Norfolk

Town Directories

directoryDirectories 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.

Kelly's Directory 1933

GREAT SNORING is a parish and village on the river Stifikey and on the road from Fakenham to Wells, and about 3½ miles north-by-east from Fakenham station on the Midland and Great Northern Joint railway, and 2 south from Walsingham station on the Dereham and Wells section of the London and North Eastern rail way, in the Northern division of the county, North Greenhoe hundred and petty sessional division, Walsingham rural district and county court district, rural deanery of Walsingham, arohdeaconry of Lynn and diocese of Norwich.

The church of St. Mary the Virgin is an ancient building of flint and stone in the Decorated style, consisting of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch and a fine embattled western tower containing one bell: the interior retains some stone stalls, several monuments, and a mural tablet to the Rev. Christopher Stannard B.D. rector from 1831: the church was restored in 1898, at a cost of about £800, and now affords 200 sittings.

The register dates from the year 1560.

A cross of Olipsham stone was built into the wall of the churchyard in 1921, in memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18. The living is a rectory, with that of Little Snoring annexed, joint net yearly value £775, with 80 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and held since 1926 by the Rev. Arthur Gilbert Backhouse M.A. of Jesus College, Oxford, rural dean of Walsingham and hon. C.F. In 1921 the Rev. P. Greeves M.A. a former rector of Great Snoring, gave half an acre, adjoining the old cemetery, as a new burial ground.

The rectory, a fine specimen of ornamental brickwork, was built by Sir Ralph Shelton kt. circa 1485 A.D.; it was considerably enlarged by a former rector in 1853 and its elaborate south front in part restored. John Pearson, Bishop of Chester 1673-86, and author of the well-known “Exposition of the Creed,” was born here 28 Feb. 1612-13, his father, Robert Pearson, being then rector. There is a Methodist chapel.

The charities comprise Pearson’s and West’s, the rental of about 7 acres of land, producing £12 2s. 6d. which is distributed in money, and Alvis’s of £5 4s. 8d. per annum, also distributed in money. The Church Estates Commissioners are lords of the manor, and the rector is lord of the manor of Great Snoring Rectory. The trustees of the late Rev. James Lee Warner M.A., J.P. John Gurney esq. J.P. William Bushell esq. and the trustees of the Walsingham School Farm are the principal landowners.

The soil is mixed; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. The area is 1,638 acres; the population in 1921 was 413.

Post & Tel. Call Office. Letters through Fakenham. Walaingham nearest M. 0. & T. office

WALSINGHAM RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

The parishes in the District are :—Alethorpe, Bale, Barney, Barsham (East), Barsham (North), Barsham (West), Binham, Blakeney, Briningham, Brinton, Cockthorpe, Dunton-cum-Doughton, Egmere, Fakenham, Field Dalling, Fulmodeston-cum-Croxton, Gunthorpe, Helhoughton, Hempton, Hindringham, Holkham, Houghton St. Giles, Kettlestone, Langham, Melton Constable, Morston, Pensthorpe, Pudding Norton, Quarles, Raynham (East), or Rainham St. Mary, Raynham (South), or Rainham St. Martin,
Raynham (West), or Rainham St. Margaret, Ryburgh (Great), Ryburgh (Little), Saxlingham, Sculthorpe, Sharrington, Shereford, Snoring (Great), Snoring (Little), Stibbard, Stiffkey, Swanton Novers, Tatterford, Tattersett, Testerton, Thursford, Toftrees, Walsingham (Great), Walsingham (Little), Warham All Saints, Warham St. Mary, Wighton & Wiveton. The area is 79,996 acres; the population in 1931 was 15,811

Council meets at The Institution, Great Snoring, every fourth wednesday, at 11 a.m.
Chairmen, Herbert Wright J.P. Great Walsingham

Officials.
Clerk, Robert Symonds Butcher, Bridge st. Fakenham
Assistant Clerk, A. E. Kerrison, Fakenham
Treasurers, Barclays Bank Ltd. Fakenham
Medical Officer of Health, Richard Aston Norman
M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Fakenham
Sanitary Inspector, W. H. Moffatt, Fakenham

NORFOLK NO. 7 GUARDIANS COMMITTEE.
Meets every fourth wednesday, 10 a.m. at the Institution, Great Snoring.
The area comprises the parishes in the Walsingham Rural District.

Chairman, C. F. Case, Cookthorpe, Wells
Clerk, Robert Symonds Butcher, Bridge st. Fakenham
Relieving & Vaccination Officer, Wells & Fakenham district, Hedley Charles Copland, Wells-next-the-Sea
Vaccination Officer, Walsingham sub-district, H. V. Hayler, Little Walsingham

Medical Officers & Public Vaccinators;
Blakeney district, Alfred Reginald Kay B.A., M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond. Blakeney; Fakenham district, G. K. Arthur M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Oak street, The Oaks, Fakenham;
Melton Constable district, A. M. Edwards M.R,C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond. Melton Constable;
Raynham district, J. L. O. Doyle M.R.O.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond. The Square, Fakenham;
Walsingham district, Frederic Herbert Sturdee F.R.C.S.Edin., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Lond. Knight street, Little Walsingham;
Wells district, E. W. Hicks M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Burnt street, Wells

