Norfolk: Sprowston

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

SPROWSTON is a scattered but well-built village, 2 miles N. by E. of Norwich. The parish contains about 2700 acres of land, and has increased its population, since 1811, from 310 to 1235 souls; many handsome villas and houses having been erected here during the last 30 years, especially on the south side of the parish, which adjoins the city suburbs, and is commonly called New Sprowston.

The manor anciently belonged to the Corbets, but was sold by Sir Thos. Corbet, (the last baronet of his family,) in 1645, to Sir Thos. Adams, from whose family it passed, by sale, to Sir Lambert Blackwell, who was created baronet of Sprowston, in 1718. It was held by three successive baronets of this family; but the last, who died in 1801, sold it to Mr. Boycott, of Norwich, whose grandson, John Morse, Esq., sold it in 1802; and after passing through the hands of Alderman Davey and others, by whom a large portion was separately sold to various persons, the manor-house and principal part of the estate were sold to Thos. Woodruffe Smythe, Esq., of Stockwell park, Surrey, whose executors sold the manor and Hall estate to T.H. Head, Esq., their present owner.

The Hall, said to have been erected in 1559, was much improved some years ago, and is now occupied by E. Steward, Esq. Sprowston Lodge, a neat white brick mansion, 3½ miles N. by E. of Norwich, is the seat of John Stracey, Esq., who has in his pleasure-grounds, a flourishing willow, lopped from the tree that overshadows the tomb of Napoleon, on the island of St. Helena. Here are several other rural seats, occupied by their owners; and near Sprowston Cottage are the remains of St. Magdalen's Chapel, now converted into a barn.

The CHURCH (St. Margaret,) is an ancient structure, but has undergone many modern repairs, the tower and several other parts having been rebuilt of brick. In the interior are two Gothic stalls, and several monuments and effigies of the Corbet family; one of whom was Miles Corbet, Esq., who sat as one of the judges, and signed the death-warrant of King Charles; and after the Restoration, fled to Holland, where he was pursued and taken, but afterwards pardoned.

The benefice is a curacy, not in charge, but was augmented in 1790 and 1794 with £400 of Queen Anne's Bounty, laid out in land; and in 1824, with a Parliamentary grant of £1000, now at interest. The Rev. Henry Banfather, B.D., of Norwich Grammar School, is the incumbent, and the Dean and Chapter of Norwich are the patrons and appropriators; but the tithes are leased to the landowners.

At the enclosure, in 1800, about 1000 acres of Mousehold Heath (partly in this parish,) were charged with the yearly payment of £30 to the poor of Sprowston, for distribution in coals. They have also six cottages, left by Catherine and Ann Corbet.

The fair, formerly held here on August 2nd, was discontinued in 1826. The Huntingdonians built a Sunday-school here in 1839.

	  Aldridge  Jno.              gent
	  Andrews   Frederick         parish clerk
	  Andrews   Mary              blacksmith
	  Bailey    Anthony           thatcher
	  Barnes    Mrs M.
	  Blake     Robert            brick maker
	  Bond      Henry             corn miller
	  Burrows   Peter             vict., Norwich and Norfolk Arms
	  Calver    Robert            sawing mill
	  Chapman   James             gentleman
	  Chambers  Jacob                  [see note below]
	  Cobb      Wm.               gent [see note below]
	  Daynes    Mr W.
	  Durrant   Wm.               relieving officer
	  Edwards   Thomas            lime burner
	  King      Austin            brick maker
	  Millard   Wm. Salter & Son  land agts
	  Myhill    Jno.              glover
	  Olyott    Thomas            vict., Blue Boar
	  Pratt     Mr Wm.            South Lodge
	  Robertson Sarah & Son       corn millers
	  Steward   Edw., Esq.        solicitor, Hall
	  Steward   Isaac             gentleman
	  Stracey   John, Esq.        Sprowston Lodge
	  Stracey   Capt. Henry J.    Grange
	  Walne     Daniel            gentleman, Cottage
	  Wiley     Thomas Wrigley    gentleman
	  Wilkinson John              police superintendt

	     Boot & Shoe Mkrs.           Beer Houses.

	  Paul      Wm.               Allen     Wm.
	  Roffe     Nathaniel         Pearce    Wm.

	     Butchers.

	  Blake     Benjamin
	  Bilby     Mary Ann
	  Lutkins   David
	  Wells     Wm.

	                      FARMERS.

	  Barnes    George            Millard   Wm. S.
	  Blake     Robert            Riches    Robert
	  Felton    Clement           Walker    Benj.
	  Garman    John              Wiley     Jph., Villa
	  Lloyd     Edward            Yallop    Wm
	  Lutkins   Richard

	     Gardeners.

	  Bacon     Thomas
	  Burrows   Thomas
	  Bird      Wm.
	  Catton    James
	  Fitt      John
	  Goldson   James

	     JOINERS.                    SHOPKEEPERS.
	  (* are Wheelgts.)           (* are Bakers.)

	* Eastoe    Edmund          * Anderson  Wm.
	* Fox       John            * Burrows   John
	  Sidney    John              Dickinson John
	                              Sidney    John
	                              Swash     John

Note, in the original this is
Chambers Jacob, & Cobb Wm. gent