Norfolk: Gressenhall

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

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

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