The Snoring VillagesLittle & Great Snoring in Norfolk, England

Directories provide first hand data about local communities, their infrastructure and the individuals inhabiting those communities.

Published more frequently than the census, directories can also help you fill in any missing gaps.

They contain descriptions of places, local facilities, local facilities, institutions and associations, resident, trades and professions, and important people.

From the 17th century, directories met the growing demand for accurate information about trade and industry. Data was collected either by personal canvassing combined with existing listings or people were asked to supply details.

By the early nineteenth century methods of compilation had become more organised. In part, this reflected the growing links between directories and the Post Office. Many postal officials, such as Frederick Kelly, turned their hand to directory publishing as a means of both aiding their work and making some extra money. Information was collected by letter carriers, who circulated forms during their postal rounds, and also delivered the finished directory on commission..

In the 20th century over 250 were published each year, the peak year being 1936, with around 320 directories appearing. But a decline came after World War II as many publishers went out of business. With the advent of the telephone large-scale directory production and usage ended.

SNORING (GREAT), 2 miles Sth. of Walsingham, is a parish and large village comprising 99 houses, 656 souls, and 1,645 acres of land, the property of several proprietors; the largest of whom are the Rev. D. H. Lee Warner, and John Dugmore, Esq. The latter is lord of the manor, in which the copyholds are subject to arbitrary fines, but there is a small manor (fines certain) belonging to the rectory.

Of the above population 164 were in the Walsingham Union House, previously noticed.

The CHURCH, dedicated to the Virgin Mary has a fine tower, and formerly had a spire. It contains some stone stalls and curious old brasses of the Skelton family, who built the rectory house, which is a fine specimen of ornamental brick work; some additions to which have recently been made.

The RECTORY, valued in the King's book at £24, is consolidated with Thursford, in the gift of St. John's College, Cambridge, enjoyed by the Rev. G. H. Marsh, B.D., who has 28a. of glebe. The joint livings were valued in 1831 at £610.

Here is a National School.

The CHURCH LAND, 1½a., is let for £3.; and 1½ rood produces 17s. a year. The Bishop of Chester left £20 for the poor, which, with £20 left by the Rev. R. West, was laid out in 1676 in the purchase of 6a. 3r. 31p. of land, now let for £14, which is distributed in bread and coals. The poor have also the dividends of £209 18s. three per cent. consols, purchased with £200 left by John Alvis, in 1823.

Post Office at Mr. Christopher Mallett's; letters arrive at 10.30 a.m., and are despatched at 3 p.m. ,

Bushell Jonas	machine maker
Cook David	wheelwright
Cooke Geo	carpenter
Girdlestone Robt	blacksmith
Hill Wm	tailor
Jackson Chpr	bricklayer
Lack Robt.	shoemaker
Lack Thomas.	victualler. & shoemaker. Unicorn
Leeder Miss Betsy
Mallett Chpr.	schoolmaster
March Rev. Geo. Hy. B.D.	Rector
Plane Jno.	baker
Ratcliffe Jas	Master of Union
Savage Hy	shopkeeper
Southgate Chas. jun.	millwright
Southgate Wm.	corn miller
Southgate Wm. jun.	horse breaker
Stannard Mrs. Maria
Stanford Isaiah	tailor & draper
Wright Wm.	victualler Three Tuns
FARMERS	Archer Robt.
	Bradfield Charles
	Bray Mary
	Chamberlain T
	Elgar Rbt. School Farm
	Francis Jno
	Hall Jas.
	Perowne Benj. Manor House
	Southgate Charles
	Southgate Samson

SNORING (LITTLE), 3 miles ENE of Fakenham is a pleasant village and parish with 283 inhabitants, 57 houses and 1.518 acres of land, mostly the property of Lord Hasting,s the lord of the manor, and patron of the Church dedicated to St Andrew, an ancient edifice in the Saxon style, and has a round tower detached at the distance of 8 feet from the west end.

The RECTORY valued in the King's book at 12 is consolidated with East Barsham.

There are 59a 3r of glebe. Here was a house for lepers founded in 1638. The Fuel allotment 17a was awarded in 1806. The poor have 8a 3r 5p of land derived from the bequests of John Chappell and other donors

Banyard John	shoemaker
George Bunnell	blacksmith
John Colman	victualler, Green Man
William Gent	carpenter
William Howell	victualler, The Bell
Henry Barnes	wheelwright
Chas Nickalls	wheelwright
Wm Parker	wheelwright
Tuck Wm	Parish Clerk
FARMERS	William Dent
	James Hall
	John Jackson (Manor House)
	Thomas Parker
	Nicholas Powell
	Robert Sheringham (and gamekeeper)
	William Stimpson (Jex Farm)