GENUKI: Norfolk: Wimbotsham, Norfolk

Hide

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

WIMBOTSHAM, a parish and village, 1 mile N.N.E. of Downham, comprises 582 inhabitants, and 1,771 acres of land, mostly the property of Sir Thomas Hare, the lord of the manors of Wimbotsham, Ingoldesthorpe, Tonwell, and Ramsey.

The CHURCH, (St. Mary,) is a high thatched fabric, with a square tower and three bells, and has recently undergone a thorough reparation, during which a painting of St. Christopher was discovered on the wall, and two piscinas. The south door has a fine Norman arch. The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £5 6s. 8d., is consolidated with Stow Bardolph. (See page 626 [which is the entry for Stow Bardolph].)

In Sept. 1835, Mr. Green, the aeronaut, descended here, after a flight in his balloon from Vauxhall-gardens, London. After breakfasting with Mr. Pike, he ascended again into the aerial regions, and alighted at North Runcton.

The parish was enclosed and drained, under acts passed in 1798 and 1801.

The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have chapels here.

The poor have a share in the Hundred Acre Common, noticed at page 615 [see note below]. Two cottages, built on the waste, many years ago, are occupied by paupers.

Marked * are at Broomhill.

           Allen       Rev. William Maxey  curate
         * Ayres       Mrs. Ann
           Bartle      John                gentleman
           Brown       Thomas              butcher
           Chalton     Joel                victualler, Chequers
           Chamberlain John Horace         relieving officer
         * Flannagan   Timothy             gentleman
           Goodrum     Patrick             tailor
           Harper      William             blacksmith
           Harrison    Mrs. Ann
         * Mason       Mr. George
           Rodwell     Robert              grocer and miller
           Sharp       William             gardener
         * Snasdell    Miss Sarah
           Wade        Robert Wright       schoolmaster and land surveyor
 
              Beer Houses.                    FARMERS.
 
           Bush        George              Brown      Joseph  (& ram breeder)
           Cawdron     John                Page       Mary
           Riches      Snasdell            Pike       John
           Wightman    Thos.               Thorp      James

Note: This is part of the entry for Downham Market:

At the enclosure of the fen lands, &c., about 100A., called the HUNDRED ACRE COMMON, was vested with the churchwardens of Downham Market, Wimbotsham, and Stow Bardolph, in trust, that, after paying the drainage rates and other expenses, the clear yearly rents should be divided into three parts, for distribution among the poor of these parishes. The Eau-Brink and Downham drainage taxes, on this land, amount to about £25 per annum, and it is now let for £60 a year.

Hide

Norfolk: Wimbotsham

hide

Hide

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