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GRESSENHALL, a village and parish on the Litcham road, 3 miles N.W. of East Dereham, had 957 inhabitants, in 1841, including 242 in Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, which is already noticed at page 308. [This is the description of Mitford hundred]. The parish contains 2,582A. of land, including 350A. 33P., which anciently formed part of the dissolved parish of Great Bittering. The manors, are North and South Soken and Rougholm, of which J.D.H. Hill, Esq., is lord; and Hareford's, of which A.C. Spurgeon, Esq., is lord, but part of the soil belongs to other proprietors.
The CHURCH, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, is a large structure, in the cathedral form, with a short but massive tower, rising in the centre, and formerly surmounted by a spire, which was taken down in 1698. The north transept is called Feraur's chantry, or chapel; and that on the south, Hasting's chapel. Here are inscriptions to the families of Estmond, Le'Estrange, Vessey and Davy.
The rectory is valued in the King's Book at £15.13s.4d., and is in the patronage of King's College, Cambridge, and the incumbency of the Rev. Dennis Hill, who rebuilt the Rectory House, about 1808. The glebe is 50A., and the tithes were commuted, in 1842, for £750 per annum. In the reign of Henry the VIII., Wm. de Stutevil, founded a chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in that part of the parish called Rougholm; but it was in ruins when Blomefield wrote, and was afterwards converted into a house.
Two annual FAIRS for horses, cattle, &c., are held on Dec. 6th, and the Tuesday before Whit-Sunday, and the former is numerously attended.
A National School was built here, in 1842, by J.D.H. Hill, Esq.
The church land is 2A.1R. The Poor's Allotment, 7A.3R.34P., let for £8, was awarded in 1810. The poor have also £6 a year, as the rent of 6A., received at the enclosure, in exchange for 4A., left by John Curson, in 1667; and also 10s.6d., paid yearly, for the right of setting stalls on the "Fairstead."
Alpe Mrs Ann
Bradfield Rt. Workhouse School
Christmas Eliz. beer-house keeper
Clarke Robt. wheelwright
Dodman John wheelwright
Everett Richard blacksmith
Frost Samuel bricklayer
Golding Jas. shoemaker
Hannent John corn miller
Hill Rev. Dennis Rectory
Hill John David
Hay, Esq. Hall
Howard Wm cattle dealer
Lemon Jas. shoemaker
Peck Robert farrier
Riches John shoemaker
Spragg Wm. carpenter
Spurgeon Astley Cooper,
Esq. Wood-lands
Tuck Mary shopkeeper
Twigg Thomas carpenter
Tye Benj. grocer and draper
Wardlaw Mary National School
Watson Isaac tailor
Whelan Geo. Francis master of the Union Workhouse
INNS AND TAVERNS
Chequers Robt. Tye (and cooper)
Royal Oak (empty)
Three Horse Shoes John Hewitt
White Swan Geo. Dodman
FARMERS
Alpe William Hill Joseph
Archer Joseph Nicholson James
Brown James Pease David
Brown George Pease Samuel
Burton John Rosher John
Hill John White James
See also the Gressenhall parish page.
Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 1999