BRESSINGHAM TRADE DIRECTORIES

WHITE'S - 1845
HARROD'S - 1878
KELLY'S - 1900

BRESSINGHAM is a large scattered village, on the north side of the open vale of the Waveney, 2 miles W. by N. of Diss, and has in its parish 647 inhabitants, and 2287a. of land, lying mostly in the Duke of Norfolk's manors of Bressingham and Boyland, (fines arbitrary) and partly in the rectory manor, and Buckenham Priory manor. L. Palmer, Esq., is lord of the latter. Boyland Hall, an ancient mansion, with a large farm, is the Duke's property, and was built by Sir Richard de Boyland, an itinerant judge of the time of Edward I., who formed here a subterraneous walk, or conduit, by which water was brought to his baths and moats from an overflowing well, which still remains. The Church (St. John the Baptist,) was rebuilt by Sir Roger Pilkington, in 1526, and repaired after the civil wars. It is a large structure, with a fine tower and five bells. The east window has four figures in stained glass. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £15, is in the gift of the Duke of Norfolk, and incumbency of the Rev. G. H. C. Bidwell, A,B., who has 36a. 12P. of glebe, a handsome Rectory-House, built in 1842, and a yearly rent of £613, awarded in 1843, in lieu of tithes. In 1728, Elizabeth Barker left a house and land, to be applied by the rector and churchwardens in the support of a school for poor children. The property, including an allotment awarded to it at the enclosure, consists of a house and school-room, and 5a. 3R. 8P. of land, worth about £15 a year. The master teaches eight free scholars reading and writing, A yearly rent-charge of £2, left by John Welham, in 1702, is distributed among the poor in bread. The Fuel Allotment, 24a. 15P., was awarded at the enclosure, in 1802, and is divided into small lots, on which the poor cut turf, etc. The Town Lands, partly acquired at the enclosure, comprise 10a. 31P., let for about £20 a year, which is carried in equal moieties to the church and poor rates. Here are also two houses and 3R. of land occupied by paupers.

BRESSINGHAM (or Brissingham), is a village 8 miles N.W. of Diss station, in Diss hundred, rural deanery of Redenhall, diocese of Norwich, archdeaconry of Norfolk, Guiltcross union, and Diss county court district, East Norfolk ; contains 596 inhabitants and 2,300 acres. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The living is a rectory, annual value £455, with residence, in the gift of the Duke of Norfolk. The incumbent is the Rev. George Henry Clarke Bidwell, M.A., who is also lord of the manor. Here is a farm called the Gate Farm, from the fact of there being three gates hanging on one post, and is considered by the parties living in the neighbourhood to be one of the greatest curiosities in Norfolk.
Diss is the nearest money-order, telegraph office, and post town.

BRESSINGHAM (or Brissingham) is a parish and long straggling village on the borders of Suffolk and on the river Waveney, 3 miles north-west from Diss station, on the Great Eastern Railway, in the Southern division of the county, Diss hundred petty sessional division and county court district, Guiltcross union, rural deanery of Redenhall, archdeaconry of Norfolk and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. John the Baptist., rebuilt in 1527, is an edifice of flint and stone, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles, south porch and a lofty embattled western tower with pinnacles and containing 5 bells: the roof, pulpit, reading-desk and pews are of oak, elaborately curved: the east window is stained, and there are several marble monuments to the family of Thomas Martin, the antiquary, and author of a "History of the Town of Thetford:" in the north aisle is a memorial window, inserted at the expense of the late Robert Newson Bunn, to his father, who resided in this parish upwards of 40 years, another stained window has been erected by Mrs. Huson: there are 300 settings, of which 180 are free. The register dates from the year 1559. The living is a rectory, net yearly value ,£450, including 36 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of Mrs. T. H. Nock, and held since 1889 : by the Rev. William Collins Badger M.A. of Queen's College, Cambridge. There are Primitive Methodist and Baptist chapels here. Mrs. Elizabeth Barker's charity of £12 yearly is distributed equally between the Sunday and Board schools. Wellham's charity of £2 yearly is for bread, and the poor have an allotment of 24 acres. Bressingham Hall, pleasantly seated a short distance from the church, is the property of Arthur Pontifex esq. of Parkstone, Dorset. The rector is lord of the rectorial manor. The Duke of Norfolk; K.G Harrison Allen esq Arthur Pontifex esq. P. Williar Henry Hazard esq. LL.B. and Mr.Henrv Gardiner are the principal landowners. The land is of a mixed soil: subsoil, clay and gravel. The chief crops are wheat and barley. The area is 2,421 acres; rateable value, £2527, and the population in 1891 was 553
Parish Clerk, James Bailey.
Post Office. Mrs Emily Noble, sub-postmistress letters through Diss arrive at 7.15 a.m.; dispatched: 5.55 Pm week days only. Postal orders are here, but not paid. Diss, 3 miles distant, nearest money order ,& telegraph office
Pillar Letter Box, Bressingham Common, cleared 6.15pm week days only
A School Board of 5 members was formed May31, 1875, Frederick Fowell, of Hopton, Suffolk, clerk to the board.
Board School (mixed), built in 1878, at a cost of £859, for 100 children; average attendance, 79; Edward Jolly. Master.