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Norfolk: Watton

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

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

WATTON is a small but neat MARKET TOWN, pleasantly situated at the junction of roads from Norwich and Dereham to Brandon and Thetford; on the south side of the vale of a rivulet, 21 miles W. by S. of Norwich, 10 miles S.S.W. of East Dereham, 9 miles S.E. by E. of Swaffham, and 90 miles N.N.E. of London. It consists chiefly of one broad street of considerable length, and being at the junction of several cross roads, it is a great thoroughfare. Its PARISH contains 1808 acres of land, belonging to a number of proprietors, and has increased its population since the year 1801, from 693 to 1188 souls.

It is in two MANORS, viz., Watton Hall, of which W.H. Hicks, Esq., (now a minor,) is lord; and Rockolls, of which Mr. John Land is lord. In 1204, there was a writ brought to enquire whether the market here, granted to John de Vaux, was not prejudicial to Saham, and being found so, the market was recalled; but before the expiration of the year, Oliver de Vaux, having the manor of Watton Hall conveyed to him by his brother, and having great influence with the King, obtained a new charter for a MARKET to be held every Wednesday, as it still continues, chiefly for corn; but it was formerly celebrated as a great butter mart, immense quantities of that article being purchased here weekly, and sent by factors to London. Here are five annual FAIRS, on July 10, October 11, and November 8, for cattle; on the first Wednesday in July, for stock; and on the second Wednesday in October, for sheep.

In 1673, on Saturday, April 25th, this town suffered greatly by an accidental FIRE, which destroyed above sixty houses, with the Butchers' Shambles, and other property to the amount of £7450 in buildings, and £2660 in goods and chattels. To alleviate the distress to which the inhabitants were reduced by this dreadful conflagration, "a brief was granted to gather all England over, till the 20th of September, 1675."

In 1820, a neat obelisk was erected on the site of the old Market Cross, on which the town's name was oddly expressed by a rebus carved in oak, viz., a W., a hare, and a tun. On the demolition of the cross, these devices were placed in front of the Bell-house and lock-up, - a small square building, erected soon after the fire, but now called the Clock-house, from a clock placed in it about 20 years ago at the expense of Mr. Edw Stevens. This building has recently been repaired and beautified.

The Church (St. Mary,) stands about a quarter of a mile out of the town, near the site of the old Manor-house. It is a small edifice, erected about the time of Henry I., being only 26 yards long, and 11 broad, but in 1840, the aisles were taken down and rebuilt on a larger scale. Its tower is round at the base, and octangular at top, surmounted by a spire, and containing three bells. The remains of a curious crucifix, carved in stone, may still be seen at the east end. The interior is neatly pewed, and has several monumental inscriptions to the Hammond, Wodehouse, Samwell, and other families.

The benefice is a discharged vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £7. 0s. 4d., and in 1840, at £90. W.H. Hicks, Esq., is patron, and also impropriator of the rectorial tithes; and the Rev. Peter Blomfield Jeckell, B.A. is the incumbent. The glebe is 13A. The Church Land, 14A. 1R. 20. [sic], is let for about £38 per annum.

The Independents and the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel in the town.

The National School, built by Wm. Robinson, Esq., in 1819, was rebuilt on a larger scale in 1842. The play-ground, about 2A., was given by Mrs. C. Harvey, in 1834. Six boys of Watton are entitled to free instruction at Saham Toney school.

The Savings' Bank, established in 1819, has deposits amounting to more than £10,000. At the Bull Inn, is a Cricket Ground, said to be one of the best in the county; and on the south side of the parish is Wayland Wood (75A.) aready noticed at page 365 [which is the entry for Griston].

In the town are Almshouses, with small gardens, for four poor widows, founded in 1611, by Edward Goaffe, who endowed them with a yearly rent-charge of £5. An allotment of 1A. 22P., awarded to them at the enclosure, in 1801, is let for 28s. per annum. Mr. Edward Stevens, a living benefactor, built four cottages about 12 years ago, for the residence of four of the oldest poor couples in the parish. The Fuel Allotments, awarded at the enclosure, comprise 54A. 2R. 25P., let for about £75 per annum, which is distributed in coals among the poor parishioners, who have also £23. 10s. yearly from 9A. 35P. of land, left by Richard Turner and Thomas Scott, in 1643 and 1727, except some small allotments awarded at the enclosure. The poor have likewise the yearly sum of 10s., left by Edward Goaffe, in 1611.

The POST-OFFICE is at Mr. Edmund Blade's, where letters are received and despatched at 7½ morning, and 6 evening, by the Thetford and Holt mail gig.

