Norfolk: Buxton

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

BUXTON is a pleasant and well-built village, on the west bank of the river Bure, nearly 4 miles S.S.E. of Aylsham. The parish contains 713 inhabitants, and 1274A.2R.23P. of land, the greater part of which belongs to Sir Edward H.J. Stracey, Bart., the lord of the manor, who purchased the advowson of the vicarage, and the rectorial tithes, of S. Bignold, Esq., except those portions of the latter held by other landowners.

Dudwick House, half a mile W. of the church, is an ancient mansion, with a well-wooded lawn and good estate, belonging to Jno. Wright, Esq., the occupant, and formerly the seat of the family of Dudwick. Buxton Old Hall, with a small estate, is the property of Mr. Thomas Lane. This manor had anciently the liberty of executing criminals, on Gallows hill, which has long been levelled, though it still retains the name of Gallows hill close.

The Church (St. Andrew,) has a square tower, with five bells, and contains many inscriptions to the families of Bedingfeld, Manning, Bulwer, &c. The vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £5.13s.9d., is consolidated with the rectories of Skeyton and Oxnead, in the incumbency of the Rev. Henry Anson, whose relative, the late Lord Anson, was patron and lord of the manor. (See Skeyton.) Here is 35A.2R.4P. of glebe, and a commodious Vicarage House. Here are also about 59A. of glebe, belonging to the rectories of Skeyton and Oxnead.

The tithes of Buxton were commuted, in 1842, for the yearly payments of £110.15s.6d., to the incumbent; £246 to the impropriator, and £12 to the Dean and Chapter of Norwich. One of the Workhouses of Aylsham Union, is situated here. A Petty Session is held here on the first Monday of every month; and Wm. Hill, of Marsham, is clerk to the magistrates.

At the enclosure, in 1809, a large tumulus on the common was levelled and granted to the parish, as a sand-pit. There were found in it some human bones, and a large urn in the shape of a bell, and about a dozen smaller ones, all with their mouths downwards; and under them was a layer of red earth, covering an oval cavity, (four feet by five,) filled with charcoal.

On the river is an extensive water-mill, and in the village is a Baptist Chapel, belonging to a congregation formed in 1796. Here is also a Wesleyan Chapel, and the parish has the following charities:-

BUXTON CHARITY ESTATE, left by Sir John Picto, in the reign of Henry VII., and encreased by the benefactions of Roger Docking, George Rogers, John Kemp, and others, now consists of eight tenements, and about 30A. of land, mostly in Hautboys and Belaugh parishes, let for £57 a year, which, after paying the land-tax, &c., is distributed amongst the poor.
In 1693, Thos. Bulwer, Esq., left £500 to be laid out in land, the rents and profits thereof to be applied to the relief of the poor, except 6s. to be paid to the vicar or curate, on every Sunday when divine service is performed both in the morning and afternoon. The land purchased consists of 44A.3R.29P., let for £60 a year, which is all distributed among the poor, as also is the interest of £200, left by the same donor, who likewise charged his estates here with the payment of 20s. every fourth week for distribution among 20 poor widows or widowers attending the church, and with 13s.4d. yearly to the churchwardens for their trouble.
The dividends of œ110 new ½ per Cents., purchased with £100 left by Wm. Pearce in 1826, are distributed among ten poor widows or widowers.
In 1830, Elizabeth Tuckett, in conformity with the desire of her first husband, John Wright, Esq., gave œ900 three per cent. Consols for the support of schools in Buxton, for poor children. In 1833, John Wright, Esq., the son of the above-named, erected two Schoolrooms near the church, and they are now attended by about 80 boys and 40 girls, who each pay 1d. and upwards per week. The dividends of the stock are paid to the master and mistress.

	Allen       Thomas          farmer, Lodge
	Barton      Jas.            shoemkr
	Beck        Wm.             gardener
	Bell        John            parish clerk
	Bloom       Wm.             shoemkr
	Butterworth John            gentleman
	Cooke and
	  Gambling  (John)          corn millers and merchants
	Dunning     Daniel          blacksmith
	Earl        Andrew Hodge    vict. Crown
	Garwood     Robert          Workhouse School
	Hawes       Hy.             saddler
	Hayne       Mrs My.
	Jarvis      Rev George,B.D. curate, Vicarage
	Lane        Thomas          gent., Old Hall
	Leverage    Richard         schoolmaster
	Mack        Rt.             coal dealer & bricklayer
	Mann        Robert James    surgeon
	Parker      Samuel          shopkeeper
	Passon      Benj.           farmer, Hill Farm
	Pilgrim     Robert          tailor & draper
	Potter      Thos.           master of the Workhs.
	Rayson      George          joiner, wheelwright, and pump maker
	Russell     James Edw.      watchmaker
	Smith       John            shoemaker
	Tuck        Mary            shopkeeper
	Watts       Thomas          bricklayer and vict. Black Lion
	Watts       Wm.             bricklayer
	Wiggett     Rd.             baker and grocer
	Wright      John, Esq.      Dudwick House
	Wright      John, sen.      gentleman

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