GENUKI: Norfolk: Rushford, Norfolk

Hide

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

RUSHFORD parish has a small village on the Little Ouse, 4 miles E. by S. of Thetford, and is in Thetford union and county court district, Thetford polling district of South Norfolk, Norwich bankruptcy district, Guiltcross and Shropham petty sessional division, Guiltcross and Blackbourn hundreds, Rockland rural deanery, and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 169 inhabitants in the year 1881, living on 3237A. 1R 15P., of whom 26 persons are on the south side of the river in Blackbourn hundred in Suffolk. It has a rateable value of £1533 17s. 6d.

It includes Shadwell, Snarehill, and Rushford Lodge, the latter of which is a tithe-free manor of about 1200 acres. Sir Robert Jacob Buxton, Bart., owns all the parish, and resides at Shadwell Court, which is a handsome mansion in a well-wooded park on the north side of the parish, overlooking the vale of the river Thet.

The Rectory and Church of Rushford (St. John the Evangelist) were appropriated in 1342 to a college of priests, founded by Sir Edmund Gonvile, the then rector, and afterwards the founder of Gonvile Hall in Cambridge. Part of the college buildings, still standing, are occupied as a rectory. Of the fine collegiate church, only a portion of the nave remains, with a fine tower, containing six bells. (See also 'Additions and Corrections'). Sir R.J. Buxton is patron of the living, which is a donative, in the incumbency of the Rev. Dr. E.K. Bennet, and is now united to Brettenham.

Here is a voluntary school, erected in 1873 by Sir R.J. Buxton, M.P.

POST from Thetford, which is the nearest Money Order Office. Wall Box, near church, cleared at 5.30 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m.

         Barker   Caleb                land agent and valuer, agent to
                                         Sir Robert J. Buxton, M.P.
                                         Estate office, Shadwell
         Bennet   Rev. Edward          rector of Rushford and Brettenham,
                    Kedington, D.C.L.    Rushford College
         Buxton   Sir Robert Jacob,    Shadwell Court;
                    M.P., D.L., J.P.     and Carlton Club, London
         Buxton   Dowager Lady         Shadwell Court
         Clarke   James                head gardener at Shadwell Court,
                                         Garden house
         Debenham Hy.                  grdnr. to F.W. King
         Golding  Benjamin             farmer and horse dealer, Dairy farm
         Gross    Miss Marian          schoolmistress and organist at
                                         Brettenham Church, School-house
         Hamer    Jas.                 woodman to Sir Robt. J. Buxton
         King     Mr Fredk. Wm.        Rushford lodge
         Meech    Wm.                  gamekeeper, The Lodge, Shadwell Court
         Precious George               estate carpenter
         Sage     Samuel               shopkeeper
         Stearne  Philip               estate bricklayer and parish clerk,
                                         Rushford green

Poultry Farm; William Barnard, Esq. proprietor; Charles Dobson, mngr

From ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS on pages 13-16:

after 'tiles' [sic] add

'the whole of the church chancel, transepts, porch, and south chapel were destroyed a few years after the Dissolution in 1540 by the Howard family, to whom the college with all its possessions had been granted. The remaining fragments have been carefully preserved, and the foundations and ground plan have been recently laid out. From the Howards the estate passed in a few years to the Buxton family, with whom it has ever since remained. They at once so far repaired a portion of the ruined church as to fit it for Divine service, which has been thenceforth maintained at their cost, the church remaining their property, exempt from episcopal visitation.'

Hide

Norfolk: Rushford

hide

Hide

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