Norfolk: Little Dunham

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

[Transcription copyright © Mike Bristow]

DUNHAM (LITTLE), a parish, 1 mile S. of Great Dunham, and 5 miles N.E. of Swaffham, is in Mitford union, Swaffham county court district, Lynn bankruptcy district, Launditch hundred and petty sessional division, Swaffham polling district of West Norfolk, Brisley rural deanery and Norwich archdeaconry. It had 293 inhabitants in 1881, living on 1835 acres, and has a rateable value of £3072.

George Copeman, Esq., is the lord of the manor, and resides at Dunham Lodge, which was built in 1783, by Edward Parry, Esq., and stands in a well wooded lawn of 90 acres, commanding extensive views. The principal landowners in this parish are Mr. William Large, G. Copeman, Esq., and Mrs Bushby, of Fring Hall in this county.

The CHURCH (St. Margaret), in the Early Decorated style, with some Early English windows, comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle, and south porch. The tower was rebuilt in the 15th century. The Church was restored in 1862, chiefly by the subscriptions of the parishioners, the font, pulpit, altar rail, &c. being presented by private donors. Some improvement was effected in the chancel roof in 1868, and two of the windows were renewed, the east window being filled with stained glass, the gift of the Rev. E. Montague Hare and his wife. The living is a rectory, valued in K.B. at £9 16s.

The tithes were commuted in 1840 for a rent-charge of £500. There are 24 acres of glebe. The present rector is the Rev. E. Montague Hare, M.A., Oxford. The patronage of the living is vested in the trustees of the late Mrs. E. M. Hare.

The School was built by subscription in 1872, and is maintained by voluntary contributions. Here is a small Primitive Methodist Chapel. The poor inhabitants have an allotment, awarded in 1726, containing over 35 acres. The proceeds of which are spent in coals for their use. There is also a charity bequeathed to them by Thomas Warne.

POST OFFICE at Mr. Hy. Boyce's. Letters arrive at 5.20 a.m., and are despatched at 7 p.m., by mail cart viâ Swaffham. Litcham is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office.

 Archer       Robert            parish clerk
 Bird         Mrs Eliza         dressmaker
 Bird         Robert            shoemaker
 Boyce        Hy.               jobbing grdner. & postmstr
 Boyce        Mrs Sarah Ann     dressmaker
 Chamberlain  John              blacksmith
 Clarke       Charles           pork butcher
 Coe          James             vict. Swan
 Cook         J. T.             corn mert. Railway Station
 Copeman      Mr. George        Dunham lodge
 Durrant      John              baker & flour dealer
 Hare         Rev. E. M., M.A.  rector, The Rectory
 Huson        Mrs. Mary Ann     shopkeeper
 Large        William           farmer and landowner
 Larwood      John              farmer
 Marriott     John & Robert     coal merts. Railway Station
 Rix          Wm.               vict. Crown, and coal agent
 Thompson     Robert            gardener
 Thompson     Thomas            farmer
 Trundle      George            miller, Sporle
 Williams     Miss Elizth.      schoolmistress
 
 RAILWAY STATION:
 Underhill    Charles           stationmaster
 

See also the Little Dunham parish page.

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Copyright © Mike Bristow.
February 2002