Gestingthorpe 1848 Whites Directory
GESTINGTHORPE, a long straggling village, on a pleasant eminence, 45miles S.W. of Sudbury, has in its parish 834 souls, and 2611A. 3R. 22p. of land, and several scattered farm- houses. The soil is generally heavy, and partly a sandy loam. The heirs of the late Geo. Walker, Esq., are owners and lords of the manor of Over Hall, a neat mansion, with pleasant grounds. The Earl of Mornington is owner of Nether Hall manor ; and the estate called Parks belongs to A. Majendie, Esq. Here are several smaller owners, mostly copy- holders, subject to arbitrary fines. Odewell was anciently a hamlet and chapelry ; and on the south side of the parish are several houses adjoining Maplestead.
The Church ( St. Mary,) is a good brick building, with a nave, south aisle, and chancel, and an embattled tower, containing six bells. Over the altar is a fine picture ofChrist rising from the Tomb, and on either side are paintings ofMoses and Aaron. A mural monument, on the south side of the chancel, has, in a niche, the kneeling effigy of Capt. John Sparrow, who died in 1626. From an early period, there have been here a sinecure rectory and a discharged vicarage, the former valued in K.B. at £13.6s. 8d., and in 1831 at £454. They are both in the patronage of J. P. Elwes, Esq.; and the Rev. Fdk. Elwes, B.A., of Wixoe, Suffolk, is incumbent of the former, and the Rev. B. B. Syer, B.A., of the latter. The Vicarage-House has recently been rebuilt, and is a handsome mansion, near the church. The rectorial glebe is 96A. 2R. 33P. , and the vicarial glebe 34A. 2R. The tithes were commuted in 1840, the rectorial for £520. 10s. , and the vicarial for £181 per annum. The rent of a cottage and 12A. of land, called Rents Fields, let for £16, is applied in schooling poor children, but the donor is unknown.
Blanden Robert, butcher
Downs John, jun. , smith & ironfounder
Branwhite Charles Hammond, Moat
Finch James, baker
Moss Luke, church clerk
Nice Wm. blacksmith
Pannell Jeffery, wheelwright
Rayner Eliz. earthenware manfr.
Rippingale Jas. hop merchant & beerhouse – Red Lion
Syer Rev. Barrington Blomfield, B.A. Vicarage
Walker Mrs. gentwoman, Over Hall
Weybrew Sarah, vict. Compasses
Wiglesworth Mrs Susanna
FARMERS.
Bear Wm. Nether Hall
Bentall Anthony, Park Gate
Carter John, Old House
Downs John (and brick & tile maker)
Downs Mrs Phoebe, Crouch House
King Isaac, Dalvyns
Patmer Nicholas, Park
Rayner Samuel, Rectory Farm
SCHOOLS.
Hale Harriet
Rippingale Susan
SHOEMAKERS.
Bowers Edward
Harvey William & James
Turner Benj .
SHOPKEEPERS.
Bowers Edward
Corder Henry
Felton Rebecca
Finch James
Nice Mary