Norfolk: Bridgham

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Bridgham is about 6 miles N.E. of Thetford.
The name may also be spelled Bridgeham.

Cemeteries

See Norfolk Parish Links: Cemeteries

Census

1891: Surname List

Church Directories

In 1883 the parish was in the Deanery of Rockland, in the archdeaconry of Norfolk.
It could have been in a different deanery or archdeaconry both before and after this date.
The parish church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin.
Nearby Churches of all denominations.

Church History

Church of St Mary the Virgin: Description, history and pictures.
Church of St Mary the Virgin: Description and pictures.
Church of St Mary the Virgin: Services, etc.

Church Records

Parish Register Transcripts: Baptisms 1813-1880
Parish Register Transcripts: Marriages.
Marriages: These are not included in Boyd's Marriage Index or Phillimore's Marriage Registers.

Civil Registration

For the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths between 1837 and 1902 (and for the censuses of 1851 to 1901), Bridgham was in Guiltcross Registration District.

This district was abolished on 1st April 1902 and, from then until 1930, Bridgham was in Thetford Registration District for civil registration.

Description and Travel

Harper, Charles Hugh Richardson: Breckland Portraits: recollections of a Norfolk parson.
Bridgham, Riddlesworth and West Harling.
[ISBN 1901470032, East Harling, Taverner Publications, 1997]
O'Neale, David; and Harper, Charles Hugh Richardson: A Breckland Time-piece: Tales of Bridgham folk and their Harling neighbours, in the words of 'Hugh the Harp'.
[1996]
Bridgham Post Mill: Description, history and pictures.

Directories

Historical Geography

Bridgham is in Shropham Hundred.

Parish outline and location.: See Parish Map for Shropham Hundred
Description of Shropham Hundred: 1845: White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk

Land and Property

Great Britain: Statute: Bridgham Inclosure Act, 1804.
An act for inclosing lands in the parish of Bridgham, in the county of Norfolk.
[1804]

Maps

Modern and Historical Maps: Maps of the parish.

Military History

O'Neale, David: Lest we forget: Bridgham and Roudham in the Great War.
[ISBN 1901470105, East Harling, Taverner Publications, 2006]

Military Records

Bridgham and Roudham Roll of Honour: World War 1.

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc

After 1834 Bridgham became part of the Guiltcross Union, and the workhouse was at Kenninghall.

Population

These figures are from the population tables which were produced after the 10-yearly national censuses. The "Families" heading includes families and single occupiers.

Year	Inhabited Houses	Families	Population
1801	35	50	242
1811	36	50	245
1821	37	61	294
1831	37	60	291
1841	61	--	328
1851	67	--	339

Year	Inhabited Houses	Families	Population
1861	72	--	328
1871	69	69	300
1881	47	71	274
1891	71	74	294
1901	64	69	255
1911	--	65	254

There may be more people living in detached parts of the parish (if there were any) and, if so, the number may or may not be included in the figures above. It is quite difficult to be sure from the population tables.

1861 Census: "GUILTCROSS. The decrease of population in most of the parishes of this District is attributed partly to the migration of labourers to towns and manufacturing districts. In some parishes it has also been consequent upon the failure of hand-loom hemp-cloth weaving."
1881 Census: The number of inhabited houses really is 47.

Voting Registers

See Norfolk Parish Links: Voting Registers

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