Norfolk: Rockland St Mary

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

[Transcription copyright © Pat Newby]

ROCKLAND ST. MARY is a scattered village, extending from 5½ to 6½ miles S.E. by E. of Norwich, on the south side of the open vale of the Yare, near a rivulet which expands into a lake, or 'broad,' of 60 acres, navigable to the river. It is in Henstead union and hundred, Swainsthorpe petty sessional division, Norwich county court district, Norwich bankruptcy district, Norwich polling district of South Norfolk, West Brooke rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry. Its parish had 442 inhabitants in 1881, and comprises 1360 acres of land. The rateable value is £2438.

The soil belongs to several proprietors, the largest of whom are the executors of the late Robert Gilbert, Esq., John Hotblack, Esq., and Robert Stroyan, Esq. Sir C.H. Rich, Bart., is lord of the manor.

It was anciently in two parishes, called Rockland Major and Minor, or Rockland St. Mary and St. Margaret, and had two churches in the same burial ground. St. Margaret's, which had no tower, was dilapidated several centuries ago, but part of its ruined walls still remains, covered with ivy.

ST. MARY'S, the present parish church, is a small edifice, with nave, chancel, south porch and square tower, with three bells. The windows of the nave are Perpendicular, and those in the chancel Early English. New open seats were purchased in 1845 at a cost of £150; and here are two marble tablets of the Cook family, and a well-restored font.

The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the King's Book at £6 13s. 4d., and has a mediety of Holverstone rectory annexed to it, in the patronage of Queen's College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. Osborne Reynolds, M.A. The glebe here is 30A. 2R. 29P., and the tithes were commuted in 1841 for £412 per annum. The rectory house, a pretty Elizabethan building, was erected in 1840 at a cost of £1500. The rector has only a rent-charge of £5 5s. from Holverstone.

The parish is noted for an excellent bed of clay, of which great quantities of bricks are made.

Here is a BOARD SCHOOL, built in 1840, and attended by 100 children.

The Fuel Allotment, 8A. 1R. 24P., was awarded at the enclosure in 1809, and is let for about £15. The Town Land, 2A. 2R. 32P., is let for £5, which is equally divided between the church, the rector, and the poor. This parish has the yearly sum of 20s. for the poor, and £5 every third year for apprentice fees, from Cock's Charity. (See Hillington, page 321.)

POST at Mr. John Wm. Beeton's. Letters arrive at 8.30 a.m., and despatched at 3.10 p.m., week-days only, viâ Norwich. Trowse is the nearest Money Order Office, and Brundall Railway Station nearest Telegraph Office.

         Bailey    Arthur              saddler
         Beeton    John William        sub-postmaster
         Blake     Isaac               market gardener
         Blake     Robert              shopkeeper
         Brockliss John T.             (Jordan & B.)
         Coleman   John                market gardener
         Farman    Robt.               thatcher & basket mkr
         Forder    Robert              thatcher
         Frost     Giles               market gardener
         Fuller    James               market gardener
         Fuller    Jas. jun.           fishrmn. Rocklnd. Brd
         Fuller    Mark                joiner
         George    George              farmer & cattle dealer
         Green     Charles             farmer
         Hayes     James               shoemaker
         Hotblack  Jno.                farmer, & Narborough; h Norwich
         Jordan &                      engineers, millwrights, brass and
          Brockliss                      iron founders, wheelwrights, &c.
                                         and at Norwich
         Parker    Robt. Geo.          joiner & wheelwrt
         Phillips  John Charles and
                     Mrs Mary Ann      board schlmstr. & schlmstrss
         Porter    Wm.                 vict. Rockland Star
         Potter    Richard             market gardener
         Reynolds  Rev. Osborne, M.A.  rector
         Rudd      Edward              clerk
         Sayer     Henry               coal dealer and victualler,
                                         New Inn
         Stanley   William Walter      brick and tile manufacturer,
                                         and Norwich
         Stroyan   (John William and   farmers and cattle dealers,
          Brothers   Thomas Symington)   Rockland Old Hall
         Ward      Samuel              parish clerk
         Whitmore  Elijah              mkt. grdnr. & shpkpr
 

See also the Rockland St Mary parish page.

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Copyright © Pat Newby.
September 2015