Parish History
Evidence of human activity in these villages reaches back to the period between 8000 and 1000 BC. The discovery in 1968 of a hoard of 110 silver coins provides a link with the Roman period. However no proof of Roman occupation has been found so far. The four panels of the Mattishall village sign, erected in 1984, depict different periods of history from Roman, the Doomsday Survey of 1086, medieval to the mid-twentieth century.
All Saints church, Mattishall dates from the late 14th century, possibly replacing an earlier church on the site. The Patron is Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and it is thought that Dr. Caius was instrumental in initiating the building of the larger church. Saint Peter's, Mattishall Burgh, which is much smaller, is mainly late 13th century.
Mattishall has been divided in a religious sense for many years, first with the Reformation, then the growth of Quakerism. The Quakers established a Meeting House in 1687. Almost 100 years later the Old Moor Congregational Chapel was built. Both had their own burial ground. When it become uneconomical to continue at Old Moor, the Congregationalists transferred to their Lecture Room in Welgate built in 1829. It is now the United Reformed Church. Primitive Methodism gained a following in the 19th century but it was not until 1900 that a site was found for a permanent meeting place along the main road. The second half of the 20th century saw the establishment of the Evangelical Church.
During the reign of Edward VI, cleric Matthew Parker married Margaret Harlestone of Mattishall. He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury to be appointed under Elizabeth 1. Local tradition has it that the house behind the butcher's shop in Church Plain was the Harlestone family home.
In the 16th century the wool merchants of Mattishall were well known, even notorious, in East Anglia. A number of them were warned or fined by the Court for failing to sell their wool through Norwich market. They had found more lucrative outlets in Suffolk and other places.
Apart from husbandry, wool combing and weaving, many other trades were followed in the area. There was a decline in the wool trade in the 18th century, which led to unemployment for combers and weavers. These occupations had almost disappeared by the beginning of the 19th century. Some found work on the land but others became chargeable on the Parish and either suffered the indignity of living in accommodation set aside for paupers or worse still were sent to the Workhouse at Gressenhall.
Most farmers brewed beer but brewing on a larger scale centred on the Malthouse which was demolished in the 1920s. Apart from the Swan Inn, The George and Cross Keys there were several ale houses dotted around the villages and in the 19th century included The White House, The Ringers, Ivy Cottage, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Crown and Anchor. Today only the Swan survives as a public house, in a 20th century building, which replaced the old thatched place of centuries past.
The population of the two villages reached a peak of 1385 in 1841 and then began to decline as, due to mechanisation on forms, people left the area to look for work. By 1931 the figure had dropped to 829. Since then substantial development and infilling has taken place resulting in rapid increases in the population. Despite the growing size numerous local shops and businesses have not survived the advent of the family car and of supermarkets. The haulage business of A. J. Farrow provided local employment for many people for more than 50 years. Other family business names which have gone include Dobbs, King, Horne, Fisher, Howard, Turner and Reynolds. In farming, the names of Hill and Edwards span several generations.
Some of the very old buildings in Mattishall are hidden behind brick and mortar skins and Georgian facades, but others remain to be admired. Of the three 19th century, mills the bases of two remain. One has been converted recently into a holiday cottage. The National School was built in 1872. A notable Headmistress was Miss Johnson (1884 - 1919), the daughter of the Station Master at Hardingham. Miss Mildred Edwards, a pupil-teacher, was still around when the school celebrated its centenary. It was she who planted the conker, which grew into the very large chestnut tree in the garden of Church Cottage near the corner of the school playing field.
The fortunes and well being of the villagers have fluctuated over the centuries. In 1835 the family of Sir Edward Parry, the Polar explorer, occupied South Green House (now Mattishall Hall) for a few months. On half pay from the Navy, he was sent to Norfolk as an Assistant Commissioner for the New Poor Law. His sister-in-law wrote to her mother: “a large population, immense families, and not work for half and no resident gentleman near to do anything for them ...... such a disagreeable neighbourhood” How would she view Mattishall today?
