White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845
SNORING, (GREAT) a parish and considerable village, 2 miles S. of Walsingham, and 3½ miles N.E. by N. of Fakenham, contains about 1,600 acres of land, belonging to several proprietors, -- the largest of whom is John Dugmore, Esq., of Swaffham, the lord of the manor, in which the copyholds are subject to arbitrary fines. The ancient lords were the Burgolyons, Sheltons, and Richardsons. It had 556 inhabitants, in 1841, including 81 in Walsingham Union Workhouse, which is already noticed at page 669 [See North Greenhoe Hundred].
The CHURCH (Virgin Mary) has a fine tower with one bell, and formerly had a spire. It has some ancient stone stalls, and the effigies of Sir Richard Shelton and his lady, beautifully engraved in brass. The Sheltons built the rectory-house, which is a fine specimen of ornamental brickwork.
The rectory, valued in the King's Book at £24 has 36A. of glebe, and is consolidated with Thursford, in the patronage of St. John's College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. Cphr. Stannard, B.D., who is lord of a small manor, called Snorings, (fines certain.) The joint livings were valued in 1831 at £610 per annum; and the tithes were commuted in 1840.
The Church Land, 2A. 8P., with a cottage upon it, is let for £5 2s. In 1688, John Pearson, bishop of Chester, left for the poor £20, which was laid out with £20 left by the Rev. Robt. West, in 1676, in the purchase of land, now consisting of 6A. 3R 31P., let for £8 which is distributed in bread and coals. The poor have also the dividends of £209 18s. three per cent. Consols, purchased with £200 left by John Alvis, in 1823.
Archer James farm-bailiff
Archer Robert castrator
Bray Benjamin schoolmaster
Bushell Jonas machine maker
Claxton Violet vict., Three Tuns
Comer William shoemaker
Cook David wheelwright
Dunn S. tailor
Jackson Christopher bricklayer
Lack Thomas shoemaker and victualler, Unicorn
Plane John shoemaker and baker
Platten Robert master of Workhouse
Savage Henry shopkeeper
Southgate Chas. miller & millwrgt.
Stannard Rev. Cphr.,
B.D. Rectory
BLACKSMITHS.
Girdlestone Rt.
Granger Charles
Loades Jarrett Pond
FARMERS.
* are owners
Bradfield Charles
*Bray William
Hall James
Page Christopher, Old Hall
Southgate Samson
Southgate Wm.
*Ward Edmund
*Whistler John
Wright Robert
(C) Transcript by J. Tillin 2004