South Acre Norfolk Family History Guide
South Acre is an Ancient Parish in the county of Norfolk.
Alternative names: Southacre
Parish church: St. George
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1561
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1695
Nonconformists include:
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Sporle with Palgrave
- Newton by Castle Acre
- Narford
- West Acre
- Castleacre
- Swaffham
Parish History
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
SOUTHACRE (St. George), a parish, in the union of Swaffham, hundred of South Greenhoe, W. division of Norfolk, 3½ miles (N. by W.) from Swaffham; containing 100 inhabitants.
It comprises 2492a. 6p., of which 2066 acres are arable, 123 pasture, and 207 woodland. The river Nar runs along the northern boundary.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £10. 18. 1½., and in the gift of A. Fountaine, Esq.: the tithes have been commuted for £510; there is a glebe-house, and the glebe comprises about 44½ acres. The church contains portions in the three styles of English architecture, with a square embattled tower; at the east end of the north aisle is a chapel, in which is the effigy of a Knight Templar, supposed to represent Sir Eudo Harsick, who died in 1292, and by whom it is thought the church was erected.
At Racheness, in the parish, in the time of Henry II., was an hospital for lepers, subordinate to the priory of Castle-Acre.
There are slight remains of the ancient Hall, the seat of the Harsicks.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Directories
South Acre Norfolk Post Office Directory of Norfolk & Suffolk 1865
South Acre is a small parish in South Greenhoe hundred, Swaffham union and county court district, Cranwich rural deanery, Norfolk archdeaconry, Norwich diocese, West Norfolk, a mile from Castle Acre, 3 miles north from Swaffham station, 117½ from London, and 13 from Lynn. The situation is in a pleasant valley, watered by the river Nar. The church of St. George is an old pile, with nave, chancel and aisles, and tower containing 3 bells: there are several monuments and a brass. The register dates from 1580.
The living is a rectory, annual value £572, with good residence and 45 acres of glebe, in the gift of Andrew Fountaine, Esq., and held by the Rev. John Fountaine, M.A., of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The population is 92, and the acreage is 2,492. Andrew Fountaine, Esq., is lord of the manor and chief landowner: the soil is sand and clay.
Parish Clerk, Robert Yallop.
Letters through Brandon. Swaffham is the nearest money order office
Fountaine Rev. John, M.A. [rector], Rectory
Clark William Breame, farmer
Palmer Walter Orbell, farmer
Starling Elizabeth & Martha (Misses), dress makers
Source: Post Office Directory of Norfolk & Suffolk; Kelly & Co.; London; 1865.
Administration
- County: Norfolk
- Civil Registration District: Swaffham
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk
- Diocese: Norwich
- Rural Deanery: Cranwich
- Poor Law Union: Swaffham
- Hundred: South Greenhoe
- Province: Canterbury