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WIGGENHALL ST. GERMAIN is a village and parish, on both sides of the Great Ouse river, where there is an ancient wooden bridge, 4 miles S.W. by S. of Lynn. It contains 625 inhabitants, and 1,219 acres of land, of which 1,031A. are on the west, and 188A. on the east side of the river, which, a little below the village, is diverted into a new channel, called the Eau-Brink-Cut.
The tides press up the Ouse with great force, and are confined by lofty banks, most of the land being below the high water mark, and some of it as low as the bed of the river. Above and below the bridges, the river-banks were curved into many abrupt angles, but these were straightened by the commissioners of the navigation, at a considerable expense, in 1835, when several houses were taken down for the purpose of lengthening the west end of the bridge.
Edward Helsham Browne, Esq., is lord of the manor of Fitton, which comprises the four Wiggenhalls; and he is proprietor of about two-thirds of this parish. The other principal landowners are, Mr. Jarman Patrick; the Rev. J. Royle; the Corporation of Lynn, (137A.;) and Cphr. Carter, Esq. The Hundred Court was anciently held at Fitton Oak, about half a mile west of the village.
The CHURCH, dedicated to St. Germain, has a square tower, with four bells. It stands on the east side of the river, and its floor is about eight feet below high-water mark. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £6, and in 1831, at £108. It is enjoyed by the Rev. Thos. Berkley Greaves, of Blofield, for whom the Rev. J. Bransby, of Lynn, officiates. The Dean and Chapter of Norwich are the patrons, and appropriators of the great tithes, with 22A. 2R. 20P. of rectorial glebe. The vicarage-house, built in 1791, has attached to it 1A. 1R. of glebe.
The poor have 25s. yearly, as the interest of £25 left by Thos. Fenn, in 1691. They have also an annuity of 6s. 8d., left by an [unknown] donor. The Bridge Reeves repair four cottages, occupied by poor widows; and they formerly allowed £12 a year towards the support of a school.
The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here, - the former built about 1811, and the latter in 1841.
This parish was for many ages the residence of the Wigenhales, who afterwards assumed the name of Howard, and removed to East Winch. One branch of this illustrious family becames Dukes of Norfolk, and many of the others were raised to distinguished honours in church and state.
Carter Mrs. Ann (lessee of tithes) Carter Christopher, Esq. Clarke George shopkeeper Lilley John tailor Page John beer house Patrick Jarman, Esq. Fitton Oak Sands William corn miller Smith Debnam schoolmaster Starling William constable Wilkinson George cooper PUBLIC HOUSES. Gapp Francis Checkers Porter John Crown and Anchor Pattern John Three Tuns Leggitt James Three Horse Shoes Bakers. Gardeners. Long Jeremiah Keeble Robert, (& parish clerk) Sands Nicholas West John Blacksmiths. Shoe Makers. Hammond Henry Cousins John Herring James Gapp Francis Oldroyde John Scott Thomas Tyler Matthew FARMERS. Wheelwrights. Beeson Henry Lewis Charles Cambridge Henry Tyler Matthew Dasbery Wm. M. Jex Thomas
Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 2005