Norfolk: West Bilney

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

BILNEY (WEST) is a small scattered village, with several neat houses, pleasantly situated on and near the Swaffham turnpike, 7˝ miles E.S.E. of Lynn; comprising in its parish 298 inhabitants, and about 2,400 acres of land, including 150 acres of plantations, all belonging to John Dalton, Esq., the lord of the manor, and patron of the Church, which is dedicated to St. Cecilia, and is a curacy, certified at Ł20 per annum, paid by the lord of the manor, but augmented from 1762 to 1817, with Ł800 of Queen Anne's bounty, of which Ł429 14s. remain at interest, and the rest was laid out in 13˝ acres of land. It was valued in 1831 at Ł60, and the Rev. Samuel Spencer is the incumbent.

Bilney Lodge, a handsome mansion embowered in vigorous plantations, is occupied by T.M. Wythe, jun., Esq. The National School for Bilney and Pentney, was built in 1833, by subscription.

Directory:-

	Dalton   John, Esq.
	Wythe    T.M., Esq.  Lodge
	Hammond  Richd.      blacksmith
	Dorman   Thos.       parish clerk

	   farmers

	Crisp    John
	Gayford  William
	Spink    Abraham