GENUKI: Norfolk: West Walton, Norfolk

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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1836

WEST WALTON is a considerable village near the Roman Bank, 3 miles N.N.E. of Wisbech, and 12 miles S.W. by W. of Lynn. Its extensive parish (seven miles long, and one broad,) has augmented its population, since the year 1801, from 513 to 905 souls, and comprises many scattered houses, and 5516A. 3R. 30P. of land, including a large portion of the Smeeth and Fen, near Emneth, (see page 469,) and 600 acres on the west side of the river Nene, in the Isle of Ely. The King is lord of the manor of West Walton-cum-Membris, held by leaseholders and copyholders on fines certain; J. Wing, Esq., of Wisbech, is the steward. But part of the parish is in Newton Colville manor, of which S. Girdlestone, Esq., is lord; and in Coleraine manor, of which the Rev. C.H. Townshend is lord. Capt. Trafford, John Bellamy, Esq., and many others, have estates here.

The CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is a beautiful free-stone structure, consisting of a nave, north and south aisles, a chancel, and a massive but elegant tower, with five bells, standing detached at the distance of 22 yards to the south, and forming a fine specimen of the early English style, when the Norman ornaments, and their massy proportions, were joined to the lighter pointed arches. The exterior of this tower is covered with arches, niches, and clustered columns; and the whole church is full of interest, in the same style of architecture, mixed with occasional specimens of higher antiquity. On the north side of the chancel, under a tabernacle, lies the effigy of a man in a religious habit.

The benefice is in two RECTORIES, viz., West Walton Elien, valued in the King's Book at £16, in the patronage of the King, and incumbency of the Rev. E.E. Blencowe, of Lynn; and West Walton Lewes, valued in the King's Book at £16. 13s. 4d., in the gift of the Rev. C.H. Townshend, and now enjoyed by the Rev. Atwill Lake. - The former is a sinecure, from which, we suppose, it has the name of Elien, or alien; the cure being alienated from the parish, though the incumbent regularly receives his moiety of the tithes.

The FREE SCHOOL, in the vestry, is endowed with the dividends of £750 three per cent. consolidated annuities, bequeathed by Mrs. Dales, in 1792, for the education of 20 poor children.

There are 17A. 2R. 8P. of POORS' LAND in West Walton, and 10 acres in Walpole St. Peter, let together for £72. 5s. per annum; besides the Ferry House and land on the west side of the Nene, in this parish, let for £9. 10s. a-year. The poor have also a yearly rent-charge of £4. 15s. out of Captain Trafford's estate. The donors are unknown. In 1834, the poor's land was vested in new feoffees, viz., Thos. Bates, sen., Wm. Pratt, Edw. Cross, Robert Bean, James Watts, John Bonney, and Johnson Porter.

Marked 1 are at FEN-END, from 5 to 6 miles S.E. of the village.

           Fisher     Jacob              parish clerk
           Lake       Rev. Atwill        Rectory
           Reynolds   Robert             blacksmith 
           Shacklock  George             schoolmaster and vestry clerk
           Smith      Wm.                coal dlr. Workhouse
 
              PUBLIC HOUSES.
 
           Lowden     Leonard            King of Hearts
         1 Haines     John               Robin Hood
         1 Terrington Robert             Three Jolly Farmers, Smeeth
 
              Beer Houses.                  Corn Millers.
 
         1 Bates      James            1 Dobbs      John
           Oldfield   Joseph             Towell     Richard
           Stork      John
           Thornton   Saml.
         1 Water      Benj.
 
                               Farmers.
 
           Apsey      Thomas             Hall       Thomas
         1 Bates      Thomas, sen.     1 Handley    John
           Bean       Robert           1 Hubbard    Ths. sen.
         1 Bell       Joseph             Hubbard    Thos. jun. Rmn. bnk.
           Bellamy    Wm.              1 Humphrey   Ts.
           Bonney     John               Johnson    Edm.
           Catlin     Wm.                Marsden    Joseph
         1 Clark      Henry              Medworth   Smn.
           Coker      Charles          1 Popeley    Stpn.
         1 Collins    Wm.              1 Porter     John, sen. & jun.
           Cott       Jas. Smeeth      1 Porter     James
           Cross      Edward             Pratt      Wm.
           Cross      John             1 Reader     Robt.
         1 Dexter     John               Smith      Wm.
           Edgoose    Stanton, & Co.   1 Taylor     Benj.
         1 Farrin     John             1 Watts      James
         1 Fisher     Wm.              1 Watts      Humpy.
           Foster     Thomas             Watts      Thomas
         1 Fundry     Widow            1 Woods      Michl.
           Garton     Thomas             Wright     Ann
 
              Wheelwrights.
 
         1 Bates      Thos. jun.
           Hines      John
         1 Taylor     Joshua

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Norfolk: West Walton

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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1836