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WINTERTON is an ancient fishing village, lying in a bay, 8 miles N. by W. of Yarmouth, and sheltered on the north-east by that bold promontory called Winterton Ness, and well known to the mariner as the most fatal headland between Scotland and London(see page 151.). The parish had 631 inhabitants, and about 1260 acres of land; of which Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P., and Lord Winterton are the principal owners. The latter is lord of the manor, and the former patron of the rectory, which is valued in the King's Books at £20.13s.4d., and has annexed to it the curacy of East Somerton. The Rev. J. Nelson, B.A., is the incumbent. The Church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity and All Saints, has a fine embattled tower, 120 feet high, overlooking the highest parts of the Ness, and commanding an extensive view of the ocean.
The Light House, which stands on a lofty summit, on the south-east side of the village, is an hexagonal tower, nearly 70 feet high, and now illuminated with patent lamps and reflectors. It is the property of Lord Braybrook, and was granted, in 1687, to Sir Edward Turnour, with "1d. per ton for every vessel sailing by." There were formerly two lights on the Ness, but they were removed about 5 years ago. A coastguard, with a number of beach men and a two pilots, are stationed here.
Winterton gives the title of Earl to the Turnour family, and had formerly a market, fair, and races. In 1665, by the sea encroaching on the cliffs, several large bones were found, and one of them, weighing 57 pounds, and measuring 3 feet 2 inches, was pronounced by the faculty to be the leg-bone of a man ! On December 27th, a high tide caused such alarming sea-breaches at Winterton, Horsey, and Waxham, as to threaten destruction to all the level of marshes from thence to Yarmouth, Beccles, &c. - Mr. Hume supports a school here for 30 children, and has a wild-fowl decoy, covering about 30 acres.
Amis Henry & John mariners
Bond Mr. Henry
Brown Jph. Rt. & Thos. mariners
Cock Wm. gardener
Goffin Wm. shoemaker
Higson Rd. schoolr. & par. clerk
Juby John beer house
King Ann shopkeeper
Learner Samuel bricklayer
Leech Mr Edw.
Leigh Lieut. Thos. R.N. officer of coast guard
Nelson Rev John, B.A. Rectory
Palmer Edmund corn miller
Popay Charles tailor & overseer
Rogers Lawr. vict. Three Mariners
Skelton Geo. decoy man
Slater John shopkeeper
Smith James shoemaker
Smith Wm. light house keeper
Stead Thos. bricklayer
Thornhill Thos. Esq. Hill Cottage
Tubby John shoemaker
FARMERS.
Diball Christmas Juby Joseph
Flaxman Wm King Abel
Green Ann Page Joseph
Grimmer Benj. Shales Samuel
Hodds Hy. jun. Womack Wm.
Wright John
CARRIERS - Thos Dyball and Hy. Hodds, to Yarmouth, Wed. and Sat.
© Mike Bristow
January 2001