WET RAYNHAM (or RAYNHAM ST. MARGARETis a parish, 2 miles from Raynham Park station on the Eastern and Midland railway. amd 5½ miles south-west from Fakenham, in the Western division of the county, Gallow hundred, Walsingham union and county court district, rural deanery of Toftrees, archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. Margaret has been many years in ruins: the inhabitants use St. Mary's church, in East Raynham. The living is a rectory, consolidated with East Raynham, joint yearly value, with glebe, about £1,000, in the gift of the Marquess Townshend and held since 1832 by the Rev. Richard Phayre M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin. An annual dole of £3 6s. 8d. is received out of the estate of the Marquess Townshend; also a sum of £6 14s 8d. yearly alternately with Helhoughton parish. The Wesleyans have a chapel here. The Rev. Thomas Dunham Whittaker LL.D. the celebrated topographer and antiquary, was born at the old rectory house. The Marquess Townshend is lord of the manor and sole landowner. The soil is heavy and mixed; subsoil. brick earth and marl. The land is cultivated on the usual four-course system, The parish contains 2,370 acres; rateable value, £1,852; and the population in 1881 was 336.
Parish Clerk, Herbert Southgate
POST OFFICE.&'151;Mrs. Mary Ann Scott, receiver. Letters received through Swaffham arrive at 8.10 a.m.; disoatched ay 6.45 p/m/ East Rudham is the nearest money order & telegraph office
Here is a school for girls for the district of East, West and South Raynham & Helhoughton, erected by the Marquess Townshend, & supported by voluntary contributions of the ratepayers; Miss Emily Tindall, certificated mistress; the boys of this parish attend the school at Helhoughton
Phayre Rev. Eichard M.A., J.P. Rectory
Butcher Arthur Richard, farmer
Dyball & Payne, agricultural implement makers
Francis John (excrs. of), farmer
Green Henry, mail contractor
Scott Mary Ann (Mrs.), grocer & draper, & post office
Segon William, shoe maker
Smith Walter, butcher & farmer
