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.
Kelly's Directory of Cambs, Norfolk & Suffolk, 1892 [Part 2]
GREAT SNORING is a parish and village on the river Stiffkey and on the road from Fakenham to Wells, and about 3 1/2 miles north-by-east from Fakenham station on the Great Eastern and Eastern and Midlands railways and 2 south from Walsingham station on the Dereham and Wells section of the Great Eastern railway, in the Northern division of the county, North Greenhoe hundred and petty sessional division, Walsingham union and county court district, rural deanery of Walsingham, and archdeacoory 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 em-battled 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: there are 200 sittings.
The register dates from the year 1560.
The living is a rectory with that of Thursford annexed, joint average yearly value from tithe rent-charge, £654, with 16 acres of glebe, and residence at each place, in the gift of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and held since 1851 by the Rev. George Henry Marsh B.D. formerly fellow of that college. The Rev. Edward Haversham Whall M.A. of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, has been curate in charge since 1891, and resides at the rectory.
The rectory house, a fine specimen of ornamental brickwork, was built by Sir Ralph Shelton kt. and considerably enlarged and beautified by the present rector in 1853 and its elaborate south front in part restored.
There is a Primitive Methodist chapel.
The charities comprise Pearson’s, the rental of about 7 acres of land, now (1892) producing £14 yearly for bread, and Alvis’s of £5 15s. per ann. Messrs. Paine and Brettell, of Chertsey, Surrey, who are lords of the manor, the Rev. James Lee-Warner M.A. rector of Beckley, Rye, Sussex, and Henry Lee-Warner esq. J.P. of Walsingham Abbey, and Joseph Stonehewer Scott-Chad esq. M.A., J.P. of Thursford Hall, 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, £2,633; the population in 1891 was 543 inclusive of the 135 officers and inmates of the Walsingham Union House.
Parish Clerk, John Francis.
POST OFFICE. Frederick Cook, receiver. Letters are received through Fakenham at 8.20 a.m. Box closed at 4.20 p.m. The nearest money order & telegraph office is at Walsingham.
Walsingham Union House, a structure of brick, was erected in 1837 and will hold 300 inmates; Rev. Edward Haversham Whall M.A. (curate in charge, Great Snoring), chaplain; Frederick William Hart Bayes, medical officer; Isaac Priest, master; Mrs. Mary Priest, matron; Miss Kate Robson, industrial trainer & assistant matron; the boys attend the school at Great Snoring & the girls that at Thursford.
Church of England School (mixed), erected in 1859, for 100 children; average attendance, 75; Harry Green, master.
Whall Rev. Edward Haversham M.A. (curate in charge), The Rectory
Adams Matilda (Mrs.) |
shopkeeper & miller (wind) |
---|---|
Bushell J. & Sons |
engineers & machine makers |
Bushell Joseph |
school attendance officer for Fakenham district, Walsingham Union, & thrashing machine proprietor |
Bushell William & Son |
machine makrs |
Cook Frederick |
shopkeeper & wheelwright |
Cook William |
wheelwright |
Docking Clement |
baker & miller (wind) |
Gamble Henry |
farmer |
Green Harry |
assistant overseer & schoolmaster |
Hall Robt. Charles |
farmr. Vine Park Farm |
Howlett James |
shopkeeper |
Massingham Edward |
farmer |
Perowne Benjamin Cubitt |
farmer & brick maker (brick works at Barney) |
Ramm John |
blacksmith |
Southgate Eliza (Mrs.), |
Tuns Public House & coach builder |
Southgate George, |
miller (wind) |
Southgate Walter, |
farmer |
Tuck Wm. |
Unicorn Public House & horse breaker |
LITTLE SNORING is a parish on the road from Fakenham to Wells, about 3 miles north-east from Fakenham station on the Great Eastern and Eastern and Midlands railway in the North Western division of the county, Gallow hundred and petty sessional division, Walsingham union and county court district, rural deanery of Burnham, 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 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.
The register dates from the year 1559.
The living is a rectory, annexed to the vicarage of East Barsham, average tithe rent-charge £506, joint gross yearly value £630, including 66 acres of glebe, in the gift of Lord Hastings, and held since 1882 by the Rev. William Martin B.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, and rural dean of Walsingham, who is also vicar of West Barsham, and resides at East Barsham. Here is a Primitive Methodist chapel.
The poor have the rent of 8A. 3R. 5P. of land, now (1892) let in half-acre allotments at £2 per acre, and also 17 acres of which to cut for fuel. Lord Hastings, who is lord of the manor, Joseph Stonehewer Scott Chad esq. M.A., J.P. of Thursford Hall, and Messrs. H. B. Beane and Son, are the chief landowners.
The soil is various; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. The area is 1,528 acres; rateable value, £1,805; the population in 1891 was 260.
Parish Clerk, James Harvey.
LETTER BOX cleared at 4.30 p.m. Letters received through Fakenham, which is the nearest money order & telegraph office, arrive at 8 a.m
National School (mixed), built in 1865, for 100 children; average attendance, 65; Arthur Wm. Baldwin, master
Guilliam Rev. Samuel Thorn F.R.G.S. (curate in charge), The Rectory
Armes Thomas |
farm bailiff to the exors. of Mrs. S. Savory |
---|---|
Banyard William |
coal dealer |
Beane Henry Barnard & Son |
Farmers, Manor house |
Green George |
baker & shopkeeper |
Gidney Charles |
gamekeeper to E. B. Sparke esq |
Hall James, farmer |
Jex’s farm |
Harvey James |
Bell Public House |
Jarvis Mark |
flour dealer |
Parker Thomas |
shoe maker |
Rayner William |
Green Man Public House |
Sherringham Edward |
farmer |
Symonds Thos. |
blacksmith & wheelwright |