Acle Norfolk Family History Guide
Acle is an Ancient Parish in the county of Norfolk.
Alternative names:
Parish church: St. Edmund
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1664
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1600
Nonconformists include: Wesleyan Methodist
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Beighton Norfolk
- Southtown Suffolk
- Fishley Norfolk
- Burlingham St Andrew Norfolk
- South Walsham St Lawrence Norfolk
- Halvergate Norfolk
- Great Yarmouth Norfolk
- Caister Norfolk
- Postwick Norfolk
- Burlingham St Peter Norfolk
- Tunstall Norfolk
- Stokesby with Herringby Norfolk
- Mautby Norfolk
- Moulton St Mary Norfolk
- Burgh St Margaret Norfolk
- Runham Norfolk
- Burgh Castle Suffolk
- Cantley Norfolk
- Reedham Norfolk
- Bradwell Suffolk
Parish History
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
ACLE (St. Edmund), a parish, in the union of Blofield, hundred of Walsham, E. division of Norfolk, 11 miles (E.) from Norwich; containing 864 inhabitants.
This place, at the time of the Norman Conquest, became a fief of the crown, and was granted by William to Roger Bigod, who obtained for it the privilege of a market and a fair; and in the reign of Richard II. the inhabitants were exempted from all tolls and suits of shire and hundred, and invested with several valuable immunities.
The parish comprises 3164a. 2r. 8p., a large portion of which is grazing land reclaimed from marshy ground; the uplands consist of a fine loamy soil, and are exceedingly fertile. The village is situated on the road from Norwich to Yarmouth, and on a gentle eminence rising from the banks of the navigable river Bure, over which is a stone bridge of three arches, and of great elevation.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £20, and in the gift of Lord Calthorpe: the tithes have been commuted for £720, and there are about twenty acres of glebe, and a good rectory-house. The church, which is chiefly in the decorated style, consists of a nave and chancel, with a circular tower the upper part of which is octagon; the edifice was thoroughly repaired and beautified in 1834.
At Weybridge, a small priory for Augustine canons was founded in the reign of Edward I., by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk; the revenue at the Dissolution was £7. 13. 4.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Directories
Acle Norfolk Post Office Directory of Norfolk & Suffolk 1865
Acle is a parish and small town, in Walsham hundred, Blofield union, Norwich county court district, rural deanery of Blofield, archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich, East Norfolk, 8½ miles west from Yarmouth, a new road having been cut through the marshes in 1833 which shortens the distance 3½ miles from the latter place; 5½ miles from each of the Brundall, Buckenham, and Reedham stations on the Norwich and Yarmouth Railway, 126 from London, and 11 east from Norwich. The church of St. Edmund is an old building: the register dates from the year 1668.
The living is a rectory, annual value £605, with residence, in the gift of Lord Calthorpe, and held by the Rev. R. W. Kennion, M.A.; the Rev. R. D. Pierpoint is the curate. Here is a National school of many years’ standing, supported by voluntary contributions. Here was formerly a market, but it has long been obsolete. A fair is held on Midsummer Day for cattle, &c., and on Old Michaelmas Day for hiring servants. There are a few charities. Richard II. granted the town some immunities, now of little value. One mile east the navigable river Bure is crossed by a Bridge, called Acle bridge. In Weybridge there are remains of Weybridge Priory, founded by Roger Bigod, in the time of Edward I. The chief owners of the soil are Lord Calthorpe, who is lord of the manor, and H. N. Burroughes, T. L. Ewen, G. D. Palmer, Jacob Preston, B. H. Baker, Esqrs., and Mr. Riches. The area is 3,230 acres, rated at £5,745 5s., a large portion of which is marsh land; the population in 1861 was 920.
Parish Clerk, John Holmes.
Post & Money Order Office & Post Office. Savings Bank. — Richard Leeder, postmaster. Letters arrive from Norwich, per mail cart, at 8.30 a.m. & from Yarmouth at 4.30 p.m.. & both are dispatched 10 minutes after the arrival of the latter
Insurance Agents: —
Norwich Equitable Fire, William Knights
Norwich Union Fire S; Life, Howard Baker
Police Station, James Wingfleld, superintendent
National School, Thomas Henry Melville, master; Mrs. Ellen Melville, mistress
Carriers to :—
Norwich — John Holmes, to the York tavern, Wednesday & Saturday at 6 a.m., returning same days
Yarmouth — Young, to ‘Saracen’s Head,’ Church square, Wednesday & Saturday at 8 a.m., returning same days; Daniel Harrison, to the ‘King’s Arms,’ Wednesday & Saturday mornings, returning same days
Private Residents.
Baker Mr. Benjamin
Baker Mr. Howard
Baker Mr. Robert [high constable]
Boultbee Mrs
Brunning Mr. Abraham
Cufaude William Henry, esq
Dawson Mr. Thomas
Drake Lieut. Spencer, R.N
Garratt Mr. William
Hacon Mr. Henry
Hill Rev. George Frederick, M.A. [perpetual curate of Repps & Bastwick]
Jay Joseph Tillett, esq
Kennion Rev. Robert Winter, M.A. Rectory
Knights Mr. William
Mitchell Mr. Edward
Pierpoint Rev. R. D. [curate]
Shingles Miss
Waters Mr. William
Watts Mr. George
Wigg Mrs
Wigg Mr. Gent
Commercial.
Baker Benjamin, farmer
Baker Howard, farmer
Baker Robert, farmer
Benns William, coal merchant
Bilsdon George, Queen’s Head hotel
Blnns George, shopkeeper & beer retailr
Binns Robert, farmer
Birt Harriet (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Boardman George, day school
Brown Mary (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Brown Samuel, farmer
Brunning Abraham, baker & grocer
Burgess Mary (Miss), dress maker
Church John, boot maker
Church Joseph, tailor
Church Joseph Only Curtis, druggist
Church Thomas, boot & shoe maker
Coman Wm. plumber, painter & glazier
Cufaude William Henry, surgeon
Daniels George, farmer
Dunt James, tailor & grocer
Edwards Henry, saddler & harness ma
England Robert, boot maker
Farrance George, bricklayer
Fowler Benjamin,carpentr & wheelwrght
Fowler William Daniel, farmer
Garwood Benjamin, veterinary surgeon
Harding John, boot maker
Harrison Daniel, hay & straw dealer
Harrison James, King’s Head inn, & hay & straw dealer
Holmes John, carrier
Hunn James, Hermitage
Hunn Joseph, farmer
Jay Joseph Tillett, surgeon
Knights William, grocer & draper
Leeder Richard, hair dresser & general dealer
Lemmon Thomas James, painter
Mallett Joshua, Angel & coal merchant
Money John, basket maker
Moore Edmund, carpenter
Oswald William, registrar of births & deaths for the South Walsham district, & relieving officer
Porter Wm. coal merchant & farmer
Riches John Worship, veterinary surgeon, landowner & farmer
Russell Robert, blacksmith
Shingles Mary (Miss), ladies’ boarding school
Tills Charles, farmer
Tills Samuel, blacksmith
Waters William, farmer
Wilkins Susan (Mrs.), butcher
Wilkinson William, pork butcher
Source: Post Office Directory of Norfolk & Suffolk; Kelly & Co.; London; 1865.
Administration
- County: Norfolk
- Civil Registration District: Blofield
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Norwich
- Diocese: Norwich
- Rural Deanery: Blofield
- Poor Law Union: Blofield
- Hundred: Walsham
- Province: Canterbury