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WHITLINGHAM, a small churchless parish, 3 miles E. by S. of Norwich, is in Henstead union and hundred, Swainsthorpe petty sessional division, Norwich county court and bankruptcy district, Norwich polling district of South Norfolk, West Brooke rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 70 inhabitants in 1881, and comprises 542 acres of land. The rateable value is £638. It is all included in the extensive park at Crown Point, belonging to Messrs. J. & J. Colman, the lords of the manor, impropriators of the tithes, and patrons of the sinecure curacy, which is of trifling value, and is now vacant.
The CHURCH (St. Andrew) was dilapidated about 1630, and forms a picturesque ruin, near the verge of a lofty eminence overlooking the river. The round tower is still tolerably perfect, and has four two-light belfry windows of Norman architecture. On the top of it are two heraldic animals of large size, which have probably been brought from some neighbouring manor-house. Part of the church walls and some of its lancet-shaped windows also remain.
A few years ago the fossil remains of a red deer were found in a chalk-pit near the ruins.
Here was formerly a well-known tavern called Whitlingham White House, to which numerous pleasure parties resorted in fine weather to enjoy the romantic scenery and remarkable echo in its grounds; but it has recently been pulled down, and its site attached to the mansion at Crown Point.
A rent-charge of 20s. a year is paid by this parish to the rector of Kirby Bedon.
Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 2004