Norfolk: Marsham

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

MARSHAM, a large village, pleasantly situated on the turnpike, 2 miles S. of Aylsham, and 10 miles N. of Norwich, has in its parish 698 souls, and 1819 acres of land, but only 1385 acres are assessable. The soil belongs to a number of proprietors, many of whom purchased their estates, about twenty years ago, of Viscount Anson, now Earl of Lichfield. Wm. Repton, Esq., is lord of the manor. The Hall, a neat white mansion, has lately been purchased for his own residence, by the Rev. Henry P. Marsham, rector of Brampton, and is now undergoing extensive improvements.

In the parish are 80 looms, but only about ten were at work in 1844.

The CHURCH (All Saints,) is a neat fabric, with a tower and eight bells. It has an ancient screen, and a curious old font, on which are carved the sacraments of the Romish church, four Saints, four Confessors, and St. George and the Dragon. In the windows are many mutilated remains of stained glass, and in the chancel are several brasses in memory of the Norton, Atthill, and other families.

The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the King's Book at £10. 12s. 9d. It is in the gift of the Earl of Lichfield, and incumbency of the Rev. John Gunton, for whom a new Rectory House is about to be erected, the old one being much dilapidated. The glebe is 66A. 1R. 19P., and the tithes were commuted in 1839 for £332. 9s. 2d., exclusive of £30 per annum for the impropriate tithes of about 100 acres.

Here is a small Primitive Methodist Chapel.

The Town Meadow, 4A. 2R. 18P., held of the manor of Hevingham-with-Marsham, has belonged to the poor from time immemorial, and they also have 8A. 2R. 21P., purchased with £100 left by Thos. Bulwer, in 1693. To these lands, an allotment of 3A. 20P. was awarded at the enclosure, and the whole now produces a yearly rental of £14. 10s. The Fuel Allotment, 181A. 6P., was awarded at the enclosure, in 1801, for the poor to cut fuel thereon. It is now thickly covered with Scotch firs. The poor have also two yearly rent-charges, viz., 20s. left by John Swan in 1692, out of Feverill's farm, and 15s. left by Elizabeth Swan, in 1693, out of Wanley's closes.

The notorious Titus Oates was the son of the Rev. Saml. Oates, a former rector of this parish, and is supposed to have been born here.

           Bacon      Mrs Mildred
           Blyth      Joseph       blacksmith
           Case       Thomas Henry gentleman
           Cossey     Thomas       lessee of toll-bar
           Crane      Wm.          blacksmith
           Eldridge   Thomas       joiner & pump mkr
           Elvin      William      corn miller
           Gooch      George       cattle dealer
           Gunton     Rev John     rector
           Heasel     Miss A.
           Hill       William      supt. registrar, and clerk to
                                     the Aylsham Union and to the
                                     Commissioners of Taxes
           Jarvis     Edward       grocer (& Aylsham)
           Jones      George       shoemaker and baker
           Mack       Robert       joiner, &c.
           Marsham    Rev Henry
                        Philip     rector of Brampton, Hall
           Moore      Edward       blacksmith
           Moore      James        vict. White Hart
           Neave      Samuel       cooper
           Skipper    Isaac        shoemaker
           Watts      Robert Hall  vict. Plough and Shuttle
           Wright     Miss Ann
           Wright     John         relieving officer & regr
 
              FARMERS.
          (* are owners.)
 
         * Eade       Hartt
         * Greenwood  Chs.
         * Howlett    John         (& chief constbl.) Cross gn.
           Jones      Geo. Saml.
         * Moore      Alice
         * Rounce     Benj.
           Shickle    Robert
         * Watts      John
         * Whiting    Thos.
 

See also the Marsham parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
May 2000