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STIFFKEY, 3 miles E. of Wells, is a fine rural village, seated in a deep, romantic, and well wooded dale, on the banks of a small river, which discharges itself into the ocean, about 1½ mile to the north-east, and formerly had a quay and harbour. The parish contains 487 inhabitants, and about 2,235 acres, of which, about 600 are salt marsh, on the north side of the village, extending to the beach.
Lord Charles Townshend owns a great part of the soil, and is lord of the manor, and patron of the rectory, which is valued in the King's Book at £25, and now enjoyed by the Rev. Randall Barwick Brereton, A.B., together with Morston, the livings being consolidated, and having 69 acres of glebe. A new Rectory House has lately been erected, and the joint rectories are now worth about £800 per annum. The tithes of Stiffkey have been commuted for £423, and those of Morston for £280 per annum.
Here were formerly two CHURCHES, (both rectorial,) in one enclosure, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and St. Mary; but the latter is gone, and the other is a venerable pile, with a nave, chancel, tower, and porch, standing on an acclivity near the Hall, which was built by Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper of the privy seal to Queen Elizabeth; but it is now partly in ruins, and the rest occupied by a farmer. It was a large mansion, with circular towers at the angles, and environed with lofty trees, which cast a sombre hue over the mouldering ruins. The New Hall is a neat cemented mansion, erected by James Buck, Esq., its present occupant, about 12 years ago.
To the west of the village, near the Wells road, is a promontory, called Warborough Hill, on which are visible remains of circular entrenchments; and one mile to the east of it, is a green knowl, called Camping Hill, supposed to have been also entrenched. These hills overlook a tract of salt marshes, 20 miles long, and about one broad, bounded on the north by the ocean, which has thrown against them a range of sand hills, called Meals, many of them covered with a beaty wood, and inhabited only by rabbits.
The common was enclosed in 1793.
A National School was built here, in 1845, at the cost of £200.
Bayes Thomas Henry farmer Boulter Robert joiner Brereton Rev. Randall Barwick, A.B. Rectory Buck James, Esq. New Hall Bulling Wm. joiner [see note below] Carter J. joiner [see note below] Clarke George shopkeeper Codling James blacksmith and victualler, Victoria Doughty J. blacksmith Frankling Felix and James millers Green John shopkeeper Griffin Absalom basket maker Howard Edward and John butchers Howard Wigmore farmer Jary Jacob bricklayer Mann Edward shoemaker Page Cphr. Thos. farmer, Old Hall Smith Thomas boatman Stone Thomas baker and grocer Yaxley Jeremiah shoemaker & victualler, Townshends' Arms
CARRIER, Robert Brown, to Norwich, Monday and Thursday
Copyright © Pat Newby.
March 2006