Norfolk: Morton-on-the-Hill

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883

MORTON-ON-THE-HILL, 8 miles N.W. of Norwich, on the southern acclivity of the vale of the Wensum, has its parish in St. Faith's union, Eynesford petty sessional division and hundred, Norwich county court district and bankruptcy district, Reepham polling district of North Norfolk, Sparham rural deanery, and Norwich archdeaconry. It had 143 inhabitants in 1881, living on 1750 acres, and has a rateable value of Ł1004. The soil principally belongs to the lord of the manor, George Duckett Berney, Esq., of Morton Hall, which was considerably enlarged about 40 years ago, and is picturesquely seated on the southern slope of a commanding eminence near the church, and surrounded by thriving plantations.

The CHURCH (St. Margaret) was restored in 1863, and is a small building with nave, chancel, south porch, and tower. The latter is round at the base and octagonal above, and contains three bells.

Sir Hambleton Custance has a small farm in the parish. The Rev. Robert. C. Grice, an elegant Greek and Latin scholar, was rector here from 1753 till 1790.

The Poor's Land, 4A. 2R., is let for Ł7.

Mr. Berney is also lord of the manor and patron of the discharged rectory, which was valued in the King's Book at Ł3. 14s 9d., and now has 4 acres of glebe, and a rent-charge of Ł180, awarded in 1840, in lieu of tithes. The Rev. Thomas Draper Roberts, M.A., is the present rector, and has a good residence, built in 1861, at a cost of Ł925, of which Ł125 was contributed by George D. Berney, Esq., and the rest was borrowed from Queen Anne's Bounty.

The Morton and Attlebridge Church School was built in 1870, upon a piece of land in Attlebridge, given by the Rev. John Micklethwait, deceased, at the joint expense of himself and George D. Berney, Esq., and is now supported by Government grant and by Henry Micklethwait, Esq., and George D. Berney, Esq., assisted by small voluntary subscriptions.

POST via Norwich.

	Abraham   Abel            farm bailiff
	Arthurton Robert          victualler, White Horse
	Berney    George Duckett, The Hall
	            Esq., J.P.
	Bunting   Anthony         machinist & shopkpr
	Death     Miss            schoolmistress
	Gregory   William         parish clerk
	Hubbard   William         farmer; h Weston
	Plummer   Benjamin        gamekeeper
	Roberts   Rev. Thomas     rector, Rectory
	            Draper
	Stimpson  Benjn.          farmer and butcher; and Alderford,
	                            East Tuddenham, Horningham (sic),
	                            and Sall

See also the Morton-on-the-Hill parish page.