Fornham All Saints, Suffolk Villages & Towns - History, Genealogy & Trade Directories
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FORNHAM-ALL-SAINTS in 1844, is a pleasant village with several neat houses, on 
the south western bank of the small river Lark, opposite the other two Fornhams, 
2 1/2 miles N. W. by N. of Bury St. Edmund's, has in its parish 336 souls, and 
about 2.000 acres of land. A battle is said to have been fought here by Edward, 
son of king Alfred, with Ethelwald, his uncle's son, over whom he gained a 
complete victory. Sir Thomas Gage, Bart., is lord of the manor, but part of the 
soil belongs to the Rev. Sir T. G. Cullum, Bart., on whose estate, at the 
south-east angle of the parish, 1 mile N. of Bury, is a commodious Wharf, at the 
termination of the Lark Navigation. Penelope, Countess Rivers, left, out of 
lands in this parish, a yearly rent charge of �8, that a sermon might be 
preached against popery, four times a year at Bury. This lady had the good 
fortune to marry in succession, three gentlemen who had been her suiters at the 
same time, but had children only by her second husband, Sir John Gage, of Firle, 
in Essex. The Church, (All Saints) is a neat structure with a tower and five 
bells. The rectory, valued in K. B. at �19 10s. 5d. has that of Westley annexed 
to it, and the united benefices are now worth about �770 per annum; the tithes 
of Fornham having been commuted for �444, and those of Westley for �329 per 
annum. The patronage is in Clare Hall, Cambridge, and the Rev. Richard Haggitt, 
M. A., is the incumbent. For a distribution of coals, the poor have the 
following yearly doles, viz:- 28s. from an acre of land purchased with �10 given 
by William Firmage, in 1599; �3 given by Lady Kitson, out of the manor of 
Lackford; 30s. left by Thomas Mannock, out of 10a. of land; and 20s. out of an 
estate at Risby, given by Robert Booty. From Lady Kitson's charity, the poor of 
Fornham have a gown and coat yearly. (See Hengrave.) They have likewise an 
allotment of 16a. awarded at the enclosure, in lieu of their right of getting 
furze. This allotment is let for �24 a year, which is distributed in fuel. For a 
distribution of bread, they have the dividends of �61 10s. 9d. three percent. 
Consols, purchased with �50 left by John Spink, in 1822; and the interest of �10 
given by Mrs. Gould, widow of a late rector.
Bailey Mr. James 
Brown John, farmer 
Cooke Charles, blacksmith 
Corsbie Mr. John, and Mrs. Ann 
Durrant Thomas, shoemaker & shopkeeper 
Edwards Joseph. wheelwright & smith 
Grimwood William, shopkeeper 
Haggitt Rev. Richard, M. A. Rectory 
Hammond Miss My. 
Stutter Miss 
Howe George, shopkeeper 
Kerrison William, victualler, 
Three Kings 
Merest James D., Esq., tithe commissioner, Priory 
Nichols George, coal agent & wharfinger 
Wiseman George, registrar & relieving officer 
Witt Edward, Esq. farmer, Hall