Sturmer 1863 Whites directory
STURMER, or Sturmere, a small village and parish, 14 mile S.E. of Haverhill, is watered by a tributary stream of the river Stour, and contains 351 souls, and 925 acres of land. It had its name from a lake or mere of the Stour, which formerly covered about 20 acres. J. and H. T. Purkis, Esqrs., have neat houses here, and own a great part of the parish, purchased in 1832 of R. P. Todd, Esq. A farm here of 34A. 3R. 34P., called Parker’s, and now let for £50 a year, was given by two maiden sisters, at an early period, jointly to the parishes of Sturmer and Kedington, for the reparation of their churches and the relief of their poor.
Sturmer Church is a curious old building, very imperfectly lighted by small lancet windows. Its only entrance is under a Saxon arch, with a single zig-zag ornament. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8 10s. , and now at £240, is in the patronage of the Duke of Rutland, and incumbency of the Rev. William Hicks, who has an ancient residence, and about 20 acres of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1840 for £267 per annum. The next presentation is sold to the Rev. J. R. Fletcher, D.D.
Bowyer Thomas, blacksmith
Crick John, victualler, Red Lion
Dillistone Sargent & John, nursery and seedsmen, florists, &c.
Gowers Stephen, carpenter
Hicks, Rev. William, rector of Sturmer, surrogate, and chaplain of Risbridge Union
Purkis Harry T. Esq. Abbots
Purkis John, Esq. Sturmer Hall
Ruse Rutland, saddler, &c.
Skelton John, boot and shoe maker
Smith Mrs Mary, farmer, Copse Hall
Todd Radcliffe Pearl, Esq. Woodland Green
Turner Charles, police
Walliker Edw. clerk, & William, sexton
Warren Mary, schoolmistress
POST OFFICE at Mr. R. Ruse’s, Letters from Haverhill via Halstead Mail Gig.
CARRIERS pass weekly.