Town Directories
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.
William White's Directory of Norfolk 1845
The ancient lords were the Burgolyons, Sheltons, and Richardsons. It had 556 inhabitants, in 1841, including 81 in Walsingham Union Workhouse, which is already noticed at page 669.
The CHURCH (Virgin Mary,) has a fine tower with one bell, and formerly had a spire. It has some ancient stone stalls, and the effigies of Sir Richard Shelton and his lady, beautifully engraved in brass. The Sheltons built the rectory-house, which is a fine specimen of ornamental brickwork.
The RECTORY, valued in the King's Book at £24 has 36A. of glebe, and is consolidated with Thursford, in the patronage of St. John's College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. Cphr. Stannard, B.D., who is lord of a small manor, called Snorings, (fines certain.) The joint livings were valued in 1831 at £610 per annum; and the tithes were commuted in 1840.
The CHURCH LAND, 2A. 8P., with a cottage upon it, is let for £5 2s. In 1688, John Pearson, bishop of Chester, left for the poor £20, which was laid out with £20 left by the Rev. Robt. West, in 1676, in the purchase of land, now consisting of 6A. 3R 31P., let for £8 which is distributed in bread and coals. The poor have also dividends of £209 18s. three per cent. Consols, purchased with £200 left by John Alvis, in 1823.
Archer James |
farm-bailiff |
---|---|
Archer Robert |
castrator |
Bray Benjamin |
schoolmaster |
Bushell Jonas |
machine maker |
Claxton Violet |
victualler, Three Tuns |
Comer William |
shoemaker |
Cook David |
wheelwright |
Dunn S. |
tailor |
Jackson Christopher |
bricklayer |
Lack Thomas |
shoemaker and victualler, Unicorn |
Plane John |
shoemaker and baker |
Platten Robert |
Master of Workhouse |
Savage Henry |
shopkeeper |
Southgate Chas. |
miller & millwright |
Stannard Rev. Cphr. BD |
Rectory |
Blacksmiths |
Girdlestone Rt. |
Granger Charles |
|
Loades Jarrett Pond |
|
FARMERS (* are owners) |
Bradfield Charles |
* Bray William |
|
Hall James |
|
Page Christopher, Old Hall |
|
Southgate Samson |
|
Southgate Wm. |
|
* Ward Edmund |
|
* Whistler John |
|
Wright Robert |
SNORING (LITTLE) is a pleasant village and parish, 3 miles E.N.E. of Fakenham, containing 293 souls, and 1,518A. of land. Lord Hastings owns most of the soil, and is lord of the manor, and patron of the CHURCH, (St. Andrew's) which is an interesting specimen of Saxon architecture, and has a round tower detached at the distance of eight feet from the west end.
Here was a house of Lepers, founded in 1638.
The RECTORY, valued in the King's Book at £12, is consolidated with East Barsham, (see page 648.) The glebe is 59A. 3R.
The Fuel Allotment awarded in 1806, is 17A., on which the poor cut fuel. They also have two cottages and 8A. 3R. 5P. of land, let for £19, and derived from the bequests of John Chappell and other donors.
Adams Edward |
baker & shopkeeper |
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Banyard John |
shoemaker |
Barnes Henry |
wheelwright |
Bell Samuel |
blacksmith |
Nickalls Jarrett |
wheelwright |
Shepherd Wm. |
corn miller |
Sheppard Rev. A.F., B.A |
Curate |
Tuck Wm |
Gent |
Sutherland Wm. |
victualler, Bell |
Tuddenham John |
shoemaker, and victualler, Green Man |
|
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FARMERS |
Barwick John |
Merrill Robt. |
|
Powell Nichs. |