Whepstead, Suffolk Villages & Towns - History, Genealogy & Trade Directories

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Whepstead Public Houses

WHEPSTEAD in 1844, is a large but widely scattered village, from 4 to 5 miles S. of Bury St. Edmund's, has in its picturesque parish 681 inhabitants, and about 3,000 acres of fertile land. Sir Thomas Hammond, Bart., of Plumpton House, a large mansion with pleasant grounds, is lord of the manor, but a great part of the soil belongs to the Marquis of Bristol, and the Worledge, Jackson, Cocksedge, Image, Ince, Sprigge, Chapman, and other families. The manor was held by Bury Abbey, by gift of Theodred, bishop of London; and was granted to Sir William Drury in the 31st of Henry VIII. It afterwards passed through various families to the late Major General Hammond, who repaired and modernized Plumpton House, in the early part of the present century, and whose descendant, the present owner, has recently been created a baronet. The Church is a neat structure with a tower containing five bells, and formerly surmounted by a spire, which was blown down by a high wind, at Oliver Cromwell's death, as also was that at Dalham. It has a handsomely painted east window, and a good organ, purchased in 1812. The rectory, valued in K. B. at £l4 4s. 2d., and in 1835, at £468, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Image, M. A., who has a neat residence. The tithes were commuted in 1843. The Church Estate consists of a cottage, a garden, and 3r. 38p.of land in this parish, let for £14 a year; 12a. 28p. of tithe free land, at Thurston, let for £15 a year; and a house, a barn, and 6a. of land at Hawstead, let for £10 a year. The rents are expended in the service of the church. The land at Thurston was received in 1809, in exchange for land at Rougham; and that at Hawstead, was obtained in 1814, in exchange for land at Whepstead. A poor widow of this parish is placed in the almshouse at Hawstead, and has a yearly stipend of £5 from the charity of Sir Robert Drury, who also left the yearly sum of £5 to be distributed among the poor of Whepstead, at Christmas, as noticed with Hawstead. They have also about £3 12s. yearly from Jervis's Charily, (see Brockley;) and the interest of £200 left by John Wilson Allen, Esq., in 1825. For schooling poor children of Wheystead, and providing them with books, Thomas Sparke, in 1721, devised a copyhold farm of 24a. 2r. 13p., now let for £21 a year, out of which about £3 is required yearly for repairs, and £1 is paid to the minister and churchwardens, for their trouble in managing the charity. The school is kept in a cottage which was purchased by the trustees, and 10 poor children are taught as free-scholars
Bowers John, beer house & shopkeeper
Borroughs John, carpenter
Curry James, victualler, White Horse
Grimwood Henry, wheelwright
Hammond Sir Thomas, Baronet, Plumpton House
Image Rev. Thomas, M. A. Rectory
King James Edward, Mellon Green
Musk John, shoemaker
Pask James, schoolmaster
Pawsey James, parish clerk
Payne William, shoemaker & shopkeeper
Rutter Joseph, baker and grocer
Wade John, wheelwright
Webb George, blacksmith
Wells Simon, beer house keeper
Wright James, butcher
FARMERS. (* are Owners.)
Bigsby William, Whepstead Hall
* Bigsby Thomas, (and corn miller)
Bradley Alexander, Tuffields
Dennis Jonathan, Riches farm
* Drinkmilk Mary, Tuffields
Goldsmith George, Sparkes
Hall Thomas, Menston Hall
Hammond Robert
Crack John
Holden Robert Vincents' farm
Hustler Mrs., Malting
Langham Joseph
Hustler Charles
Lee James, Doveden Hall
Payne Abraham
Maid Thomas
Payne James, Mickley Green
* Reynolds John, Waste
* Reynolds Isaac, (& farrier) Mellon Green
Snell John, High Green
Vickers James, Limbers
Wallace Walter, Dodds farm
Watkinson George, Stone-Cross green
Webb Mary, Chapman farm