
Vawser Frederick farmer
1 Vipan Thomas farmer
Wakefield Rbt. fmr. London Lode dro
Warby steam thrashing machine proprietors,
Bros. Three holes
Warby James (Brothers), Three holes
1 Warby John (Brothers), & farmer
Warby Murrell (Bros.), Three holes
Warby Wm. agricltrl. machine maker and
brass founder
Ward Mrs Susan butcher
1 Watson William farmer, Tip's end
Waudby Edwd. registrar of births & deaths
Wayling Fras. farm blff. Squire's dro
1 Webb John gas works manager
1 Webber James solicitor, clerk to U.D. Upwell
School Board, clerk to managers
of Outwell National School &
Outwell, Upwell, Norfolk, and
Upwell, Isle of Ely, Charity
Trustees, and agent for the
Law Union Fire and Life Office
Welbourne Charles farmer
Welchman solicitor's clerks to Needham
& Carrick Burial Board & to the Birbeck
& Level of Upwell, Outwell,
Denver & Welney Drainage
Commissioners, & at Wisbech
1 Welchman Wm. (W. & Carrick), secty to Outwell
& Upwell Gas Co. Limited
West Mr Charles
1 West Henry farmer and landowner
1 West Saml. fmr. & lndwnr. Croft hs
White Wm. butcher and gardener
1 White Wm. farmer, Tip's end
Whitehead Thomas farmer & carrier
2 Whybro Jno. pkt. ownr. Nth. Delph
1 Wild Mrs Elizabeth
Wiles John farmer
1 Wooll Jno. fmr. & lndwnr. Christch
1 Worts Geo. beerhs. blacksmith and farmer,
Christchurch
1 Wright Mrs Harrt. mistress board school, Christchurch
2 Wyatt Wm. bootmaker, Nth. Delph
1 Co-operative Society, grcrs. & drprs. Christchurch; George Cawthorn, secretary and manager
CARRIERS - Thomas Whitehead, to Wisbech, daily, and John Whybro, by packet, on Sat. from North Delph to Wisbech; Boyce, Tues. Thurs. & Sat.; Bensley, Tues. and Sat. from Christchurch to Wisbech
Note: in the original this is:
Board School, Harris Mrs Maria, mstrs.
& Wm. master, St. Peter's Bd. school
See also the Upwell parish page.
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
July 2015