In the Papers.....

1830s

September 1833

Important Agricultural Sale,

AT THE LODGE FARM,

WEST BILNEY, near LYNN, NORFOLK

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350 Ewes, 4 Rams, 89 Highlanders, 4 pair of Working Oxen, 1 Cow, 9 Cart Horses, Pony, 29 Head of Swine, Farming Carriages and Implements, Harness, &c., the Property of JOHN DALTON, Esq., who has Let the above Farm.

October 23rd. 1880 Correspondence

EAST WINCH Parochial Charities. To the Editor

Dear Sir, As the time for the distribution of these charities is fast approaching, perhaps you will allow me through your paper to offer a few suggestions to those parish officers whose duty it may be to attend to the matter this season. First I would refer them to the sister parish of West Winch as to the purchase of the coals, and also as to the quantities given to each family, which varies there according to the numbers and necessity of each. Can it be right that stewards, hepherds Etc., whose earnings more than equal some of the parish tradesmen, (who have to pay all parochial rates and have no coals), should receive as many as the hard working, struggling daily labourers, with large families, who often have to suffer from loss of time from rain and other causes? Why not give in proportion to the earnings and the family to support? which can easily be ascertained.I would also suggest that no person should be allowed the charity who has been a resident less than two years.I am, dear sir, your, etc., AN INHABITANT.(Webmaster note: The picture shows a copy of an invoice from Mrs Arter - dated 1904 - to Charity Trustees - East Winch, for coal delivered for the annual charity awards.The East Winch United Charities is a union of The John Morse charity, The Revd. Thomas Hope and the Church and Town Lands charities. The charity still exists, as the 'East Winch United Charities', and each year makes payments to a number of residents. In the past the award was a quantity of coal but I understand that this was changed to a cash payment when the majority of people no longer had coal fires. The Governing Document.A scheme dated 23rd November 1981, regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of the 8th July 1913 and consisting of the following charities.1. The Church and Town Lands Charity; (Deed in 1607; and Scheme of Charity Commissioners of 21st February 1893.The aims of the John Morse charity were: - to apply the income during the month of December in each year amongst the most deserving members of the Church of England resident in the parish of East Winch who attend divine service and who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress either in gifts in kind or grants of money)

Note The Charity of the Reverend Thomas Hope and, the Charity of John Morse; These charities subsidiaries of East Winch Unites Charities were wound up and removed from the Register of Charities with effect from 18th September 1995

November 27th 1880

EAST WINCH. SERMONS were preached and collections made at each service on Sunday last in aid of the fund for the sufferers from the Wells life-boat accident, and for foreign missions. The collections amounted to £2.13s.6d.

6 December 1887

(Note that in the following piece some of the originals text is difficult to read. In cases of uncertainty the difficult words are put into parentheses in the following transcription.)

A Norfolk emigrants experience in QUEENSLAND From Robert Hunter - late of East Winch

Dear Father and Mother. I was very pleased to see a letter from you and sister Lizzie, and to see you were all as well as usual. Lizzie asked me if I liked myself best here or at home. I know there is no one like a Mother, but you must not compare this country with England. The people that have fathers and mothers out here are better off than we are (but) they have got good homes, and do not know how to keep them; they do not know what low wages are.

I am getting 30s. per week and pay 14s. per week for Board, Washing and Lodging, and have 16s. per week for myself, and a married man can live as cheap as a single one; and shop things are as cheap here as at home, Beef 3d. to 3½d per lb. You can get a beef steak, enough for a meal, for 2d.

The women are so lazy out here they won’t take lodgers. A married man can live happy and comfortably on what they can at home.

They can live like fighting cocks if they only keep from the nasty beer and spirits. When that’s in the devil’s in, that is the ruin of many a man in the colonies.

They do not look to work more than half the week, or work one week and play two. (there may) be a few steady ones.

Dear mother, you would all be better out here. I have not said it before, but I say it now. I do not see why they should stay at home to be slaves. I reckon they are regular slaves myself. It would be the best job you ever done, to come out here. If we were to say we worked for 10s. per week, they would make a regular laughing stock of us. (We would) all like to see Old England, and all old faces, if we could come (over on) Saturday night and come back on Monday morning. I had a letter from George Kemp this morning, he keep at his old shop, and is getting on well.

Adam’s, and all our loves to all enquiring friends. We have seen several Norfolk men from Norwich, Yarmouth and neighbourhood. I think I have sent all the news this time. Love to all brothers and Lizzie, and large share for father and mother, and you all,

Your loving and affectionate son,

ROBERT HUNTER.

1890s

FROM THE PAPERS - 1890's

SITUATIONS VACANT:

For London service (private family), a GENERAL SERVANT, able to cook a Plain Dinner; wages liberal to a competent Person. Also an experienced NURSE-GIRL, above 20 years of age preferred. – Address, Mrs Fendick, Ivy Lodge, West Bilney, King’s Lynn. 1882

At Michaelmas next, A Man and Wife, without family, to live in an off-hand Farm-house. The man to superintend the labourers, his wife to take care of the house and manage the poultry. A man used to Light Land, and a member of the Church preferred. Good references required.

Apply to William Dodd, West Bilney, Lynn 1869

SITUATIONS WANTED – all from the 1890's

(Two Lines 1s.6d. Every extra line 6d Stamps will not be accepted)

Wants a situation, as FARMING BAILIFF, or STEWARD, a PERSON who understands stock, is properly qualified, and has no objection to engage for a term of years.

For further particulars apply to Mr. Robert Crisp, West Bilney, Norfolk.

WANTED, RE-ENGAGEMENT as GOVERNESS by a Lady who has had several years experience; English, French, music, singing and needlework; highest references.-Address E.F.C West Bilney, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

As PLAIN COOK in small family: age 27: wages £20 £23, all found. E. Elsegood, West Bilney, King’s Lynn.

As HOUSE PARLOUR MAID: age 27: 7 years, character; £30 and all found; disengaged, E. Elsegood, West Bilney, King’s Lynn.

As Sewing or Useful MAID or HOUSEMAID in small family: 22: good needlewoman: West Bilney, King’s Lynn

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1900s

January 1st 1904

WINCH, EAST - For Christmas day the church was tastefully decorated by Misses Alvis. The Holy Communion was administered in the morning. Carols were sung in place of a sermon in the afternoon, comprising In Nativitute Domini (music by the Rev. G E Alvis, minor canon of Ripon cathedral), “Kings of old”, and “The angels Christmas song”, (both from Westminster Carol book), and Gounod’s song “Bethlehem”, by the Rev. E J Alvis. Collections for the hospital amounted to £2 7s 2d

Much generosity has been shown throughout the season, Mr Lancaster making gifts to his tenants and others, whilst several other donors have shown seasonable good will, for which the recipients return sincere thanks. Nearly every cottager received six hundredweight of coal from the East Winch Church and Town Lands charity, and Morse’s and Hope’s charities have been distributed.

Henry Marsh, for many years subpostmaster of this parish, begs to thank Misses Barnard and Woodham, of Snettisham park, and Mr C R Bentley of West Bilney hall, for their continued present of game; also the residents of the outlying villages who have their delivery of letters from this parish for their kind Christmas greetings.