By Kind Permission of Iris Coe (Mattishall Resident)
Village Services and Facilities
Courier, Architectural Art, Plumbers, Builders, Child Minders, Soft Furnishing Makers, Decorators, DJ’s, Driving Tuition, Florists, Garage Services, Hairdressers, Chiropodist, Beauticians, Aromatherapists, Riding School, Property Maintenance.
Doctors Surgery – Dereham Road – (01362) 850227
Community Car Scheme - (01362) 858376
Pharmacy – (01362) 858540
Butchers – (01362) 850273
Book Shop – (01362) 850044
Chip Shop - (01362) 858219
Post Office – (01362) 850232
Newsagents – (01362) 858398
Local Stores – (01362) 850219
Milkman – (01362) 820961
Village Hall – (01362) 858665
Social Club – (01362) 850246
Public House – (01362) 850305
All Saints Church – (01362) 858523
Village Magazine Miscellanea – (01362) 850457
News and Events
Most Clubs and Societies hold an Annual General Meeting.
The Parish Council’s Annual Assembly Meeting is in May of each year.
The village is currently looking at resurrecting an annual fair.
Local Issues
A 47 - Junction Campaign!
The Mattishall Parish Council is leading a Campaign to improve the dangerous junction to the single-lane stretch of the A47 road east to Norwich.
A47 Junction: - this junction joins the A47 on a bend where the average speed is 50-60mph. At peak times finding a gap in the traffic can be a lottery. This picture shows a daily build up of motorist trying to pull out into the heavy flow of traffic. To the left out of view I counted 11 other cars in the Queue.
Local Mattishall residents wishing to join the A47 Norwich bound are faced with 3 alternative roads.
The main and official road (C200) joins the A47 at Honningham (pictured above & below). Over the years with the huge increase in traffic this junction has become a death-trap recently claiming the lives of a grandfather and his grandson. To pull into the fast flowing traffic requires precision timing and foot to the floor acceleration to reach a speed of at least 60mph or face aggressive motorists suddenly appearing behind you flashing their lights.
Minute Book 1894 -1956
The original Mattishall Parish Council's Minute Book dated 1894 - 1956 had unfortunately gone missing. This book holds over 60 years of our village history, this includes the setting up of the Parish Council together with records of how the village was in the two World Wars. Thanks to the endless efforts of Marjorie Ward and Ingrid Floering Blackman we now have it back in safe hands. The book is in a very sad state and is in the hands of the Norfolk Records Office where we hope to have it copied and filmed.
Projects
The Parish Council has successfully won funding to create a Community Garden with the help from the Dereham Area Partnership, WREN and the local Church. Our next aim is to acquire the Primary School infant’s site should it become available within the next few months. This is an enormous project and but should it be successful will not provide a priceless Village Green but the possibility of a Community Centre in the heart of the village.
Clubs and Societies
Arts and Crafts Group – (01362) 858534
Beavers – (01362) 858306
Bowls – (01362) 850876
Brownies – (01362) 850350/850172
Cricket – (01362) 691837
Cubs – (01362) 850716
Day Centre – (01362) 858531
Drop In – (01362) 850563
Guides – (01362) 858406
Happy Circle – (01362) 850481
WI – (01362) 858349
Football – (01362) 858447
Gardening – (01362) 850897
Netball – (01362) 850397
Pre-School – (01362) 858723
Toddlers – (01362) 850689
Singers – (01362) 850480
N.W.R – (01362) 850433
Pram Club – (01362) 693577
Rainbows – (01362) 858259
Scouts – (01362) 850373
Whist – (01362) 858102
Parish Council
Clerk
Mrs Tracey Perks
Meadow Way
31 South Green
Mattishall
Dereham
Norfolk
NR20 3JY
Tel: (01362) 850535
Fax: (01362) 850535
E-Mail: mattishallclerk at uk2.net
Links
www.Mattishall-village.co.uk
www.mattishall-pc.org.uk
