GENUKI: Norfolk: Waxham, Norfolk

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

WAXHAM, on the sea-coast, 5½ miles E. of Stalham, and 14 miles N. by W. of Yarmouth, is a parish in Smallburgh union, Happing hundred, Happing and Tunstead petty sessional division, North Walsham county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Stalham polling district of North Norfolk, Happing division of Waxham rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry.

It had 147 inhabitants in 1881, living on 1911 acres of land, and has a rateable value of £2294. The parish includes Little Waxham, which has only 206 acres of land, though it was anciently a large parish, but its village and church (St. Margaret) were engulphed in the ocean several centuries ago. R.J. Johnson, Esq., of Tunstead, is lord of the manor and owner of the soil.

Waxham Hall, occupied by George Randall Johnson, Esq., was built in 1114, and stood, at the time of its erection, 14 miles from the sea. There are many remains of the fine arches, columns, and windows, giving tokens of its former magnificence. It has a rectangular court on its northern side, enclosed by a lofty stone wall, having crocketed pinnacles at the angles and a large gateway in the centre. It contains a fine collection of fossils, amongst which is a very large thigh bone of a mammoth found with other Mammalian remains of various species along the coast. Near the hall is an immense barn 180 feet long by 27 feet wide.

The CHURCH (St. John) is a plain thatched building consisting of nave, south porch and tower. There is no bell, and the chancel is in ruins. In the nave is an altar tomb enriched with shields charged with armorial bearings, and having a canopy supported by two fluted columns. R.J. Johnson, Esq., is patron of the rectory, which is valued in the King's Book at £6.13s.4d., and now at £343, with the vicarage of Palling annexed to it. The Rev. Henry Ready, M.A., of Hickling, is the incumbent.

The tithes of Waxham have been commuted for £343.6s. per annum, but Little Waxham is tithe free. Waxham has a School Board united with Palling, which see.

POST from Norwich via Stalham, which is the nearest Money Order Office.

         Bishop   Robert          millman
         Bush     Thomas          farmer and owner; h Edingthorpe
         Butcher  William(exors.) farmers and owners, Bridge farm
         French   William         farmer, overseer and rate collector,
                                  Woolston farm
         Gedge    Jno.            frmr. & owner, Walnut frm
         Harvey   Henry           frmr. & owner, Poplar farm
         Johnson  George Randall  landowner, overseer, guardian of the
                                  poor, joint acting comsnr. of Sea
                                  Breaching, captain of Life-saving
                                  apparatus, and vice-chairman of Life
                                  Boat Committee, &c., Waxham hall
         Knights  John            millman
         Postle   John            farm steward
         Postle   Robert          wheelwright
         Ready    Rev.Henry,B.A.  rector; h Hickling
         Robinson William         head groom
         Thurtle  William         land steward

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Norfolk: Waxham

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