Norfolk: Harpley

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845

HARPLEY is a pleasant village on the crown and declivities of a lofty eminence, 12½ miles E.N.E. of Lynn, comprising in its parish 376 inhabitants, and 2,176 acres of land, including an extensive sheep walk. The Marquis Cholmondeley is lord of the manor, and owner of about 1,650 acres; and the rest belongs to J. Raven, Esq., except a few acres belonging to Mr. W.P. Walker; 88½A. of glebe; 14A. of church land; and several cottages belonging to Mr. W. Herring.

The CHURCH, (St. Lawrence,) stands near the summit of the hill, and commands an extensive view of the surrounding country. It was built by Sir Robert Knowls, a famous general in the reigns of Edward III. and Richard II.

The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £22, and in 1831 at £511, is in the gift of Anthony Hamond, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Wm. Pratt, B.A. The tithes have been commuted for £460 per annum.

Here is a Primitive Methodist chapel, built in 1842.

In the 35th of Edward I., John de Gourney obtained a grant for an annual fair to be held here on July 25th; but it is now only held for pleasure.

Harpley participates in the benefits of the free school at Great Massingham, and the poor parishioners have the yearly doles of 16s., left by John Martin, in 1637; [and] £3 10s. from Gonville and Caius College, as the gift of Stephen Peirse, who died in 1615.

         Beck      Edward         farmer
         Bootman   Charles        draper & tea dlr.
         Carpenter Jph.           vict., Rose & Crown
         Claxton   Matthew        vict., Bear
         Cushon    James          farm bailiff to Mr. Wm. Herring of Norwich
         Dyball    Robert         machine maker
         Forster   Thomas         blacksmith
         Forster   Wm.            baker, (post office)
         Gage      Thomas         blacksmith
         Love      Jas.           plumber, painter, &c.
         Norman    William        corn miller, &c.
         Norman    Ann & Maria    bakers & dprs.
         Pratt     Rev. Wm. B.A.  Rectory
         Toll      Wm.            shoemkr. & parish clerk
 

See also the Harpley parish page.

These pages are for personal use only. They may not be copied, and the links within them may not be harvested for use on your own web pages. Please see the Copyright Notice.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
July 2003