Note that the village only assumed its present name in the late 19th Century; it is still known as Pulham St Mary Magdalen for "official" purposes.
Editorial changes from the original are shown thus: [...].
PULHAM, ST. MARY MAGDALEN is a considerable village, about a mile north of the above, [Pulham St. Mary the Virgin] on an eminence, 4½ miles N.W. of Harleston. Its parish had 1155 inhabitants in 1841, including 130 in Depwade Union Workhouse, which is described at page 699. It includes many scattered houses, and 2956A. 1R. 19p. of land, of which the commons called Bush-green, Colegate-end, and Gresham green, were enclosed in 1838-9. It is nearly all in Robert Copeman, Esq.'s manor of Pulham, (fines arbitrary,) and anciently had a weekly market, and was noted for the manufacture of hats, dornecks, coverlets, &c. It has still a cattle fair, on the third Thursday in May. The Church is a large structure, with a tower and six bells, and its curacy, with all the tithes of the parish, is consolidated with the rectory of Pulham St. Mary the Virgin, as already noticed. The Hall, anciently a seat of a younger branch of the Percy family, was rebuilt by the late J. Crickmore, Esq., and is now the property of Laverock Leggett, Esq. The Town Estate which was vested in trust for the poor, as early as the 16th century, consists of two farm-houses, and 66A. of land, let for £23; and three cottages, let for £16 a year. Out of these rents, about £18 is paid yearly for the support of a Sunday-school, and the remainder, after paying for repairs, &c., is distributed in coals and clothing, among the poor. About 1832, the overseers enclosed 29A. from the wastes, to be cultivated by the poor, by spade husbandry. The POST OFFICE is at Chas. Palmer's. Letters are received from Harleston, at 9 mng., and despatched at 5 evening.
| Allen Richard, joiner | FARMERS. | Read John | ||
| Bond Rev Richard, curate | (*are Owners.) | Stanley John | ||
| Boughton Robert, glover & hairdsr. | *Barnes Samuel | Stanley J. jun | ||
| Bullen Joseph, watchmaker | Baxter James | Shopkeepers. | ||
| Cocks John, vict. Crown Inn | Bullock Robert | Aldrich Sarah | ||
| Cole Mrs Ann | Colman Mr Henry | Farman Henry | Heasell Mrs | |
| Dunn Mattw. painter, plumber, &c | Fuller Daniel | Shoemakers. | ||
| Elmar James, vict. Falcon | *Goldsmith Jas. | Rayson James | ||
| Goff Wm. tailor | Gooch Thomas | Rayson John | ||
| Howlett Edward, joiner | Harden Jacob | Warne Benjamin | ||
| Howlett Joseph, machine maker | Harden J. jun. | Wheelwrights. | ||
| King Wm. veterinary surgeon | Harris Charles | Jeffries Isaac | ||
| Osborne Wm. saddler | *Kerrison Henry | Palmer John | ||
| Rackham Joshua, corn miller | *Kerrison Saml. | |||
| Rayson Robert, blacksmith | sen. and jun. | CARRIERS.— | ||
| Rayson George, schoolmaster | Kersey Charles | Wm. Boughton & | ||
| Reeve Thomas, bricklayer | *King George | J.Warne, to Norwich, | ||
| Rudling John, cooper | Lock William | Wed. and Sat. | ||
| Wade Robert, butcher | Poppy Mary | |||
| Waller Jas. gent. | Sheperson Miss | |||
A later description of the village is given in White's Directory, 1883.
Beckvale home | Pulham Market | Pulham St Mary | Starston | Thanks
© Last updated on 4 January 1998 by John Halliday