SPROWSTON is an extensive parish and very straggling village, 3 miles north from Norwich, in the Southern division of the county, Taverham hundred, St. Faith's union, Norwich county court district, rural deanery of Taverham, archdeaconry of Norfolk and diocese of Norwich. The church of SS. Mary and Margaret is an ancient flint and stone building, and has at various times undergone repairs and alterations which have much interfered with its original architecture: it consists of chancel, nave, aisles and square brick tower containing 3 bells: it contains several handsome monuments, amongst the most interesting of which, but in a state of great dilapidation, are many relating to the Corbett family, the Micklethwaits, one to the Morse family, and several other mural tablets, one in the chancel dated 1665 to Sir Thomas Adams, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1645; the chancel window is stained, and was given by Mrs. Rushmore. The register dates from the year 1727. The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £300, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich and held since 1878 by the Rev. Edward Francis Linton M.A. of University College, Oxford. A vicarage was erected in 1882. There is £30 yearly for fuel. The village is about 3 miles in length, and contains some handsome private residences. There are two corn mills in the parish. Sprowston Hall, the seat of John Gurney M.A., J.P. is a fine red brick mansion, which was rebuilt in 1881, pleasantly situated on the Wroxham road. John Gurney esq. who is lord of the manor, William Hardy Cozens-Hardy esq. Sir H. J. Stracey bart. and Gilbert H. Stracey esq. J.P. are the chief landowners. The soil of this parish is extremely light; subsoil, generally gravel, with patches of clay at varying depths, from which excellent bricks are made. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley and turnips. The area is 2,576 acres; rateable value. £6,154; and in 1881 the population was 1,798.
Parish Clerk, Frederick Andrews.
POST, MONEY ORDER OFFICE & Savings Bank.—Henry Burrage, receiver. Letters arrive from Norwich at 4.45 a.m. & are dispatched at 6 p.m. The nearest telegraph office is at Norwich.
A National school was erected in 1860 by Mrs.Arkwight & greatly enlarged in the year 1873 by John Gurney esq. to whom the school belongs; Robert John Adcock, master; Mrs. Jane M. Adcock, mistress
PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Banfather Rev Henry B.D. [rector of Beeston St. Andrew]
Bass John, Constitution place
Blake Wiffen Robert, Constitution hill
Brown J. B.
Butcher Walter Witton
Butler Thomas, Constitution hill
Calver Mrs
Chaplin Edward
Cozens-Hardy Theobald J.P. Oak lodge
Dawson John, Constitution place
Easton Rev. Isaac [curate of St Clement's, Norwich]
Easton Isaac, sen
Ellis John, Constitution place
Emms Herbet Robert, Constitution pl
Ford Thomas Rowland
Gale William
Gurney John M.A., J.P., Sprowston hall
Guyton Robert, Constitution hill
Harman Leonard, Constitution place
Kerry Geo. Caythorpe, Constitution hill
Linton Rev. Edward Fras. M.A. [vicar]
Littleboy George Hy. Constitution hill
Mallett Christopher, Constitution hill
Moore James
Page Alfred, Constitution hill
Pratt Edward, Constitution hill
Rackham George Charles
Robertson George R
Rouse Jesse C
Stracey Edward Henry Gervase J.P. Srowston lodge
Stracey Gilbert harding J.P. Sprowston lodge
Taylor Mrs. Constitution place
Theobald George Edward
Tillett William Henry, Sprowston lodge
Veale Mrs. Constitution hill
Wensum Samuel, Constitution place
White William, Constitution hill
Widdow John, Constitution place
Willis Reuben, Constitution hill
COMMERCIAL.
Adcock William, boot maker
Allen John, Norfolk Arms Bishop Charles Walter, baker
Blake Robert W. brick maker
Burage Henry, baker
Burrows Thomas John, Ship inn Burrows William, Bricklayers' Arms Catton Richard (Mrs.), market gardener
Causton John, city missionary, Constitution place
Chapman James, Blue Boar Child John, smith
Cozens-Hardy Theobald, farmer
Crompton Charles, market gardener
Dixon Joseph, farmer
Edwards Daniel, engineer & timber merchant
Edwards William, lime burner
Everett John, farmer
Filby —, farmer
Fisher William, farmer
Francis Henry, poulterer
Froggot Ada (Miss), ladies' school
George William, butcher
Goodson H. (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Gowing George David, farmer
Graver & Bacon, brick makers
Graver William, threshing machine proprietor
Hanson Charles, boot maker
Holborn Thomas, shopkeeper
Howard William, boot maker
Huggins Samuel, Royal Oak Jarmy Thomas, brick & tile maker
Johnson Thomas, registrar of births & deaths for Sprowston sub-district
& relieving, vaccination & school attendance enquiry officer, Eastern district St. Faith's union, Constitution place
King George, higgler
Lusher Henry, shovel maker
Mackley William, Bricklayer's Arms Mason James, Black Horse Mason John, brick merchant
Mayor Joshua, farmer, Denmark farm
Mear Robert, miller (wind) Mimms George E. shopkeeper
Moore John, wheelwright
Morris John, wheelwright
Morris Samuel, bricklayer
Newman & Tilney,brick makers
Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club (J. B. Brown, sec.)
Riches Edward, Constitution tavern Robertson Geo. R. flour miller (wind) Rump Theophilus, assistant overseer
Scott Robert, shoe maker
Seaman George Arthur, shopkeeper
Seaman Lee, cattle dealer
Shorten Daniel, beer retailer Sligth John, farmer
Smith Rebecca (Mrs.), George & Dragon Thurgar John Willia, grocer
Want George, insurance agent
Weeds Maria (Miss), shopkeeper
Wrench George brick maker
Yaxley Thomas, wheelwright
Yellop Henry, farmer
