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