ERPINGHAM, a village and parish on a rivulet, 4 miles N. of Aylsham, gives name to this and an adjoining Hundred, and contains 475 souls, and 1361 acres of fertile land, partly in the Earl of Orford's manor of Calthorpe, and the rest forming the Dowager Lady Suffield's manor of Erpingham, which was anciently held by a family of its own name, one of whom was the chivalrous knight, Sir Thomas Erpingham, who accompanied John, Duke of Lancaster, to Spain, in 1399, and was in all the wars of Henry IV. and V. He was a great benefactor to Norwich, where he built the cathedral gate which bears his name. The copyholders are subject to fines certain. J. Shepheard, and the Rev. George Fish, have neat houses and large estates here.
The CHURCH (St. Mary,) is a large fabric, with four bells and a lofty tower, adorned with shields and other ornaments, and formerly having four statues of confessors for pinnacles; but one of them fell down more than a century ago, and killed one of the parishioners. The building was begun by Sir Thomas Erpingham, and finished by Lord Bardolph and his lady. It has recently been new roofed, at the expense of the parish, and handsomely refitted with pews, and open seats, at the cost of the Dowager Lady Suffield, the patroness. Sir John Erpingham, father of Sir Thomas, was buried here, and his effigy, dated 1370, still remains on the stone.
The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £9. 18s. 9d,, is consolidated with that of Blickling. The tithes of Erpingham were commuted in 1839, for £474. 16s. 1d. per annum.
Allen Rev Stephen, rector of Wolterton M.A. and Wickmere Bacon Robert tailor Bane James corn miller Brown John brewer, maltster and vict., Spread Eagle Brown Hannah grocer, &c. Brown Mrs Hanh. Chapman John butcher Christolph Christopher schoolmaster Cook Thomas corn miller Cooper Jonathan shoemaker Duffield Mtha. Fish Rev Geo. rector of Ingworth Frostick Charles shoemaker Harmer Thomas baker Holland George vict. King's Head Johnson John millwright Marsh Rev Wm. Heath, rector of Lammas, jun. M.A. and vicar of Calthorpe Mileham Mrs Mary Ann Morgan Edward police constable Shepheard John, Esq Stewart Rev Jno. rector of Thwaite Watts Mr John Watts Joseph joiner & wheelwright Watts Wm. grocer & draper Wild Mr John FARMERS. Aggs Robert Balls Edmund (butcher) Blyth Wm. Cranefield Jas. Gay Samuel Gunn Daniel Hook Wm. Smith John Spurrell -
These pages are for personal use only. They may not be copied, and
the links within them may not be harvested for use on your own web
pages. Please see the
Copyright Notice.
If you use this information in your research, please say that it is from Genuki
Norfolk.
Copyright © Pat Newby.
September 2001