Post Office Directory of 1865.
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SHIPMEADOW is a parish and village, in Wangford hundred, union, and
rural deanery, Beccles county court district, archdeaconry of Suffolk, and
diocese of Norwich, East Suffolk, in the vale of the navigable Waveney, 3 miles
east from Bungay, and 2 ½ west from Beccles. The church of St. Bartholomew is a
small and very neat building, consisting of a tower, nave and chancel, and was
thoroughly repaired in 1856: the old thatched roof was removed, and a new
high-pitched and slated roof substituted: it was also entirely new-seated with
open oak benches. The living is a discharged rectory, tithes commuted in 1839
for £228 per annum, with 28 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of Mrs.
Suckling, and held by the Rev. Maurice Shelton Suckling, M.A., of Trinity
College, Cambridge. The Union House for the hundred of Wangford is situated in
this parish: it is an extensive building, with accommodation for about 450
inmates. The union comprises the following places:—All Saints and St. Nicholas
(South Elmham), Barsham, Beccles, Bungay Holy Trinity, Bungav St. Mary, Ellough,
Flixton, Homersfield, Mettingham, North Cove, Redisham, Ringsfield, St. Andrew
(Ilketshall), St. Cross (South Elmsham), or Sandcroft, St. James (South Elmham),
St. John (Ilketshall), St. Lawrence (Ilketshall), St. Margaret (Ilketshall), St.
Margaret (South Elmham), St. Michael (South Elmham), St. Peter (South Elmham),
Shadingfield, Shipmeadow, Sotterley, Weston, Willingham, and Worlingham. A
yearlv rent-charge of 10s. was left for the benefit of the poor by F. Wormall in
1709. The population in 1861 was 334, and the area is 800 acres, which belong to
several owners. Mrs. Suckling is lady of the manor.
Parish Clerk, William Moare.
POST OFFICE.—John Howlett, jun. receiver. Letters are received through Beccles,
& arrive about 8.30 a.m.; dispatched at 4.15 p.m. The nearest money order office
is at Beccles
Union House for the Hundred of Wangford, Robert Bntcher, governor; Mrs. Mary
Butcher, matron; Charles George, schoolmaster; Mrs. Ann Moss Stammers,
schoolmistress
Clerk to the Guardians, F. S. Rix, esq,. Beccles
Chaplain, Rev. Maurice Shelton Suckling, M.A
Relieving Officer for Beccles District, David Jude,Beccles
Draper Misses
Suckling Rev. Maurice Shelton, M.A. Rectory
Butcher Robert; master of the Union house
Cullum Stephen, butcher
Foreman Henry, shopkeeper & schoolmaster
Houghton George, farmer
Howlett John, jun. carpenter & farmer
Johnson Robert, farmer
Walpole James, farmer