GENUKI: Norfolk: Strumpshaw, Norfolk

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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883

STRUMPSHAW is a well-built but scattered village, on an eminence, 8 miles E. by S. of Norwich, and its parish is in Blofield hundred and union, Norwich county court and bankruptcy district, Blofield and Walsham petty sessional division, Blofield polling district of South Norfolk, Blofield rural deanery, and Norwich archdeaconry. It had 407 inhabitants in 1881, living on 1337 acres of land. The rateable value is £2422.

The soil belongs to a number of freeholders and some copyholders. The latter are subject to arbitrary fines, payable to R.H. Nevill, Esq., as lord of the manor. The ancient lords were the Dan-Martins and the Bardolphs. The Hall, a handsome white brick mansion, about half a mile south of the village, is the seat and property of William James Owen Holmes, Esq. It has a park, ornamented with fine old timber, and was built in 1835, near the old hall, which is now used as servants' offices.

The windmill in this parish is supposed to stand on the highest hill in Norfolk, and the prospect which it commands is certainly the finest coup d'œil in the county, extending to Yarmouth, Norwich, the lighthouses of Happisburgh, and the country southward to the borders of Suffolk. It is said that more than 200 churches may be seen from it on a clear day with the naked eye. The summit of the hill is about 146 feet above the level of the sea.

The CHURCH (St. Peter) is a plain building, with nave and chancel under one roof, north porch, and square tower containing three bells. In the chancel is a handsome double piscina, and in the nave are mural tablets of the Barnes, Smith, and Atkins families. Here are also a good font and a finely carved screen. The chancel was restored in 1848 by the rector, who inserted four new lancet windows, and filled that at the east end with stained glass. The west window, and also one in the south wall, were at the same time enriched with stained glass at the expense of the parishioners.

The living is a rectory, valued in the King's Book at £8, and now at £536, with that of Bradestone annexed to it, in the patronage of W.M. Barton, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. E.S. Whitbread, M.A., who has a commodious residence, and 64 acres of glebe. The tithes of Strumpshaw were commuted in 1844 for £370 per annum.

Here is a Board School, erected in 1874, for the united parishes of Strumpshaw, Bradeston, and Brundall, with accommodation for over 100 children.

The Fuel Allotment, about 10 acres of marsh, was awarded at the enclosure in 1810, and is let for £16 a year. The poor have also a coomb of wheat yearly out of Mr. Atkins' farm, pursuant to the bequest of William Black, in 1755.

POST OFFICE at William Harrison's. Letters arrive at 7.25 a.m., and are despatched at 3.55 p.m. viâ Blofield, which is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office.

         Armstrong   Mr Edward
         Atkins      Thomas         farmer and owner
         Barnes      Edward         farmer and owner
         Edwards     Mrs Martha     Fir cottage
         Harrison    William        postmaster & shopkeeper
         Hilton      Joseph         shopkeeper
         Holmes      Mr William
                       James Owen   The Hall
         Littleproud William        miller, baker and beer retailer
         Loome       Joseph         victualler, The Goat
         Plow        Arthur         farmer
         Pyle        Thomas         farmer and owner
         Spooner     Jno.           carpenter & wheelwright, &
                                      vict. The Shoulder of Mutton
         Thrower     Robert         blacksmith
         Waters      William        farmer & coal dealer
         Whitbread   Rev. Edmund
                       Salter,
                       M.A. J.P.    rector
         Whitbread   W.J.           solicitor

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Norfolk: Strumpshaw

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William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883