1891 Census Names Index
Kelly's 1883 Directory entry
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Norfolk - Welney

Francis White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Norfolk 1854, pp. 644-5

WELNEY is a village and considerable parish, 10 miles S.W. of Downham, lying in the cultivated fens of the Great Bedford Level, partly in Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, and in R. G. Townley's manor of Beaupre Hall, and in the Bishop of Ely's manor of the Isle of Ely. The parish contains 270 houses, 1,206 souls, and 5,500 acres of land, chiefly the property of R. G. Townley, Esq., P. Huddleston, Esq., and Messrs. W. Little, Jph. Clemenson, and Robt. Beart. The fen land is frequently inundated several feet deep during the winter season. Of the above, 1,900 acres and 559 inhabitants are in Cambridgeshire, and form a separate township. The small river which here divides the counties, is navigable to Wisbech [sic] canal ; and a little above the village is crossed by those broad drains, called the Old and New Bedford rivers : the latter is crossed by a handsome suspension bridge of great height, and 63 yards, 2 feet long, built by the Rev. W. G. Townley, in 1826. The CHURCH is a neat structure, erected in 1848, at the cost of £5,000 ; the pulpit is of stone, neatly carved, and a beautiful stained glass window ornaments the chancel. The Rev. A. W. Roper, B.A. is curate. The living is consolidated with Upwell. In 1661 Wm. Marshall, Esq. bequeathed nine pieces of land, comprising 466a. 36p., and directed one-third of the yearly proceeds to be applied in repairing the Church and the bridge leading to it ; one-third for relieving poor widows, and apprenticing poor children ; and the other third for repairing the highways of Welney. This estate is let annually in 18 lots to the highest bidder, and the rents now amount to between £700 and £800. The income being more than necessary for the objects named by the donor, a new scheme was approved by the Court of Chancery in 1819, and one-third of the clear income is now applied in relieving poor widows, and apprenticing and clothing poor children ; two-thirds in repairing the Church, bridge, and highways, and in supporting a Free School. The trustees erected a good school and residence for the teacher in 1848 : about 100 boys and 100 girls attend. In the same year six almshouses were built for six poor widows, each of whom receive 3s. a week

Marked 1 are in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire ; and 2, at the Suspension Bridge.
PostOffice at Hy.Stringer's. Letters arrive at 12.30 noon, and are despatched at 2. p.m. in winter, and 4 in summer.
Baker Hy. blacksmith
Barrett Jas. corn miller
Cam Jhp. tailor
1 Cockell Danl. shopkr.
1 Green Chp. & Eliz. free school
2 Neale Mary, shopkr.
Redhead Mtth. parish clk.
Roper Rev. Arthur Wellington, B,A. [sic] curate
1 Savage Mary, school mistress
1 Snell Eliz. school mistress
Stringer Hy. grocer & draper
Wallis Mary, school mistress

Inns & Taverns.
2 Crown, W. Barker (& bricklayer)
1 Green Man, Jas. Beart
Lamb & Flag, Wm. Ayres
Three Tuns, (unoccupied)

Bakers.
Howard Saml.
Kimmons Jas.

Beer Houses.
1 Clarke Wm.
Hills Jno.
Lissitt Jno.

Farmers.
Barrett Jas.
Beart Jno.
Climenson Jph. and Wm.
Failes Jas.
Green Jas.
1 Grunwell Geo.
1 Hassip Jno.
1 Horn Hannah
1 James Jno.
1 Little Hy.
1 Morton Geo.
Neal Hy.

Wheelwrights.
Beart Jas.
2 Begley Nunn

Carrier
To Wisbeach, sat. & to Ely, tu. & thur. Clever W.

1891 Census Names Index
Kelly's 1883 Directory entry
Local web-site
Parish information [Geoff Lowe & Andrew Rivett]
More on Welney [GENUKI-NFK]
Return to villages index
Paddy's home page