[Transcription © SA Whittle-Bruce 2002]

Wimbotsham,Norfolk

Kelly's 1908 Directory

Wimbotsham is a parish and village, on the road from Downham to Lynn and on the river Ouse, 1 mile north from Downham station on the Ely and Lynn section of the Great Eastern railway, in the South Western division of the county, Clackclose hundred and petty sessional division, Downham union and county court district, rural deanery of Fincham (East division), archdeaconry of Lynn and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. Mary, situate on rising ground, is a building of stone, originally Norman, consisting of apsidal chancel, nave, north porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing 3 bells: the north and south doorways are fine examples of Norman work; in 1854 the church was restored, the chancel being entirely rebuilt by the Rev. george Henry Dashwood M.A. then rector: a new organ was erected in 1906: there are 200 sittings. The register dates from the year 1562. The living is a rectory, annexed to the vicarage of Stow Bardolph, joint net yearly value of £510. including 25 acres of glebe, in the gift of Sir Thomas Leigh Hare bart. M.V.O. and held since 1902 by the Rev. John Percy de Patron M.A. of University College, Durham, who resides at Stow Bardolph. There are Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist chapels. The Reading Room, erected in 1903 on land given by Sir T.L. Hare bart. is vested in trustees, and has a lending library of over 200 volumes; meetings and entertainments are held here, and during the winter months it is used by the Working Men's Club. The fuel allotment produces between £30 and £40 yearly, which sum is distributed to the poor in coals. Sir Thomas Leigh Hare bart. M.V.O. is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is clay and sand; subsoil, clay and sandstone. The chief crops are wheat and barley. Under the Divided Parishes Act the area is 1,557 acres of land. 2 of water, 12 of tidal water and 6 of foreshore; rateable value, £2,028; the population in 1901 was 563.

Post Office.- Christopher Gunn, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Downham Market at 6.20 a.m. & 1 p.m. and dispatched at 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. Downham, 2 miles distant, is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

Public Elementary School(mixed), erected in 1869 & enlarged in 1895, for 250 children; average attendance 130; woodwork handicraft is taught throughout the school, William H.Turner, master; Miss Emma Ward, infants' mistress

PRIVATE RESIDENTS

Bunkall Charles, The Limes

Chapman Arthur Robert, Lynwood

Goulder Miss, Hill house

Howlett Alfred, Lynn road

Turner William H

COMMERCIAL

Baxter John, carriage builder

Bunkall Charles, farmer

Cook Arthur, boot maker

Grist Thomas W, beer retailer

Gunn Christopher, grocer & draper, Post office

Hazel jacob, clerk to managers & school attendance officer

Horne Harry, farmer

Knight Arthur, farmer, Lower farm

Lee Harry, baker

Monk George, coal dealer

Napthan Horace, butcher

Nicholls John, farmer

Pond Herbert, carpenter

Ransome John, cycle ma. Lynn rd

Reading Room (John Allison, sec.)

Smith George, blacksmith

Snasdell Henry Jackson, shoe maker

Utting John, farmer

Whiterid James, Chequers P.H.

Wooton Joseph, farmer, auctioneer & valuer, Church farm