Norfolk: Topcroft

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

TOPCROFT, a scattered village and parish, 12 miles S. by E. of Norwich, and 5 miles N.W. by W. of Bungay, in Loddon and Clavering union, Loddon hundred and petty sessional division, Beccles county court district, Yarmouth bankruptcy district, archdeaconry of Norfolk, and rural deanery of East Brooke. The rateable value is £3149. Its parish had 357 inhabitants in 1881, and comprises 1875A. 1R. 7P. of land, including 90 acres of wood.

Mr. John Isaac Hunter owns a part of the soil, and is lord of the manor conjointly with W.M. Hazard, Esq., in which the copyholders pay fines certain; but Alfred Massey, Esq., Mr. Samuel N. Delf, and others, have estates here.

The CHURCH (St. Margaret) comprises nave, chancel, south aisle, south porch, and tower. The latter is round at the base and octagonal above, and contains three bells. The nave and chancel were restored and reseated in 1861, at a cost of £750, and again in 1877, and contain 260 sittings. The seats are open benches, and the pulpit and reading-desk are of oak. Here are tablets of the Smyth, Cooke, Frost, and Wilton families. There are also a piscina and a small organ.

The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £10 13s. 4d., is in the patronage of the Bishop of Norwich. The Rev. J.G. Rowe, M.A., J.P., is the incumbent, and has here 48 acres of glebe, and a yearly tithe rent-charge of £411, awarded in 1839. The rectory house was rebuilt in 1878, at a cost of £1200.

The Independent Chapel is a neat brick building, which was rebuilt in 1850, and is under the ministry of the Rev. Frederick S. Basden, of Denton. It is also used as a British School, and attended by sixty children. The National School was built in 1847, and an Infants' class-room added in 1881, at a cost of £100.

The poor have 1A. 2R. allotted at the enclosure in 1807, and 3 acres left by Robert Goodwin in 1659. The rents amount to £18 a year.

POST OFFICE at Mr. W. Cook Pooley's. Letters viâ Bungay, arrive at 9 a.m., and despatched at 3.30 p.m. Hempnall is the nearest Money Order Office, distant 3½ miles.

	Andrews    Harry             victualler, Swan Inn, and pig dealer
	Andrews    William           blacksmith
	Ashcroft   Miss Eliza Reeve  British schoolmistress
	Bentley    John              wheelwright
	Crickmer   Jph.              vict. Hare & Hounds
	Delf       Saml. Newton      farmer & owner
	Ellis      Thomas            farmer
	Everett    Horace            miller
	Fairhead   James             farmer and owner
	Farrow     Arthur            blacksmith
	Feaveayear Chas.             fmr. & parish cnstble
	Feaveayear James             farmer
	Foulger    George            farmer
	Hunter     John Isaac        farmer & owner, The Hall
	Lawn       Thomas            farmer
	Lewell     John              shoemaker
	Ling       George            farmer
	Long       Samuel            parish clerk
	Loynes     John              shoemaker & shopkpr
	Massey     Alfred            farmer and owner; h Cringleford
	Meek       Edward            cowkeeper
	Mobbs      Henry             bricklayer
	Moore      George            machine owner
	Moss       William           farmer & gamekeeper
	Newman     Rbt.              fmr. & owner, The Lodge
	Pooley     William Cook      grocer, draper, and postmaster
	Rowe       Rev. John George,
	             M.A., J.P.      (Northumberland), rector, The Rectry
	Seaman     Benj.             fmr. guardian & overseer
	Smith      Bryant            farm steward
	Sutton     Saul              farmer & sheep dresser
	Wright     William           farmer & overseer
	Wylde      William           farmer

CARRIER to Norwich Wed. and Sat.