Starston

Description in White's Directory, 1883

STARSTON, a picturesque and well-wooded parish 2 miles N. by W. of Harleston in Depwade union, Earsham hundred and petty sessional division, Harleston County court district Ipswich bankruptcy district, Harleston polling district of South Norfolk, Redenhall rural deanery and Norfolk archdeaconry. It had 510 inhabitants in l88l living on 2244 acres and has a rateable value of £3100. The soil belongs to a number of freeholders, subject to small quitrents, payable to the Duke of Norfolk, the lord of the manor. Lord Waveney, Alfred Taylor, Esq., T.B. Frank, Esq., Mrs. Hopper of Grove Hill, J. Sancroft-Holmes, Esq., and others, have estates here. Starston Place, the seat of Alfred Taylor, Esq., is a handsome residence, pleasantly situated on an elevation commanding good views. Attached to it is a model farm, which was established in 1828 by the late Meadows Taylor, Esq., and has been much enlarged and improved by the present proprietor. Conifer Hill, another large and handsome red brick building of the queen Anne style of architecture, and situated on an eminence commanding extensive views, was erected in 1882 at the cost of Alfred Taylor, Esq., the proprietor and occupier. The CHURCH (St. Margaret) comprises nave, chancel, and square tower with five bells. It bears traces of having been originally a Norman structure, but the walls were afterwards raised and the present roof and tower added towards the close of the 14th century. The whole church was restored, re-seated with open benches, and the windows filled with stained glass, in 1858, at the cost of the late rector, and in 1870 the nave was new-roofed, a north aisle added, an organ chamber built, and a warming apparatus put in, at a cost of £978 5s. 9d., towards which the late rector contributed £512 7s. 6d. The chancel roof was painted in pattern in 1876 by King, of Norwich, at a cost of £37. The organ was enlarged in 1878 at the sole cost of the Rev. E. C. Hopper, son of the late rector. Here is a handsome monument to the memory of B. Cotton, Esq., obiit 1613. A brass tablet was placed in the church in 1878, in memory of the late rector, by the parishioners, and a brass eagle by his family. A lych-gate was erected in 1883 by Mrs., Hopper. There are two stained glass memorial windows to members of the late rectors' families. Part of the communion plate, consisting of a paten and ,chalice (dated 1567), was the private communion plate of the late Archbishop Sancroft. The Register dates from 1558. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £15, is in the patronage of the Rev. E. C. Hopper, and incumbency of the Rev. F. Watson, M.A., who has a good residence, 28 acres of glebe, and a yearly tithe rent of £663. The living must be presented to a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. The NATIONAL SCHOOL was built in 1839. A classroom was added in 1855, and the school premises were further enlarged in 1877, at the cost of the late rector, It is attended by about 80 children, and is supported by the rector and the landlords and parishioners, The Poor's Land is about 14 acres, producing a rental of £22. The poor have also a rent-charge of 20s. The Rev. S. Titlow, a native of Starston, in the year 1871, left £800 to the rectors of Redenhall and Starston in trust for the apprenticeship of poor boys, Starston to have one turn in six- years, and Redenhall four turns; the interest in the sixth year being applied to the repair of the family tombs in Redenhall churchyard, and to purchase bedding and clothing for the sick and aged.

POST OFFICE at Mr. Frederick Brock's. Letters arrive via Harleston at 7 a.m., and depart at 6 p.m.

An earlier description of the village is given in White's Directory for 1845.

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