GREAT SNORING is a parish, about 3 1/2 miles north-by-east from Fakenham station, and 2 south from Walsingham station, situated on the road from Fakenham to Wells, in the Northern division of the county, North Greenhoe hundred, Walsingham union and county court district, rural deanery of Walsingham, and archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. Mary the Virgin is an old Gothic building, and has a fine square tower containing 1 bell: it has some stone stalls, and contains several monuments and a handsome mural tablet to the late Rev. Christopher Stannard, B.D., fellow of St. John’s College, cambridge, many years rector of this parish. The register dates from the year 1560. The living is a rectory, with that of Thursford annexed, joint yearly value £584 with residence, in the gift of the Master and Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and held by the Rev. George Henry Marsh, B.D., formerly fellow of that college; the Rev. George Bell, B.A., is curate in charge. The rectory house is a fine specimen of ornamental brickwork, and was built by Sir Ralph Shelton, and has been considerably enlarged and beautified by the present rector, and its elaborated south front in part restored. The Walsingham Union House is situated in this parish. Here is a Parochial mixed school, almost entirely supported by the incumbent. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship here. The charities are Pearson’s, of £14 yearly for bread, and Alvis’s of £6 5s. Messrs. Paine and Brettall, of Chertsey, who are lords of the manor, and the Rev, H. D. Lee-Warner, of Walsingham Abbey, are the principal landowners. The soil is mixed; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. The area is 1,645 acres; rateable value, £3,535; the population in 1871 was 598, inclusive of the inmates of the Walslngham Union House.
Parish Clerk, John Francis.
POST OFFICE.— Christopher Mallett, receiver. Letters are received through Fakenham. The nearest money order office is at Walsingham
Walsingham Union House, William South, master; Mrs. South, matron
Elementary School, Christopher Mallett, master
Bell Rev. Geo. B.A. [curate], Rectory
Leeder Miss
Stannard Mrs. Cottage
COMMERCIAL
Adams Edward shopkeeper
Deane Henry, Farmer
Bushell Jonas & Sons, engineers & machine makers
Cook David, wheelwright
Cook George, machine maker
Dawson William, plumber & painter
Docking Mary Ann (Mrs.), baker
Hall James (exors. of), farmer
Hill William, tailor
Lack Robert, Unicorn, & farmer
Lack Robert, shoe maker
Mallett Christopher, assistant overseer
Norman John, farmer
Perowne Benjamin, farmer & brick &c. maker; & at Barney
Perowne Benjamin, Jun. farmer
Savage Henry, shopkeeper & farmer
Southgate John; horse breaker
Southgate Rohert, Tuns, & coach bldr
Southgate Esther (Mrs.), farmer
Southgate William, horse breaker
Tuck Isaac, blacksmith
LITTLE SNORING is a parish, about 3 miles east-north-east from Fakeaham station, on the road from Fakenham to Wells, in the Western division of the county, Gallow hundred, Walsingham union and county court district, and rural deanery, archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. Andrew is a fine specimen of Saxon architecture: it has chancel, nave, and south porch, which is of a very curious transitional Norman character, having a stilted horseshoe arch, under which is a pointed one ornamented with zigzags, and under this again the round arch of the door, with shafts in the jambs, having sculptured capitals: the tower is round, and is detached about 6 or 7 feet from the west end: the font is late Norman, ornamented with sculptured foliage. The register dates from the year 1559. The living is a rectory, annexed to the vicarage of East Barsham, joint yearly value £645, in the gift of Lord Hastings, and held by the Rev. Frederic William Kent, M.A., of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The poor have £22 yearly, rent of 8A. 3R. 5P. of land; also 20 acres to cut for fuel. The Primitive Methodists have a place of.worship here. Lord Hastings is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is various; subsoil, clay. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system. The area is 1,524 acres; rateable value, £2,298; the population in 1871 was 250.
Parish Clerk, Joseph Cooper.
Letters are received through Fakenham, which is the nearest money order office.
COMMERCIAL.
Banyard William, shoe maker & keeper
Gulder John, farmer
Hall Henry, farmer
Hill Charles, shoe maker
Howell Maria (Mrs.), Bell
Nickalls Charles, blacksmIth, wheel-wright & shopkeeper
Powell Nicholas, farmer
Shaw Frederic, Green Man
Sherringham Robert, farmer & game-keeper to Lord Hastings
Tuck William, horse breaker
Tuddenham John, shopkeeper
(C) Transcript by J. Tillin 2004