GENUKI: Norfolk: Winfarthing, Norfolk

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

WINFARTHING, a pleasant village and parish, 4 miles N. of Diss, has 696 inhabitants, and 2566 acres of land. The Earl of Albemarle owns a great part of the soil, is lord of the manor, (fines arbitrary,) and patron of the rectory, valued in the King's Book at £12, and now enjoyed by the Rev. Wm. Jas. Carver, M.A., with 31A. 1R. 22P. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1840.

The Church (Virgin Mary,) has a square tower and five bells, and was, in the superstitious and corrupt age of monachism, in high repute among the ignorant for a certain sword preserved in it by the monks, under the name of the "Good Sword of Winfarthing," and said to possess such virtues in effecting the wishes of devotees, that pilgrims came to it from all parts, with large gifts and offerings, "vow-makings, crouchings, &c." The sword had previously belonged to a thief, who had taken sanctuary in the church.

The manor has all the privileges of ancient demesne, and remained in the Crown till Henry III. gave it to Sir William Montecaniso, or Munchensy, in consideration of his military services against the French. The son of this knight had a large park here, well stocked with deer, and had liberty to keep dogs to hunt the hare, fox, and wild cat, in his wastes and forests. So late as 1604, the park abounded in deer, but it was afterwards enclosed by the Earl of Arundel. It now belongs to the Earl of Albemarle, and comprises 1000 acres of cultivated and tithe-free land.

In the village is a small Primitive Methodist Chapel.

The Town Estate, part of which anciently belonged to a religious fraternity, or guild, was mostly acquired in the reigns of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, and now consists of the Guildhall; a house, and 35P. of land, occupied, rent free, by the parish clerk; two cottages, called almshouses, one occupied rent free; and 32A. 3R. 17P. of land. The rents, amounting to £70 a year, are carried to the poor-rates, except £2. 11s. 6d., which is distributed among the poor not receiving parochial relief, pursuant to the will of John Alden. At the enclosure in 1781, an allotment of 4A. 3R. 10P. was awarded for a gravel pit, and 40A. for the poor. The latter is let for £54 a year, which is distributed in coals.

           Coleman   Ann              vict. Oak
           Driver    Thomas           wheelwright
           Fox       John             bleacher
           Goodwyn   Rev Chas.
                       Flowers, B.A.  curate
           Jarrett   Wm.              corn miller
           Lansdell  Isaac            blacksmith
           Parker    Elizabeth        beerseller
           Sharman   John             joiner and shopkpr
           Wallis    Gude [sic]       vict. Fighting Cocks
           Woods     Mary Ann         shopkeeper
 
                               FARMERS.
                             * are Owners.
 
           Baker     Edward         * George     Samuel
         * Banham    George         * Glandfield Rt.
         * Barker    Robert           Goodrum    James
           Bartram   Charles        * Hart       Samuel
         * Birch     James            Humphrey   Geo.
         * Catchpole John             Nicholson  Noah
         * Catchpole Nath.            Palmer     Richard Everett
           Chapman   Cph.             Parson     J.
           Coleman   Robert         * Simonds    John
           Eaton     Wm.              Taylor     Francis Oddin,
           Everett   Thomas                        Park farm
         * Filby     Edward           Taylor     John
           Fincham   Joseph           Woods      Robert
         * Fox       John           * Wragg      Ellis
 
              Shoemakers.
 
           Driver    James
           Holmes    Thomas
           Jessup    Jesse
           Pretty    John
           Wright    Nehemh.

CARRIER to Diss & Attlebro', from the Fighting Cocks, Tuesday

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Norfolk: Winfarthing

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