Norfolk: Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin

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

WIGGENHALL ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, a small scattered village on the west side of the Great Ouse, 5 miles S.W. by S. of Lynn, has in its parish the hamlet of SADDLE-BOW, on the opposite side of that river and the Eau-Brink-Cut, within 3 miles of Lynn.

The parish contains 292 inhabitants, and about 2,500 acres of land, belonging to a number of freeholders, but formerly possessed by the Kerviles, who built a large brick hall here, with an embattled tower gate house; but this was pulled down after 1624, when the family became extinct, on the death of Sir Henry Kervile, a bigotted papist.

The CHURCH has a tower and five bells. In the chancel is an alabaster altar-tomb, with effigies of a man in armour, his lady, and two children. The seats in the nave and aisles, are of oak, carved with the figures of saints, &c.

The vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £12, and in 1831 at £94, has recently been augmented to the yearly value of £175. It is in the gift of the Crown, and incumbency of the Rev. R.T. Powell, for whom a new Vicarage House has recently been erected.

Two houses and two roods of land belonging to the poor, are occupied by paupers.

           Buffham  Robert              baker
           Marsters John                merchant, Saddlebow
           Powell   Rev. Richard Thomas vicar
           Park     John                parish clerk
           Scott    Robert              beer house, Saddlebow
 
                               FARMERS.
                         (* are at Saddlebow.)
 
           Beckett  Thomas              Moore    George
         * Diggins  Francis             Moulson  George
         * Earish   Thomas              Peak     Christopher
           Lane     H  Eau Brink        Wolsey   John
 

See also the Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 2005