Norfolk: Bridgham

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

BRIDGHAM, a small village in the pleasant vale of the Thet river, 2 miles W. of East Harling, and 6 miles E. by N. of Thetford, contains 328 inhabitants, and 2639A. of land, of which Sir J. S. Sebright, Bart., is principal owner and lord of the manor. Wm. Cockell and C. Harrison, Esqrs., have estates here.

The CHURCH (St. Mary) has a nave, chancel, and north porch, and a wooden belfry, with two bells. It was new roofed in 1842. The Rectory, valued in K.B. at £11. 1s., and in 1831 at £400, is in the gift of the Crown, and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Currie, B.A., with 22A. of glebe.

The poor have £9. 18s. yearly from Christ's College, Cambridge, as the gift of Mr. Risley, who was rector here in 1523, and £6. 8s. yearly from the rent of 7A. 2R. 35P. left by Dorothy Gawdy, in 1791. The Fuel Allotments, awarded at the enclosure in 1806, comprise more than 300A., on which all the parishioners, not occupying £21 a year, cut turf and ling.

Here is a Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1834.

DIRECTORY:-

Currie   Rev. Thos.,
          B.A.       Rectory
Cockell  Wm. Esq.
Brame    Geo.        vict., Red Lion
Cooper   John        grocer
Cutter   Wm.         blacksmith
Davy     James       beerhouse
Hastead  Samuel      wheelwright
Whitrod  Wm.         shoemaker
Wilton   Edwd.       carpenter
Wilton   Wm.         miller

farmers

Carter   Samuel
Hastead  Benj.
Read     Stephen
Ringer   George