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Norfolk: Hempnall
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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883
[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]
HEMPNALL, a large scattered village, 9 miles S. of Norwich, and 7 miles N.W. of Bungay, is in Depwade hundred, rural deanery, union, and petty sessional division, Harleston county court district, Ipswich bankruptcy district, Stratton polling district of South Norfolk, and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 881 inhabitants in 1881, living on 3626 acres of land, and has a rateable value of £5073. The soil belongs to many proprietors, and mostly lies in J.T. Mott, Esq.'s manor of Hempnall and Canons, and partly in Mrs. F.W. Irby's manor of Boyland-cum-Fritton. J.T. Mott, Thomas Nash Ward, Esqs., Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Irby own most part of the soil. The fair has been discontinued.
The CHURCH (St. Margaret) is a large structure, comprising nave, aisles extending the whole length of the building, and a square tower with clock and one bell. It was partly rebuilt and thoroughly restored in 1857, at a cost of £1400, when several mural paintings, two piscinas, and a quantity of painted glass were discovered. Eighteen new windows were inserted, and a new bell turret was erected on the tower. Here are several tablets of the Rolfe and other families. The church is said to have been almost entirely destroyed by fire at some remote period, and was again burnt down over 300 years ago.
J.T. Mott, Esq., is impropriator of the rectory and patron of the vicarage, which was valued in the King's Book at £6 13s. 4d., and is in the incumbency of the Rev. George Thomas Hall, B.A., who has 48 acres of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1841 for £611 15s. to the impropriator, and £388 5s. to the vicar.
The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a small chapel here.
The SCHOOL was erected in 1847, at a cost of £500, and was capable of containing over 100 children. It has since been enlarged, and is now capable of containing 200 children, while a library for the use of the parishioners is connected with it. It is now under the management of the Hempnall School Board.
The Town Lands which have been held in trust from a period earlier than the reign of Elizabeth, for paying the tenths, fifteenths and other taxes, and for the relief of the poor, consist of 72A. 1R. 21P., let for about £100 a year, and is apportioned thus:- one-fourth to repairs of the church, one-fourth to the school, and the remainder for general parish purposes, subject to the approval of the Charity Commissioners. The poor have a yearly rent-charge of 10s., left by Robert Row in 1662, and another of 3s. 4d. given by an unknown donor. Part of the town lands was exchanged at the enclosure in 1815.
In June, 1854, an ancient British cemetery was discovered in a field to the east of Hempnall, containing a quantity of cinerary urns, burnt bones, and ashes. The deposits seemed to have been made at regular distances of ten or twelve feet in parallel rows, and in some instances two pots of ashes were found together. Most of the urns were broken, and of the rudest description; but in one spot, a few feet south of the general interments, a mass of black soil and ashes was found mingled with fragments of dark pottery of a superior character, apparently Anglo-Roman.
POST, MONEY ORDER, and SAVINGS BANK at William Alpe's. Letters arrive at 7 a.m., and are despatched at 5.15 p.m., viâ Norwich.
Alpe William postmaster
Arnold William farmer
Binley John schoolmaster
Brock Robert farmer, Park farm
Buck Henry farmer and corn miller
Buck William farmer and owner
Buck William, jun. farmer
Bullen John watchmaker & jeweller
Burrage - baker and shopkeeper
Cunningham John beerhouse, The Two Friends
Dickerson John basket mkr. & thtchr
D'Oyly Henry French frmr. & owner
Earle George vict. Swan Inn
Ellis Wm. farmer & veterinary surgeon
Feltham Elijah blacksmith
French John shopkeeper and farmer
Frost James vict. Horse Shoe Inn
Goose William farmer
Goose William, jun. farmer
Hall Rev. George
Thomas, B.A. The Vicarage
Harrison Charles shoemaker
Harvey Thomas painter and glazier
Hickling Colby pork butcher
Hickling Frederick harness maker
Hipperson Samuel farmer and owner
Howard Mrs Elizabeth fmr. & owner
Kennedy Wm. shopkeeper and tailor
Knights William baker & shopkeeper
Lansdell
Bros. blacksmiths
Lansdell Frederick (Brothers)
Lansdell Lewis (Brothers)
Lansdell Walter (Brothers)
Laskey John shoemaker & shopkeeper
Leggatt Jas. vict. & carrier, King's Hd
Matthews John vict. Queen's Head
Mullinger Henry farmer
Muskett George miller and baker
Nash John farmer and owner
Nash Wm. farmer and machinist
Payne John farmer and owner
Peacher Robert farmer
Rackham William shoemaker and parish clerk
Read Edward farmer
Read Saml. carpenter, bldr. & cntrctr
Read William bricklayer
Riches John farmer
Roberts Edwin & James wheelwrights
Roberts Henry farmer and dealer
Roberts Henry shoemaker
Roberts James farmer and owner
Roberts James, jun. farmer
Robinson Mr James
Roper Benjamin farmer
Scarnell William carpenter
Seaman Frederick corn miller
Smith John farmer
Smith William vict. Nelson Inn
Spaul Isaac shoemaker, Lunda green
Sporl William farmer
Stammers John Jph. grocer & draper
Tooley Charles farmer and owner
Ward Mrs Susan farmer and owner
Ward Thomas Nash farmer & owner
Wilson John beerhse. The Woodman
CARRIER - James Leggatt, to Norwich, Wed. and Sat.
See also the Hempnall parish page.
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
December 2005