The Walsingham Institution, a structure of brick, was erected in 1837 & will hold 200 inmates; Rev A. Kewley B.A., L.Th. chaplain & Rev. F. C. Knowles, Free Church chaplain; Frederic Herbert Sturdee F.R.O.S.Edin., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Lond. medical officer; Mrs. Edith Exton, matron

WALSINGHAM REGISTRATION DISTRICT.
Superintendent Registrar, John A. Stoughton, Old Post Office street, Fakenham;
Deputy, Richard S. Utting, Market place, Fakenham

Registrars of Births & Deaths:

Fakenham sub-district, Alec Edward Kerrison, Fakenham;
deputy, Cecil Walter Love, Fakenham;
Walsingham sub-district, H.V. Hayler, Little Walsingham;
Wells sub-district, Hedley Charles Copland, Wells-next-the-Sea;
deputy, William R. Martin

Registrars of Marriages
Alec Edward Kerrison, Fakenham;
deputy, Cecil Walter Love, Fakenham;
William R. Martin, Wells

PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Backhouse Rev. Arthur Gilbert M.A., hon. C.F. (rector, & rural dean of Walsingham), The Rectory
Perowne Francis Leslie

Adcock Victor
haulage contractor, School farm
Bushell Geo.
thrashing machine owner
Bushell Wm.
agricultrl. implement mfr
Cadamy Robert
grocer
Dalton Herbert William
shopkeeper
Docking Geo.
blacksmith
Kendle Robert
carpenter
Lambert Robert John
Tunns Public House
Massingham George
motor engineer, car for hire, batteries charged
Massingham William
well sinker
Perowne Fras. Leslie
farmer (farm 150 acres or over)
Shackcloth Bros.
agricltrl. machine owners.
Styman Thos.
shopkpr. Post office
Tuck Bros. farmers
School farm
White Thomas
farm bailiff to F.L. Perowne esq. Top Tarm
Youngman Geo. A.
beer retailer

LITTLE SNORING is a parish on the road from Fakenham to Wells, about 3 miles north-east from Fakenham stations on the London and North Eastern and Midland and Great Northern joint railways, in the Northern division of the county, Gallow hundred and petty sessional division, Walsingham rural distnct and county court district, rural deanery of Walaingham, Lynn archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich.

The church of St. Andrew is an edifice in the Transition Norman and later styles, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and a detached round tower at the west end containing one bell: the porch is of very curious Transition Norman character, with a stilted horseshoe arch, within which is a pointed arch ornamented with zigzag work, and under this again a round-headed doorway, with nook shafts and sculptured capitals: the font is Late Norman and adorned with carved foliage: there are 200 sittings. In the churchyard is a cross, erected in 1920 as a memorial to the men of this parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.

The register dates from the year 1559.

The living is a rectory, annexed to that of Great Snoring, joint net yearly value £775 with 80 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and held since 1926 by the Rev. Arthur Gilbert Backhouse M.A. of Jesus College, Oxford, rural dean of Walsingham and hon. C.F. who resides at Great Snoring. There is a Methodist chapel.

In 1920 a church room was given to the parish by the Rev. C. E, O. Griffith M.A. a former rector, in memory of his son who fell in the Great War, 1914-18. The poor have the rent of 8a. 3r. 5p. of land let in half-acre allotments, producing about £1 2s. per acre, and also 17 acres, let for about £5 per year. Lord Hastings is lord of the manor and the chief landowner.

The soil is various; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. the area is 1,528 acres; the population in 1921 was 236.

Post & Tel. Call Office (available for calls to places within a limited distance). Letters through Fakenham.

PRIVATE RESIDENT.
Whitebead Harold Edward, The Laurels

COMMERCIAL.
(Marked ° farm 150 acres or over.)

Miss Lucy Ward, foster mother
Red house Children’s Home (Walsingham Guardians Committee)
Daplyn Arthur A.
clerk to Parish Council, local registration officer, income & land tax collector & rate collector for Barney, Kettlestone, Great & Little Snoring, Stibbard, Thursford, Fulmodestone & Great & Little Ryburgh
Grix George
farmer, Wood farm
Harvey Dennis Rt.
farmer
Hazlewood Thomas,
beer retailer
°Hunt Hy. farmer
Jex farm
Long John Thomas
Bell Public House
Parker Arth.
boot repairer
Ramm John William S.
smallholder
°Ross Ivie,
farmer, Manor farm
Sheringham Alban Edwd.
farmer, Church farm
Tuck Fredk. Chas.
baker
Tuddenham Albert,
smallholder
Whitehead Harold B.
farmer & landowner, The Laurels

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Find your ancestors in Norfolk Parish Registers and Records for Norfolk Ancestors and Genealogy for Norfolk The Family Trees of Norfolk Church Records of Gt & Lt Snoring Norfolk Great Snoring Memorial Inscriptions

Information

The Snoring Villages: a website for those researching their family trees, and for anybody curious about the history and whereabouts of these two small villages in Norfolk, UK.

Contact The Snorings

I no longer live in Norfolk. I cannot visit graves, make local enquiries or provide contacts for you. Please be aware that I have no information other than that on this website..

Address: Derbyshire, England
Telephone: Unavailable
E-mail: tricia (at) the-snorings.co.uk