FORNCETT ST. PETER is a village and parish with station, one mile north from the village, on the Great Eastern railway, 102 miles from London amd 8 north from Diss, in the Southern division of the county, Depwade hundred, and union, and county court district of Wymondham, rural deanery of Depwade and archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. Peter is a small edifice of flint with stone dressings, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles and north porch, with a fine Saxon round embattled tower containing 5 bells, and has been completely restored; it contains a curious alabaster tomb supposed to be that of the founder of the church, and probably dating from the 15th century; also some sepulchral brasses to the Baxter family dated 1484 and 1535; the orginal oak benches are also remarkable, the beautifully carved poppy heads of which are rich specimens of 15th century wood carving; there are to memorial stained windows in the chancel, one to the Rev. Joseph Bell, formerly curate of this parish, the other to Phœbe, wife of John Furness esq. solicitor. The register dates from the year 1561. The living is a rectory, tithe rent charge £587, with 47 acres of glebe and house, in the gift of the Earl of Ellingham and held since 1847 by the Rev. William Greive Wilson M.A. late fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, J.P. for Norfolk. The Baptists and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel. Sir R. J. Harvey's charity of 30s. yearly is for poor widows. This is the head manor of the honor, liberty, or jurisdiction of the Duke of Norfolk in this county, which included 4 hundreds and 127 parishes. The Duke has disposed of several of the sub-manors. William Henry Cole esq. is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are Sir F. G. M. Boileau bart. Sir Charles Harvey bart. Rev. Dr. Jex-Blake, John Furness esq. Mr. Thomas Palmer and Miss Bradshaw. The soil is clay and good mixed soil; subsoil, clau and gravel. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and peas. The area is 1,830 acres; rateable value, £3,302; the population in 1881 was 616.
Parish Clerk, James Balls.
Letters through Long Stratton, which is the nearest money order & telegraph office. There are WALL LETTER BOXES at Lower Forncett & Forncett end
SCHOOLS:—
National (endowed with £11 yearly), Miss Annie Poll, mistress
Infant, Mrs. M. Caston, mistress
CARRIER TO NORWICH.—James Williams, wednesday & saturday, returning same days
Furness John, Forncett grove
Palmer Mrs
Palmer Thomas
Simmonds Miss
Wilson Rev. William Greive M.A., J.P. [rector], Rectory
