White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883
Transcribed by Nigel Pendall
FELTWELL is a parish and a large village, 6 miles W.N.W. of Brandon, and 6 miles S. of Stoke Ferry, in Thetford union, Grimshoe hundred, Thetford county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, and Southern division of Cranwich rural deanery , and Norfolk archdeaconry.
The parish includes Feltwell St. Mary, and St. Nicholas, which is in Grimshoe petty sessional division and Southery polling district of West Norfolk. It had 1681 inhabitants in the year 1881, and comprises 1400 acres of land, including about 1200a. of open common, on which all the tenants have a right of pasturage and fuel. About half the parish is low fen land, for improving the drainage of which a twenty-horse power steam engine was erected in 1835.
A part of the mother parish of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, extending over 6069 acres, and containing 310 inhabitants in 1871, now forms part of the ecclesiastical parish of St. John, Little Ouse, Cambridgeshire, which also includes Feltwell Anchor, a part of Hilgay, in Norfolk, and part of Littleport, in Cambridgeshire (see page 59). A small fair is held at Feltwell on November 20 and 21.
The parish is in several manors, and belongs to a large number of small freeholders, and some copyholders. The Rev.William C. Newcome, who has a neat mansion here, is lord of the capital or chief manor, anciently held by the Bishop of Ely. Mrs Newcome is lady of South Hall manor; the representatives of the late Rev. E. B. Sparke are lords of Wendlings, Spenvilles, and Duntons manor; and the Masters and Fellows of Christ College, Cambridge, are lords of the manor of East Hall or Broomhill.
Here are two parish Churches, both of which were thoroughly repaired about the year 1834. St Marys, the larger, is a handsome edifice, comprising nave with aisles and clerestory, chancel, and a massive square tower with three bells and a clock. The north aisle was rebuilt in 1802, and furnished with new open benches. It has a fine roof, and the corbels and capitals of the pillars are beautifully carved. Many of the windows are filled with rich stained glass, representing a number of scriptural scenes, chiefly from the New Testament. The piscina , the sedilia, and the stairs which lead to the rood-loft still remain. The nave contains old open benches with carved poppies, and its roof is ornamented with figures of angels. The screen is modern, and has upon it seven figures playing musical instruments. Here are kneeling effigies of Francis and Osbert Mundeford, and a fine brass representing Margaret Mundeford, all of the sixteenth century. There is also a brass to the Rev.William Newcome, who died about fifteen years ago.
St. Nicholas Church is a small pile, on an eminence at the west end of the village, with a tower round at the base and octagonal above, and containing five bells. It was nearly destroyed by fire in 1494, when 'an indulgence' was granted for its reparation. Its chancel was taken down in 1862, when the rest of the building was repaired; but it is now only used as a mortuary chapel. The Registers date from 1562.
The two rectories are consolidated, and are in the alternate patronage of the Lord Chancellor and the Bishop of Norwich. St Marys valued in the K.B. at £14 17s. 3 1/2d.,and St. Nicholas at £19. The Rev.H.T.O'Rorke is the rector, and has a good residence, 160a. of glebe, and a yearly tithe rent-charge of £1328 per annum. The Weslyans, Independents, and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here.
Sir Edmund Mundeford, in 1643, bequeathed about 840a. of low fen land in Feltwell parish to certain trustees to improve by drainage, &c., and apply the clear profits, one-third for a distribution of clothing among the poor, and two-thirds for the support of a Free School; but as soon as the clear rents had been augmented to more than £60 a year, he directed all the surplusage above that amount to be applied in founding an almshouse for the aged and poor of the parish.
Part of the bequeathed land was taken by the Commissioners for the drainage of the Bedford Level. The charity estate now consists of two houses, outbuildings, a draining-mill, and 623a. 1r. 18p. of poor fen-land. The drainage taxes, which, for many years exceeded the rents, have now been reduced. Though the trustees were obliged to discontinue the distributions of clothing, and afterwards the schoolmaster's salary, they expended, in 1829, £500 in the erection of an almshouse, divided into eight tenements.
According to the donor's will, the clear yearly sums of £40 for the school and £20 for distributions of clothing ought to have been realised before the erection of the almshouse, to which eight poor parishioners are admitted by the trustees, who in 1839 erected a large school, which is conducted on the National system, and attended by boys, who are all educated free. A girls' school was also built about the year 1854, and the pupils pay small sums ranging from 1d. a week to 7s 6d. a quarter. Good houses for the master an mistress are attached, and an infant school is about to be added.
The Fuel Allotment consists of 360a. of the West Fen, awarded at the enclosure in 1815, for the use of the poor, and now let for £114 a year, out of which about £85 are paid for drainage taxes. Six poor labourers occupy, rent free, 4a. 2r. 19p. of land, received at the enclosure, in exchange for 6a. given by Robert Clough, in 1737, to be so occupied, for the purpose of enabling six poor parishioners to send their children to school. The occupants are to be appointed by the owners of the donor's capital messuage.
As noticed with Foulden, the poor of Feltwell have about £20 every fifth year from Atmere's Charity, for distribution in kersey and flannel. In 1729, the Rev. Thomas Rawlins left for the poor of Feltwell £50, which were laid out in the purchase of 9A. of land at Hockwold, now let for £9 a year out of which are paid £5 in taxes. About 17 years ago, Miss Pleasance Clough left about £664 13s. 4d. to the poor of this parish, and the interest, amounting to about £20 a year, is distributed on New Years Day.
