Norfolk: East Wretham and West Wretham

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

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

WRETHAM, EAST and WEST, about 6 miles N.N.E. of Thetford, are two adjoining parishes and villages, in Thetford union, Shropham hundred, Guiltcross and Shropham petty sessional division, Thetford county court district, Norwich bankruptcy court district, Thetford polling district of South Norfolk, Rockland rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry.

East Wretham had 173 inhabitants in 1881, and West Wretham 140. Its rateable value is £1701. Foulmere, a hamlet of West Wretham, 3½ miles from the railway station, adjoins Croxton. Wretham Hall, an elegant mansion about a mile N.W. of the church, is seated in a well-wooded park of about 300 acres, abounding in game. It is the seat of William Morris, Esq., who is lord of the manor and sole landowner.

East Wretham CHURCH (St. Ethelbert) is a small edifice, with a tower and a good Norman doorway; but that at West Wretham (St. Lawrence) has long been in ruins. The church at East Wretham was entirely rebuilt in 1865 by the 'children of Wyrley and Katharine Sarah, his wife,' according to an inscription on the tower. The chancel was at the same time rebuilt by the rector. The fine old Norman doorway, with zigzag mouldings, has been carefully preserved. There is a handsome cross of polished granite in the churchyard, erected in memory of deceased members of the Birch family. The character of the new work is middle Pointed. The sittings in the chancel are of oak, with carved frontages and poppy-heads. There is a good organ, and there are some wall paintings in the chancel.

Mr. Morris is patron of the consolidated rectories, which are valued in the King's Book, one at £11 12s. 3½d., and the other at £12 11s. 3d. The Rev. James Park Whalley, B.A., is the incumbent, and has 11 acres of glebe, a yearly tithe rent-charge of £539, and a good residence, built about thirty years ago.

The School was erected by the late lord of the manor and his sister about the year 1856, and is attended by 60 children.

POST and TELEGRAPH OFFICE - Mr. Robert Adams, receiver. Letters from Thetford arrive at 7.45 a.m., despatched at 6 p.m. Hockham is the nearest Money Order Office. Pillar-box cleared at 5.45 p.m. week days only.

Marked * are in West Wretham.

           Adams       Robert         grocer and draper,
                                        post and telegraph office
         * Banks       Jonathan       gamekeeper to Wm. Morris, Home lodge
           Bedford     Thomas         stationmaster
           Edwards     Henry          blacksmith
           Gayford     Thos. John     fmr. Manor farm
           Hutson      Frederick      farmer, cattle dealer and vict.
                                        Dog & Partridge Inn, Stone bridge
           Littleproud Walter         miller and farmer, Wretham mill
         * Morris      Mr William     Wretham hall, & 24 Eccleston Square,
                                        London, S.W.
         * Nicholl     John           farmer, Thorpe farm
           Stephenson  Robt.          farmer, Foulmere
         * Sutton      Stephen        farm bailiff to Wm. Morris, Hall farm
           Whalley     Rev. James
                         Park, B.A.   The Rectory
 

RAILWAY STATION - Thomas Bedford, stationmaster

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
September 2007