Norfolk: Wereham

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

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

WEREHAM is a village on a gentle acclivity, 2 miles N.W. of Stoke Ferry, and 12 miles S. by E. of Lynn, and its parish is in Downham union and county court district, and Clackclose hundred and petty sessional division, Lynn bankruptcy district, Downham polling district of West Norfolk, Fincham rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 614 inhabitants in 1881, living on 2238 acres of land, more than half of which is in grass, and has a rateable value of £3890 15s.

- Bettle, Esq., is lord of the manor of Wereham and Cavenham, but Thomas Thornton, Oldman Carter, Richard Harwin, Edward Steward, Anthony Kemp, E.B. Sparke, and Hugh Aylmer, Esqs., Sir Henry Bedingfeld, Bart., Sidney Sussex, Coll. Camb., and others, have estates here. Wiron Hall, the old manor house, stood in a field, now called Stoneoaks Close. The present Wereham Hall, now the residence and property of O. Carter, Esq., was built by the late John Houchen, Esq., about 50 years ago, and is a neat mansion with large gardens and pleasure grounds. Covenham House, the ancient seat of the Eyres, is the residence and property of Thomas Thornton, Esq.

Winwall Priory, so called from its being dedicated to St. Winwaloe, was founded by the Earls of Clare in the time of Richard I., or King John, for Benedictine monks, and granted at the Dissolution to Thomas Guybon and William Mynn. Some remains of it may still be seen in the walls of a farmhouse.

Winwall House, about a mile north of the village, is an ancient and probably unique building, which has been preserved unaltered for more than seven centuries. The whole edifice is only 35 feet long, 27 broad, and 16 high, yet its outline seems to be entire and original, and everywhere strictly Norman. It is now occupied by a farmer, and is traditionally said to have been the prison of the Honour of Clare, this being the head lordship of that barony; but it was more likely for the use of the seneschal, when he came on the business of courts, &c. Winwall fair, formerly held here on May 3, was removed to Downham many years ago.

The CHURCH (St. Margaret) comprises nave, south aisle, chancel, and square tower with one bell and a clock. It contains a number of mural tablets of the Adamson, Mason, Heaton, Royle, and other families, and a brass to the late J. Houchen, Esq. A few years ago the nave was reseated, a new stone pulpit erected, and the church restored at a cost of about £700; and the clock was presented by the Rev. A. Sutton, of West Tofts. The Register dates from 1558.

The perpetual curacy, valued in the King's Book at £10 2s. 6d., and now at £120, with Wretton curacy annexed, was augmented in 1751 and 1752 with £400 of Queen Anne's Bounty, and with a yearly rent-charge of £32, given by Roger Pratt, Esq., to be paid out of the tithes now held by E.R.M. Pratt, Esq., the patron of the living, which is now held by the Rev. M.G. Thomas, M.A. The glebe of the two parishes is 50 acres. The tithes of Wereham were commuted about forty-five years ago for £314 5s., small tithes belonging to the patron, and £106 15s. great tithe belonging to Norwich Union Life Office. The tithes of about 510 acres belong to the owners of the land.

The Wesleyans have a chapel here, built in 1844.

In the village is a large pool of clear water, supplied by a copious spring.

The National School is now leased to the School Board at a nominal rent, and is attended by 110 children. The Board was formed in 1874, and the present members are Messrs. Thomas Thornton (chairman), C.R. Winter, J. Pilgrim, and W. Mee. Mr. F. Spinks is clerk to the Board.

The Fuel Allotment, about 28 acres, was awarded at the enclosure in 1818, and is now let for £13 a year. The poor parishioners have the dividends of £441 three and a half per cent. stock, purchased with £500, left by Sarah Adamson in 1791; the dividends of £464 4s. 4d. three per cent. consols, purchased with £300 left by Richard Adamson, in 1800; the dividends of £100 of the latter stock, purchased with £90, left by John Whaite in 1826; and a rent-charge of £5 a year, left by the late H.B. Mason, Esq., for aged widows.

POST OFFICE at Miss M.A. Burcham's. Letters arrive at 7.15 a.m., and are despatched at 6 p.m., viâ Brandon, through Stoke Ferry, which is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office. The nearest railway station is West Dereham.

         Aikman    -               farmer
         Beeton    Edmund          poultry dealer
         Beeton    William         poultry dealer
         Bland     Mallard Ingram  farmer
         Burcham   Miss Mary Ann   grocer, draper and postmistress
         Carter    Mr Oldman       Wereham hall
         Cross     Arthur James    farmer
         Cross     James           farmer
         Durrant   William         victualler, George and Dragon,
                                     and bootmaker
         Freeman   John Henry      farmer
         Freeman   William         farmer
         Fretwell  Arthur          butcher
         Fryer     James           carpenter, builder and wheelwright
         Holdgate  Henry           baker
         Hudson    Charles         butcher, assistant overseer and
                                     tax collector
         Hudson    John            grocer & draper,and at Fincham,
                                     Marham & Barton Bendish
         Mann      James           farmer
         Martin    David Wm        grocer and draper
         Mason     Hy. Baxter      solicitor, agent for the Norwich
                     Branwhite       Union and Law Union Fire and Life
                                     & General Hail Storm Offices
         Mee       Wm.             farmer and road surveyor
         Mills     James           bricklayer
         Patrick   Alfred          tinner & brazier
         Pilgrim   Charles         farmer and carrier
         Pilgrim   John            carpenter, wheelwright and shopkeeper
         Redington Isaac           victualler, Crown,and farmer
         Roberts   Fredk. Samuel   bootmaker
         Savage    Frederick       bootmaker
         Spinks    Edward          victualler, Nag's Head, farmer
                                     & hay & straw dealer
         Spinks    Frederick       solicitor's clerk and clerk to
                                     the School Board
         Thornton  Thomas          farmer & landowner
         Tingey    James           farm bailiff
         Wellam    Charles         gardener and parish clerk
         Wellam    George          carrier
         Whiting   Wm. Jas.        Board schoolmaster
         Wilson    Alfred          beerhouse
         Wilson    Joseph          market gardener
         Wolsey    Frederick       corn millers and farmers,
                     & Wm.           and Castle Rising
         Wright    William         blacksmith
 

CARRIERS - Charles Pilgrim to Lynn, Tues. Thurs. and Sats. and George Wellam to Downham daily

See also the Wereham parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
July 2015