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 1854
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 |
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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 |
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Bray Mary |
|
Chamberlain T |
|
Elgar Rbt. School Farm |
|
Francis Jno |
|
Hall Jas. |
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Perowne Benj. Manor House |
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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) |
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Thomas Parker |
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Nicholas Powell |
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Robert Sheringham (and gamekeeper) |
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William Stimpson (Jex Farm) |