Norfolk: Methwold

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

METHWOLD, vulgarly called Muel, is a large village, with several neat houses, 6 miles N.N.W. of Brandon, and 4 miles S.S.E. of Stoke-Ferry. It has in its parish 1441 inhabitants, and 12,958 acres of land, a great part of which is fen and sandy heath, all enclosed, the latter under an act passed in 1807, previous to which here was an extensive warren, famous from an early period for the abundance and excellence of its rabbits, called by the poulterers, Muel rabbits, under which name those from the surrounding warrens are still sold.

The Queen is lady of the manor of Methwold, and owner of 5432 acres of the soil, as part of the Duchy of Lancaster, but the manorial rights are leased to H.S. Partridge, Esq. The other principal land owners are, Misses Clough, W. Newton, Esq., (1475A.,) and Christ's College, Cambridge, (212 acres.) The latter has the manor of Broomhill, which extends into this parish. Being ancient demesne, the inhabitants of Methwold are exempt from serving on juries out of the manor, and from tolls at markets and fairs.

A small FAIR for horses, cattle, &c., is held here on April 23rd, and a Hiring Session on the Tuesday before Old Michaelmas; but a market, formerly held here every Tuesday, has long been obsolete.

The Church (St. George) is a large fabric, with a fine tower, containing six bells, and surmounted by an octangular spire. In the chancel are several neat mural monuments to the Partridge family. H.S. Partridge, Esq., is impropriator of the great tithes, and patron of the living, which is a discharged vicarage, valued in the King's Book at £9. 1s. 3d., and consolidated with Cranwich rectory. (See page 392 [which is the entry for Cranwich].) Here is about 140 acres of glebe, and the impropriate tithes were commuted, in 1840, for £1474. 15s. 2d. per annum.

Here is a large Methodist chapel, built in 1831; and a Free School, supported out of the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The poor parishioners have 2A. of pasture land, in Foulden, let for £8. 15s., and purchased with 100 marks, left by Dr. Thomas Batchcroft, in 1660. They have also the following yearly doles, viz., £34. 12s., as the rent of 26A. 22P. of arable land, received at the enclosure in exchange for the old poor's land; 30s., left by Jeffery Towler, out of land now belonging to Dr. Chafy; and 17s. 6d., as the interest of £22, left by the Revs. J. Partridge and N. Poyntz. An acre of land, belonging to the Church, is let for £4. 15s.

The POST OFFICE is at the Cock Inn, where letters are received and despatched daily.

In the following Directory, those marked 1, are at METHWOLD HITHE, a hamlet 2 miles W. by N. of Methwold.

            Allen      Charles             tailor
            Crane      James               saddler
            Curtis     Mr Jas.
            Folthorpe  Mr Jph.
            Green      Daniel              millwright
            Larner     Thomas              schoolmaster
            Stirling   Rev. N.O.           curate
            Thorpe     Robert              cooper
            Vince      Wm.                 gardener
 
               INNS AND TAVERNS.
 
            Smith      Robert              Bell
            Erratt     Steward             Chequers
            Gathercole Wm.                 Cock
            Coates     Thomas              Crown
            Scott      Geo.                George and Dragon
            Spinks     Robert              Green Man
            Tedder     Wm.                 Swan
 
               Blacksmiths.
 
            Boldry     Wm.
            Larner     Wm.
            Pooley     J.
 
               Carpenters.                    Corn Millers.
 
            Scott      George              Batterbee  John
            Watson     Robert              Thompson   John, (and baker)
 
                                  FARMERS.
                              (* are Owners.)
 
          * Boggers    John              * Griffin    John
            Bullivant  John, (&          * Hewen      P.
                         auctioneer)       Rudland    John
          * Cocks      Wm.               * Simons     John
            Constable  John              * Tedder     Eliz.
         1* Constable  Pp.               * Webb       George
            Curry      Henry               Whitmore   Geo.
            Flatt      John              * Wortley    James
          * Flatt      Robert            * Wortley    Thos.
         1* Flatt      Wm.              1* Young      Chpr.
            Flanders   Shrewsbury
 
               Shopkeepers.                   Wheelwrights.
 
            Baxter     Wm.                 Coote      James
            Cock       Wm.                 Flatt      Robert
            Johnson    James
            Palmer     Robert
 

See also the Methwold parish page.

These pages are for personal use only. They may not be copied, and the links within them may not be harvested for use on your own web pages. Please see the Copyright Notice.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
July 2009