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Norfolk: Shouldham
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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845
[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]
SHOULDHAM is a pleasant village, with several neat modern houses, on a small green, 5½ miles N.E. of Downham, and 10 miles W. of Swaffham. Its parish contains 683 inhabitants, and 3,775 acres, of which, 2,674 acres, including a rabbit warren, belong to Sir Thos. Hare, Bart., the lord of the manor; and the rest is the property of Mrs. Allen, Robt. Catton, Esq., and a few smaller freeholders. In some old writings it is called Market Shouldham, and it has still two fairs for horses, cattle, and sheep, on Sept. 19th and Oct. 11th.
Here was anciently a Priory, founded in the reign of Richard I., for monks of the order of St. Gilbert, by Jeffery Fitzpiers, Earl of Essex, and chief justice of England, who died in 1212, and endowed it with this manor, and twelve houses in St. Mary's, Colechurch, London. Robert Swyft, the last prior, subscribed to the King's supremacy in 1526. At the dissolution, the priory and its possessions was granted to Thomas Mildmay. On removing the priory ruins, in 1831, a decayed painted window, two stone coffins, and a vessel containing a human skull, were found; and on clearing the foundations in 1840, a walled passage, 30 yards long, and 2 feet broad, was discovered. To this priory was attached a large Grammar School, of which John Elvedon was master, in 1462. It had also a church, dedicated to St. Margaret, which was standing in 1519.
The parish CHURCH, (All Saints,) is at the east end of the village, and has recently been thoroughly repaired, and the chancel rebuilt. It contains a handsome marble monument, in memory of the late Mr. Thos. Allen, Esq., bearing a finely executed figure of Faith. Mr. Allen built Shouldham Hall, about 12 years ago. On the wall of the cemetery are several large gravestones, one of which has the insignia of a Knight Templar. The living is a perpetual curacy, (not in charge,) annexed to Shouldham-Thorpe, in the incumbency of the Rev. C.J. Orman, and patronage of Sir Thomas Hare, the impropriator of all the tithes, out of which he pays the curate's stipend, £120 per annum.
Here is a Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1816.
On Mr. Catton's estate is a fine chalybeate spring, called Silver Well, which gives rise to a small rivulet that flows through the village, and is so called from the silvery scum which flows on its surface, or, as tradition says, from a chest of silver coin lost in its unfathomable depth. The fabulous legend relates, that some workmen, employed in cleansing the well, discovered this treasure; but just as they had raised it to the surface, their ropes broke, and it sunk to some secret recess, where it has since remained. Near this, a new spring was discoverd [sic] about 10 years ago, and both of them possess similiar properties to those of Tunbridge and Toplitz. Over the latter a freestone obelisk was erected in 1839, and the water flows from it through a lion's mouth into a stone basin, about which shrubs are planted, and the whole is enclosed with paling. Near it have been found fragments of Roman urns, and a few coins.
The Fuel Allotment, 95A., was awarded at the enclosure, in 1794. The poor cut turf upon it, but the herbage is let for about £35 per annum, most of which is required for the drainage rates. One rood of old poor's land is let for 12s.
Here is a Sunday School, attended by more than 100 children.
Allen Mrs. Fanny Shouldham Hall Brighton William warrener Catton Robert gentleman Catton Robert Thomas solicitor Cox John schoolmaster Cross Robert painter, plumber, &c. Orman Rev. Chas. Joseph, M.A. incbt. Scott Robert corn miller Walker William beer seller Webster Thomas gardener Wilkin Robert baker PUBLIC HOUSES. Walker William Black Horse Easter John Chequers Eke Eleanor King's Arms Gateley John Rampant Horse Coxill Jacob Three Horse Shoes Blacksmiths. Drake George Gateley John Carpenters. Fenley James Proctor William Ramm William FARMERS. Bird John Abbey Farm Brown Davis Old Hall Edwards William Lemmon Charles Colts Hall Ramm Richard Button Fen Shickle Henry (& butcher) Story Charles Grocers, &c. Buckenham John (& bricklayer) Farrer Eliza Wetherell Peter
See also the Shouldham parish page.
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Copyright © Pat Newby.
July 2015