Norfolk: Gillingham

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

GILLINGHAM ALL SAINTS and ST. MARY, now form one consolidated parish, comprising 404 souls, 1962 acres, and the pleasant village of Gillingham, adjoining the marshes on the north side of the Waveney, 1 mile N. of Beccles, and 16 miles S.E. of Norwich. The parish is mostly in J. Kerrich, Esqr.'s manor of Stockton-with-the-Soke; but a great part of the soil belongs to Miss Schutz, and her sister, now Lady George Beresford. Miss Schutz resides at Gillingham Hall, a handsome mansion, of white brick, standing on a bold eminence, surrounded by a beautiful lawn and plantations, and built by the father of the first Sir Nicholas Bacon.

Winston and Windale, two decayed parishes, have long been lost in the bounds of Gillingham; and the boundary of All Saints and St. Mary's is but little known; the two rectories, valued in the King's Book at £10. 6s. 8d., and in 1831 at £564, being consolidated in 1748, when All Saints' church was taken down, except the tower, which is now thickly mantled with ivy. Its burial ground is still used.

St. Mary's Church, on the opposite side of the road, is a fine specimen of Norman architecture, with a square tower, rising in the centre, and containing three bells. The rectory is in the patronage of Miss Schutz and Lady G. Beresford; but the Rev. John Lewis, the present incumbent, has purchased the next presentation. The glebe is 69A. 1R. 30P., and the tithes were commuted in 1840, for £482. 18s. 1d. per annum.

The wharf, warehouses, &c., at the north end of Beccles Bridge, are in this parish.

The TOWN LANDS, &c., consist of 10A. 12P., and two tenements called the Leet-House, given by an unknown donor, and now let for £21 a year; and 19A. 1R 35P., let for £30 a year, and given in 1596, by Edward Everard. The rents are applied yearly as follows: about £20 in distributions of coal among the poor; £6 to the superintendent of a Sunday-school, and the remainder in the service of the church.

Directory:-

	Balls     Thos.        miller
	Boon      Alfred       vict., Swan Inn
	Dawes     James        tailor
	Lewis     Rev. John    Rectory
	Mobbs     James        shoemaker
	Musk      Fras.        joiner
	Parker    Thos.        gent.
	Schutz    Miss Susan   Hall
	Thompson  John         shopr.
	Thornton  Richd.       brewer, &c.
	Crisp     John, jun.   maltster, coal merchant, &c.,
	                         Bridge Wharf
	Tripp     John         blacksmith

	                farmers

	Banham    John         Mapes    Susan
	Bexfield  Benj.        Nixon    Charles
	Brundell  Benj. and    Playford John
	            Eliz.

COACHES and CARRIERS pass daily to Yarmouth, Ipswich, Lowestoft, &c.