Great Massingham, Norfolk

Description
Massingham, Great, a village and a parish in Norfolk. The village stands near the Peddar Way, 1 1/2 mile S from Massingham station on the Midland and Great Northern Joint railway, 9 N from Swaffham station on the Lynn and Dereham section of the G.E.R., and 12 E by N of Lynn; was formerly a market-town, and has a post and money order office under Swaffham; telegraph office, Eougham. Fairs were formerly held on Maunday-Thursday and 8 Nov. The parish comprises 4242 acres; population, 827. One manor belongs to the Marquess of Cholmondeley, and two others to the Earl of Leicester. An Augustinian priory was founded here before 1260 by Nicholas Ie Syre, became a cell to the priory of Westacre, and at the dissolution was given to Sir T. Gresham. About 1000 acres are heath and sheep-walk. Traces of ancient British dwellings exist. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Norwich; net value, £323 with residence. Patron, the Marquess of Cholmondeley. The church is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, was restored in 1862 and again in 1890, and consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with a tower. There are Wesleyan, Free-Methodist, and Primitive Methodist chapels.