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.

GREAT SNORING is a parish, about 3 1/2 miles north-by-east from Fakenham station, and 2 south from Walsingham station, situated on the road from Fakenham to Wells, in the Northern division of the county, North Greenhoe hundred, Walsingham union and county court district, rural deanery of Walsingham, and archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich.

The church of St. Mary the Virgin is an old Gothic building, and has a fine square tower containing 1 bell: it has some stone stalls, and contains several monuments and a handsome mural tablet to the late Rev. Christopher Stannard, B.D., fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge, many years Rector of this parish.

The register dates from the year 1560.

The living is a Rectory, with that of Thursford annexed, joint yearly value £584 with residence, in the gift of the Master and Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and held by the Rev. George Henry Marsh, B.D., formerly fellow of that college; the Rev. George Bell, B.A., is curate in charge.

The Rectory House is a fine specimen of ornamental brickwork, and was built by Sir Ralph Shelton, and has been considerably enlarged and beautified by the present rector, and its elaborated south front in part restored.

The Walsingham Union House is situated in this parish. Here is a Parochial mixed school, almost entirely supported by the incumbent. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship here.

The charities are Pearson’s, of £14 yearly for bread, and Alvis’s of £6 5s. Messrs. Paine and Brettall, of Chertsey, who are lords of the manor, and the Rev, H. D. Lee-Warner, of Walsingham Abbey, are the principal landowners.

The soil is mixed; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. The area is 1,645 acres; rateable value, £3,535; the population in 1871 was 598, inclusive of the inmates of the Walslngham Union House.

Parish Clerk, John Francis.

POST OFFICE.— Christopher Mallett, receiver. Letters are received through Fakenham. The nearest money order office is at Walsingham.

Walsingham Union House, William South, master; Mrs. South, matron
Elementary School, Christopher Mallett, master
Rectory, Bell Rev. Geo. B.A. [curate],
Leeder Miss
Cottage, Stannard Mrs.

Adams Edward	shopkeeper
Deane Henry	farmer
Bushell Jonas & Sons	engineers & machine makers
Cook David	wheelwright
Cook George	machine maker
Dawson William	plumber & painter
Docking Mary Ann (Mrs.)	baker
Hall James (exors. of)	farmer
Hill William	tailor
Lack Robert	Unicorn, & farmer
Lack Robert	shoe maker
Mallett Christopher	assistant overseer
Norman John	farmer
Perowne Benjamin	farmer & brick &c. maker; & at Barney
Perowne Benjamin, Jun.	farmer
Savage Henry	shopkeeper & farmer
Southgate John	horse breaker
Southgate Robert	Tuns, & coach bldr
Southgate Esther (Mrs.)	farmer
Southgate William	horse breaker
Tuck Isaac	blacksmith

LITTLE SNORING is a parish, about 3 miles east-north-east from Fakeaham station, on the road from Fakenham to Wells, in the Western division of the county, Gallow hundred, Walsingham union and county court district, and rural deanery, archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich.

The church of St. Andrew is a fine specimen of Saxon architecture: it has chancel, nave, and south porch, which is of a very curious transitional Norman character, having a stilted horseshoe arch, under which is a pointed one ornamented with zigzags, and under this again the round arch of the door, with shafts in the jambs, having sculptured capitals: the tower is round, and is detached about 6 or 7 feet from the west end: the font is late Norman, ornamented with sculptured foliage.

The register dates from the year 1559.

The living is a rectory, annexed to the vicarage of East Barsham, joint yearly value £645, in the gift of Lord Hastings, and held by the Rev. Frederic William Kent, M.A., of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The poor have £22 yearly, rent of 8A. 3R. 5P. of land; also 20 acres to cut for fuel. The Primitive Methodists have a place of.worship here.

Lord Hastings is lord of the manor and chief landowner.

The soil is various; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. The area is 1,524 acres; rateable value, £2,298; the population in 1871 was 250.

Parish Clerk, Joseph Cooper.

Letters are received through Fakenham, which is the nearest money order office. .

Banyard William	shoe maker & keeper
Gulder John	farmer
Hall Henry	farmer
Hill Charles	shoe maker
Howell Maria (Mrs.)	The Bell
Nickalls Charles	blacksmIth, wheel-wright & shopkeeper
Powell Nicholas	farmer
Shaw Frederic	The Green Man
Sherringham Robert	farmer & game-keeper to Lord Hastings
Tuck William	horse breaker
Tuddenham John	shopkeeper