           Aldis      Ephraim           bricklayer
           Baley      Robert            auctioneer, &c
           Banham     Eliza             glover
           Buscall    Mr Goddard
           Buxton     Charles           broker, &c
           Chaston    Alfred            stamp distributor
           Chaston    Benj.             chemist and druggist
           Claxton    George            charcoal burner
           French     Henry             surgeon
           George     Geo.              bookseller & leather dlr
           Grigson    Edward Robert     solicitor
           Hargraves  George            surgeon & agent to Clerical & Medical
                                          Ins. Society
           Hargraves  John              surgeon
           Hargraves  Thomas            gentleman
           Harper     Saml.             seed, sack, &c. dealer
           Hart       Mr Joseph
           Harvey     Mrs Chtte.
           Hastings   John              bricklayer, &c
           Kiddle     Samuel            flour factor
           Jeckell    Rev Peter
                        Blomfield, B.A. Vicarage
           Lincoln    Mrs Mildred
           Lock       David             coach builder, &c
           Massey     Wm.               solicitor, and master extraordinary
                                          in Chancery
           Pillans    William Pott      solicitor (and Swaffham)
           Rice       Mr Wm.
           Sampson    Mrs Dy.
           Stevens    Edward and Robert gent
           Thurling   John              horse breaker
           Walker     Amos              clerk & cigar dealer
           Watson     Burton            turner & hairdresser
           Whisker    Mrs Mary Ann
 
              BANKS.
 
           Chaston    Mr Benj.          agent Harveys and Hudson (of Norwich, &c.)
           Chaston    Mr B.             sec. Savings' Bank
 
              FIRE & LIFE OFFICES.
 
           Chaston    Benjamin          Farmers'
           Massey     W.
            and Wright W.               Norwich Union
           Baley      Robert            Norwich Equitable
 
              INNS & TAVERNS.
 
           Canham     John              Bull Inn
           Lusher     Robert            Crown Inn
           Allen      Wm.               George Hotel
           Coldham    Jas.              Green Man (& cooper)
           Cooper     Frederick         King's Arms
           Waters     Daniel            Rose (& seedsman)
 
              Academies.
           * take Boarders.                Bakers, &c.
 
         * Blade      My. Ann           Balls      Chs. Everett
           Bond       Maria             Newman     Miles (and miller)
           Groome     Jn. Natl.         Platfoot   Cath.
         * Short      Wm.               Wright     Robert (& corn mert.)
           Warren     Miss
         * Wright     Misses
 
              Basket Makers.               Blacksmiths.
 
           Reeve      Barnabas          Jacobs     George
           Secker     Samuel            Sturgeon   Wm.
 
              Beer Houses.                 Boot & Shoe Mkrs.
 
           Lusher     John              Balls      James
           Reeve      Barnabas          Boreham    John
           Rice       Rt. (brewer)      Cobb       Mary
           Warren     John (&           Twaits     Barnabas
                        wheelwright)    Young      James
                                        Young      Robert
 
              Brewers.                     Butchers.
 
           Canham     John              Barnard    Robert
           Rice       Robert            Feaks      Charles
           Stevens    Robert            Mallows    James
                        (& maltster)    Parker     Joseph
                                        Rice      George
 
              FARMERS.                     Grocers & Drprs.
 
           Andrews    Cphr.             Alexander Eliz.
           Dorr       Charles           Ames      Charles (& glover)
           Dorr       Chas. jun         George &  (Robt. O.)
           Land       John                Kiddle    (Geo.) and ironmngrs
           Russell    Charles           Rook      Wm.
           Ward       Robt. Mayston     Warnes    Reuben
           Wright     Smith
 
                                           Milliners, &c.
              Joiners.                   * Straw Hat Mkrs.
 
           Cornwall   Wm.             * Adcock    Mary
           Rice       Samuel            Alderton  My. Ann
           Sheering   Rudd            * Cobb      Mary
           Thompson   John Hicks      * Hendry    Harriet and Hannah
                                        Marsh     Elizabeth
                                        Siggins   Sarah
                                      * Watson    Mrs.
 
              Plumbers, Painters,
              & Glaziers.                  Saddlers, &c.
 
           Hendry     Thomas            Cornwall  Robert
           Pitts      James             Fox       Wm.
           Siggins    Henry             Philo     Joseph
 
              Tailors.                     Vety. Surgeons.
 
           Ames       George            Smith     Thomas
           Ames       John              Worm      James
           Brown      James
           Gathergood Jas.                 Watchmakrs. &c.
           James      Wm.
           Scott      Machin            Adcock    Samuel
           Standley   James             Wenham    George
           Watson     John
 
              Wine and Spirit Merchants.
 
           Canham     John
           Hastings   Jn. Edw
           Stevens    Rt. Edw.
 
COACHES,
from the Inns, to London, Mon. Wed. & Fri. 8½ mg;
to Holt, Tues. Thurs. & Sat. 5½ evg;
and to Norwich, Wed. & Sat. 7½ mg
CARRIERS' Vans, &c.
from Norwich, Dereham, Holt, Hingham, Downham, Brandon, Thetford, &c call at the Inns several times a week
Jph. Payne, to Norwich, Tu. & Fri. and to Swaffham and Stoke Ferry, Monday and Thursday
James Harvey, to Norwich, Mon. and Thursday

See also the Watton parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
May 2016