Norfolk - West Raynham

RAYNHAM (WEST), 4½ miles S.W. of Fakenham, is a village and parish, comprising 391 inhabitants, 79 houses, and 1,354a. 1r. 2p. of land, the property of Capt. John Townshend, R.N., the lord of the manor, and patron of the rectory, which is valued in the King's book at £18 13s. 4d., and consolidated with East Raynham, in the incumbency of the Rev. Rd. Phayre, B.A., who has 152a. 2r. 23p. of glebe, and a good residence. The Church, dedicated to St. Margaret, has long been dilapidated, but is still an interesting ruin, mantled with ivy. The inhabitants use St. Mary's Church, at East Raynham. The commons of Raynham and Helhoughton were enclosed in 1821. The Rev. Thomas D. Whitaker, L.L.D., F.R.S., and F.S.A., the late eminent topographer and antiquary, was born here in the rectory house, in 1759, and died vicar of Blackburn, Lancashire, Dec. 18th, 1821. In 1666 Peter Stringer left, for the relief of the poor, and for apprenticing the poor children of West Raynham, £200, which was laid out in 1797 in the purchase of £400 three per cent consols. The dividends are mostly distributed in clothing. For distribution among the poor, Capt. John Townshend pays £6 14s. 8d. every alternate year, pursuant to the will of Lady Berkeley [sic. Lady Mary Townshend], dated 1662.

DIRECTORY —

Benj. Bradfield, tailor ;
R. Dunger, gardener ;
John Franklin, shoemkr. ;
Geo. Gunton, wheelwright and smith;
Jno. Harper, basket maker ;
Jeffery Jno. Mann, vict., Greyhound ;
Jno. Parker, baker ;
Rev. Richd. Phayre, B.A., Rectory ;
Jas. Scott, tailor and shopkpr. ;
Wm. Segon, shoemkr. ;
Richard Smith, butcher ;
Jno. Southgate, par. clk.;
and
Richd. Doggett,
Wm. Francis, and
Saml. Southgate, farmers.

1891 Census Names Index
Gallow hundred
Walsingham union
East Raynham
South Raynham
Photos of West Raynham [norfolktours.org.uk]
Raynham postmill [Jonathan Neville]
More on West Raynham [GENUKI-NFK]
Additional info on West Raynham [Geoff Lowe and Andrew Rivett]
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