Post and Money Order Office at Mr William Spencer's. Letters via Brandon.
Those with * opposite their names should be addressed Southery, Downham.
Name Occupation
| Addison Henry | Hardware dealer |
| Addison Henry jun | Painter, plumber, and glazier |
| Archer George | Surgeon and apothecary, medical officer for Methwold district of Thetford union and Foresters' & Odd Fellows' Societies, and medical referee for Norwich Union & National Provident Insurance offices |
| Armstrong geo | Farmer, popylot, fen |
| Ashton Job | Brazier and blacksmith |
| Ashton Park | Ironmonger, brazier, and blacksmith |
| Banham Thomas | Farmer, Fen |
| * Barnes George Henry | Farmer, Fen |
| * Barnes John Wm. | Farmer , Fen |
| * Barnes Joseph | Farmer, Fen |
| Bartlett John Robert | Seedsman |
| Blyth Rev. Gwyn, B.A. | Curate |
| Brewington Shedrach | Bootmaker |
| Brown Mrs Ann | |
| Brown Anthony | Agricultural implement proprietor |
| Brown Philip | Farmer |
| Buckle Hy. | Cabinet mkr, upholsterer, and shopkeeper |
| Caney George | Bootmaker |
| Carr William | Farmer, Fen |
| Cock Greenfield | Carpenter, builder,wheelright, hurdle, field-gate, and bin maker, and corn miller |
| Cock Robert | Beerhouse |
| Cocks Miss Mary Ann | Grocer and fancy repository |
| Currey William | Beerhouse |
| Daines John | Carpenter |
| Day Arthur | Blacksmith & machinist |
| Edwards - | Bricklayer |
| Edwards William | Bricklayer |
| * Feetham james | Vict. Anchor, and farmer, Fen |
| Foulsham Edward | Butcher |
| Griffin mrs. Emma | Frmr. manor house |
| Gunstone Jacob | Farmer & landowner |
| Harlock Henry, | Farmer, the Grange |
| Harwin Francis King | Butcher |
| Heading Henry | Farmer & landowner Cambridge house |
| * Hollox John | Beerhouse, Fen |
| Hudson John | Farmer |
| Johnson George | Baker, miller, & corn merchant |
| Kelland John | Victualler, Oak Tree, and veterinary surgeon |
| King Horace Edmund | bkr. & confetr |
| King Francis | Butcher, grocer, & frmr |
| Kingdon James | Inland revenue officer |
| Lambert Daniel | Farmer |
| Lambert William | Farmer and landowner, Glebe farm |
| Lambley Mrs Martha | Grazier |
| Leach Miss Susan Elizabeth | |
| Leach Mr Thomas | |
| Macnalley Miss Mary Ann | Day and boarding school |
| Maggs James | Vict Ship Inn, Fen |
| Minns John | Farm bailiff, Shrubb hill |
| Morely Miss Elizabeth | Schoolmistress |
| Natriss Mark | Schoolmaster |
| Newcome Mrs Amelia | The Hall |
| Newcome Lieut.Frncs, D'Arcy | The Hall |
| Olliff Robt. | grcr. pork btchr. & beerhse |
| O'Rorke Rev. Hy. Thos M.A. | Rector |
| Palmer Jonathan | Grocer, draper, and wine and beer retailer |
| Parker George | Grocer, draper, and clothier; and (h) Northwold |
| Pearson John | Bricklayer |
| Pightling Samuel | Farm bailiff |
| Prior Mrs Susan | Druggist & stationer |
| Pryer Edward | Farmer |
| Pryer Robert | Farmer and landowner, Elm Tree farm |
| Ray Frederick | Bootmaker |
| Rice Robert | Farmer |
| Rice Robert | Victualler, Chequers |
| Richardson Walter | Tailor |
| Riches John | Carpenter & wheelright |
| Rix Thos. Lincoln | Assessor & collector of taxes, and agent for the Norwich Union Fire office |
| Rolph Richard | Farmer |
| Rolph Robert | Farm bailiff |
| Rowe Miss Sarah Ann | |
| Rudland Henry | Farmer & parish clerk |
| Rudland Mrs Mary | Farmer |
| Seeker John | Farm bailiff |
| Shearing Rudd Wilson | Carpenter, wheelright, and blacksmith |
| * Simpson Thomas | Engineer, Fen |
| * Smith Charles | Farmer. Fen |
| Southgate William | Turf dealer |
| Sparks Mrs Catherine | |
| Spencer Mrs Elizabeth | Vict. The Cock |
| Spencer Francis | plmbr. glzr.painter,and farmer |
| Spencer William | Assistant overseer, land surveyor, and postmaster |
| Spencer Wm. jun. | frmr and land agent |
| Stallon Edward | Farmer |
| Stallon John | Beerhouse and farmer |
| * Starling Robert | Farmer, Fen |
| Stebbings William | Farm bailiff |
| Steward Samuel | Saddler |
| Taylor John | Beerhouse |
| Turnell Jabez | Grocer and draper |
| Upcher Henry Morris Esq J.P | |
| Upcraft Walter | Farmer and bootmaker |
| Watts Joseph | Bootmaker |
| Watts Josiah | Bootmaker |
| West Mrs Elizabeth | (exers. of), frmrs |
| West Mrs Susannah | |
| Whitmore Henry | Tailor and shopkpr |
| Whitmore Mrs Mary | |
| Whitmore John Taylor | Blacksmith, coal merchant, and farmer |
| Whittle George | Farmer |
| Willingham William | Beerhouse |