Norfolk: Drayton

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

DRAYTON, on the Fakenham road, 4 miles N.W. of Norwich, is a fine rural village, in the vale of the Wensum, and has in its parish 372 souls, and 1284A. of land, mostly in the bishop's manor of Drayton-with-Taverham, subject to fines certain, and partly in the manor of Drayton Hall (fines arbitrary,) of which N. Micklethwait, Esq., is lord.

In the village are the remains of an ancient cross, which had an inscription in French, offering pardon to all who would pray for the souls of Wm. de Bellemonte and Joan, his wife. In a plantation near the road, are traces of an entrenchment; and at a short distance, is Blood's dale, said to be the scene of a battle in the Saxon era.

The Church (St. Margaret,) has an antique font, a square tower, and three bells. The living is a rectory, valued in the King's Book at £6. 2s. 9d., and in 1831, at £670, with that of Hellesdon annexed to it. There are 14 acres of glebe in Drayton, and 30 acres in Hellesdon. The Bishop of Norwich is patron, and the Rev. Thomas John Blofeld incumbent. The tithes of Drayton were commuted, in 1839, for £253. 5s. 5d. per annum.

Here is a small Baptist Chapel, built in 1840.

The Fuel Allotment, 49A. 2R. 34P., was awarded to the poor at the enclosure of Drewray Common, in 1813. It is let for £10. 15s. a year, which is distributed in coals. Two acres of land, in Taverham field, have belonged to the parish from an early period, and are now let for £3. 13s., which is applied with the church-rates, though it is supposed to belong to the poor.

         Adcock   Edmund                gardener
         Beasey   John                  shoemaker  [see note below]
         Blofeld  Rev Thomas John       Rectory
         Blyth    Matthew and Robert    joiners
         Bradshaw Fras. G & F.W., Esqs. Hall
         Buttle   Henry                 vict. Red Lion
         Butcher  Mr James
         Cannell  John                  blacksmith
         Fenn     Rt.                   shoemaker  [see note below]
         French   John                  farmer
         Hipper   Thomas                pork butcher
         Laton    Charles H., Esq.      Lodge
         March    John                  shopkeeper
         Pratt    Rt.                   farmer  [see note below]
         Rayson   Saml.                 farmer  [see note below]
         Thomas   Robert                vict. Cock
         West     John                  beerseller
 

Note: in the original these are
     Beasey John & Fenn Rt. shoemakers
     Pratt Rt. & Rayson Saml. farmers

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
October 2009