THORNAGE is a pleasant village and parish, 2½ miles S.W. of Holt, in Erpingham union, Holt county court district, petty sessional division, and hundred, Holt polling district of North Norfolk, Norwich archdeaconry, and Holt rural deanery. Its rateable value is £2057 6s. 3d.
It had 327 inhabitants in 1881, and comprises 1266 acres of land, mostly belonging to Lord Hastings, who is lord of the manor; but the executors of James Cooke have an estate here. About three quarters of a mile N.E. of the village is a large water mill, and a pleasant residence, occupied by Mr. F.A. Buttrum; and in the parish is an iron foundry.
The CHURCH comprises nave, chancel, north porch, and square tower with one bell; and contains a piscina. The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £6 18s. 4d., and now worth £508 a year, with that of Brinton annexed, is in the patronage of Lord Hastings and in the incumbency of the Rev. Charles John Brereton, B.A., who has here 35A. 1R. 1P. of glebe, and a good residence. The tithes of Thornage were commuted in 1839 for £331 per annum.
The communion plate is very ancient, and the cup is inscribed, 'was the gyfte of John Butts (or Butes), and Margaret, his wife - 1456.' His family were long possessed of the manor; and one of them, Henry Butts, D.D., was vice-chancellor of Oxford University in 1629, but was found, soon afterwards, 'hanging in his garters in his own chamber.' He was the son of Sir William Butts, physician in ordinary to Henry VIII.
A piece of land, called the Bell Acre, was left about 300 years ago by an unknown donor, who, tradition reports, had lost his way during a snow storm, but recovered it through the ringing of the bell. It now lets for £1 a year, which is given towards the purchase of bell ropes.
This parish is united with Brinton as a SCHOOL BOARD district, and the children attend the school at Brinton.
POST from Briningham, viâ East Dereham.
Abraham Alfred ironfounder's mngr. and shopkeeper Baker Charles farmer, Hill house Brereton Rev. Chas. John, B.A. rector Buttrium Frederick Alexander miller and farmer Clare Wm. Saml. builder, contractor, and ironfounder Cozens Richard shoemaker Fox George corn and flour dealer Graveling Jacob yeast dealer Hill Joshua farmer Hunter Alfred parish clerk Ives Alfred baker, grocer, and draper Ives Thomas butcher and farmer Moore Miss Frances dressmaker and draper Peck Mrs Elizabeth vict. The Black Boy's Inn, and farmer Peck William shoemaker Raby Robert butcher Sewell James farmer Sheringham Henry farmer, The Hall Sheringham Mr Valentine Denis The Villa Woods Robert gamekeeper
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
March 2006