GENUKI: Norfolk: Thornage, Norfolk

Hide

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883

THORNAGE is a pleasant village and parish, 2½ miles S.W. of Holt, in Erpingham union, Holt county court district, petty sessional division, and hundred, Holt polling district of North Norfolk, Norwich archdeaconry, and Holt rural deanery. Its rateable value is £2057 6s. 3d.

It had 327 inhabitants in 1881, and comprises 1266 acres of land, mostly belonging to Lord Hastings, who is lord of the manor; but the executors of James Cooke have an estate here. About three quarters of a mile N.E. of the village is a large water mill, and a pleasant residence, occupied by Mr. F.A. Buttrum; and in the parish is an iron foundry.

The CHURCH comprises nave, chancel, north porch, and square tower with one bell; and contains a piscina. The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £6 18s. 4d., and now worth £508 a year, with that of Brinton annexed, is in the patronage of Lord Hastings and in the incumbency of the Rev. Charles John Brereton, B.A., who has here 35A. 1R. 1P. of glebe, and a good residence. The tithes of Thornage were commuted in 1839 for £331 per annum.

The communion plate is very ancient, and the cup is inscribed, 'was the gyfte of John Butts (or Butes), and Margaret, his wife - 1456.' His family were long possessed of the manor; and one of them, Henry Butts, D.D., was vice-chancellor of Oxford University in 1629, but was found, soon afterwards, 'hanging in his garters in his own chamber.' He was the son of Sir William Butts, physician in ordinary to Henry VIII.

A piece of land, called the Bell Acre, was left about 300 years ago by an unknown donor, who, tradition reports, had lost his way during a snow storm, but recovered it through the ringing of the bell. It now lets for £1 a year, which is given towards the purchase of bell ropes.

This parish is united with Brinton as a SCHOOL BOARD district, and the children attend the school at Brinton.

POST from Briningham, viâ East Dereham.

         Abraham    Alfred         ironfounder's mngr. and shopkeeper
         Baker      Charles        farmer, Hill house
         Brereton   Rev. Chas.
                      John, B.A.   rector
         Buttrium   Frederick
                      Alexander    miller and farmer
         Clare      Wm. Saml.      builder, contractor, and ironfounder
         Cozens     Richard        shoemaker
         Fox        George         corn and flour dealer
         Graveling  Jacob          yeast dealer
         Hill       Joshua         farmer
         Hunter     Alfred         parish clerk
         Ives       Alfred         baker, grocer, and draper
         Ives       Thomas         butcher and farmer
         Moore      Miss Frances   dressmaker and draper
         Peck       Mrs Elizabeth  vict. The Black Boy's Inn, and farmer
         Peck       William        shoemaker
         Raby       Robert         butcher
         Sewell     James          farmer
         Sheringham Henry          farmer, The Hall
         Sheringham Mr Valentine
                      Denis        The Villa
         Woods      Robert         gamekeeper

Hide

Norfolk: Thornage

hide

Hide

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883