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Norfolk - Banham
Kelly's Directory for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk, 1883, p.237.
[Complete entry. Transcription Copyright © E. C."Paddy" Apling ]

BANHAM is a picturesque village and parish situated 6 miles north-west from Diss station, 6 east-by-north from Harling Road station, and 6 south from Attleborough , in the Southern division of the county, Guiltcross hundred and union ,Attleborough county court district, rural deanery of Rockland , archdeaconry of Norfolk and diocese of Norwich.

The church of St. Mary the Virgin is a beautiful flint structure, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, and square tower (containing 6 bells) with handsome leaden spire: on the south side is a fine Gothic porch: there are two very handsome stained glass windows in the chancel to the wife and son of the present rector, erected in 1877: the interior was restored in 1865 and re-seated with open benches, the expense being defrayed by the rector: the carved work of the pulpit (which is of oak) and seats are considered unusually beautiful: the east window and a mortuary window in the south aisle to the Gall family, are executed in Powell's patent glass: the chancel contains a very old wooden effigy of Sir Hugh Bardolph, the reputed founder of this church; there is also a small brass in the floor of the nave in memory of Dame Elizabeth Wastneys.

The register dates from the year 1558, and is in excellent preservation.

The living is a rectory, tithe rent charge £1,261 with 35 acres of glebe and residence in the gift of the Lord Chancellor and held since 1856 by the Rev. John George Fardell MA of Christ's College, Cambridge.

About half a mile west of the town is 1? acres of land given by the rector as an addition to the churchyard; it has a mortuary chapel.

Here are a Wesleyan and a Primitive Methodist chapel.

The charities are the "town lands," about 3 acres in Banham Heath, producing £7 yearly, fuel allotment producing £25 6s. yearly; an estate in Kenninghall Park common containing 90 acres with farm buildings, producing £74 yearly; 10s. yearly a charge on a piece of land called Bidwell's gift; £1 yearly a charge on a piece of land called Gawdy's donation: the above amounts are given yearly to the poor of the parish in coals and calico: the church lands produce £56 yearly, they are for the repair &c. of the church.

About three-quarters of a mile west of the town are manufactories of bricks, tiles and chimney-pots, the clay obtained in this locality being eminently adapted for the purpose.

Cider is manufactured here by Messrs. Gaymer and Son, who annually store very large quantities: their establishment is of nearly two centuries' standing.

John Odin Howard Taylor esq. who is lord of the manor, the Earl of Albermarle, Richard Bird, Isaac F. Parkinton, Thomas Leonard Palmer and Henry John Palmer esqs. Mrs. Bailey and Jeremiah J. Colman esq. M. P . are the principal landowners.

The land is of mixed soil; subsoil, gravel, clay and marl.

The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats.

The area is 3,963 acres; rateable value, £5,879; the population in 1881 was 1,142.


Parish Clerk , George Chapman.


POST , MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE & Savings Bank. Thomas Barnard, receiver. Letters received from Attleborough at 7.15 a.m.; dispatched at 7.10 p.m., except sundays, then dispatched at 10.30 a.m. The nearest telegraph office is at New Buckenham .


A School Board of 5 members was formed in 1875: L. Lane, Kenninghall , clerk to the Board Board School , built in 1878, Thomas Pawson, master

CARRIER TO NORWICH. William Vout, mon. & thurs
Clarke Misses
Fardell Rev. John George M.A [ rector], Rectory
Germany John Hilyard Rev.Chas Fred B.A.[curate]
Holmes Miss
Murrell Mrs
Newson Mrs
Palmer Ellis
Roper Miss
Twiddy Robert
Wells Miss

COMMERCIAL.
Adams Mary (Mrs.), farmer
Arms Joseph, miller (wind)
Badcock John, Crown , & farmer
Barker William, miller (wind)
Barnard Albert, Greyhound
Bethell John Edgar Ward, saddler & harness maker
Betney Henry, farmer
Betts Harry, farmer, Haugh farm
Bird John, farmer
Brown Thomas, farmer
Burcham Robert, farmer
Burgess Thomas, farmer
Calton Esther (Mrs.), clothes dealer
Cann, farm steward to Chas. Potter esq
Chapman George, blacksmith
Cole William, classical, commercial, day & boarding school
Cracknell Elizabeth (Mrs.), plumber
Cracknell Jemima (Mrs.), corn chandler
Day Elizabeth (Mrs.), shopheeper
Egmore John, grocer & draper
Foulser Robert, farmer
Frost James, farmer
Gaymer William & Son, farmers & cider manufacturers
Gaymer William, jun. farmer & cider merchant
Germany Thomas William, farmer
Huggins Robert, farmer & cattle dealer
Humphrey Elizabeth (Mrs.), shopkpr
Hunt Jas.Lilly, cider & perry retailer
Hunt John Birkbeck, brick & tile mkr
Hurrell William, whitesmith &c
Jolley Edgar George Augustus, farmer & miller (wind)
Jolley Sarah (Mrs.), farmer
Kemp Robert, shopkeeper
Kettle Alfred, plumber &c
Leighton Alfred, shoe maker
Lane Henry Bowers, farmer
Ludkin William & Son, builders
Meyler-Warlow Thomas M.A. private tutor
Moore Henry, boot & shoe maker
Nudds Robert, Brickmakers'Arms
Palmer Henry John, farmer & landowner
Pashley William, cider merchant
Pitchers William, Red Lion
Ribbons Charles, greengrocer
Robinson David, farmer & brick maker
Roper John, farmer & assistant overseer
Rout Richd. butcher & cider merchant
Ryder James, boot & shoe maker
Saunders Charles, farmer
Saunders James, farmer. Rectory farm
Smith John, King's Head
Spurling James, wheelwright
Stone James, farmer
Taylor Henry, wheelwright, carpenter, builder & english timber merchant
Taylor Herbert, bricklayer
Turvey James, farmer
Turvey Robert, Horse Shoes
Vout William, carrier
Wells Mary (Mrs.), ladies' school
© Transcribed by E.C.Apling , January 1999