Parish History
The village of Wendling derives its name from a stream which runs through the town (as it was titled) called \'Wandle and ing\' means meadow so \'Wandle-Meadow\', shortened means Wendling \'the winding stream by the meadows\'. Before 1267 it was known as Wendlyng.
In the time of the Confessor (1042 - 1066) Wendlyng was in the Manor or the abbot of Bury, and at the survey which was held of the abbot by Richard (1189 - 1199) it consisted of a carucate of land, 2 villains, 6 borderers, 6 acres of meadow and one carucate in demean, one carucate and a half amongst the tenants. Peonage for one hundred swine and one stockman had twelve acres.
In the sixth year of Richard 1 (1195) a fine was levied on the day after St Alphegar, before Hubert Walter Archbishop of Canterbury,
Richard Nigel Bishop of London,
Gilbert Glanvite Bishop of Rochester,
Herbert son of Hervey,
William de Warren,
Richard de Wiat,
Thomas de Hurseburn, the Kings Justices.
Between William de Huntingfield and Isobel his wife the Abbot of Bury, wherby William de Huntingfield and Isobel quitclaimed all their rights in this town, a advowsa of the church, to the abbot in which the abbot conveyed to him and his wife and their heirs, the whole township of Wendling to be held of the said abbot and his successors by the service and payment of 60s rent per annum and they were to hold the men and tenants of the town by the same services and customs which they performed to the abbot\'s predecessors before William son of Roger de Gressinghale held the same.
This Isobel was daughter and sole heir of William de Gressinghale, lord of Gressinghale.
In 1218 William de Saham, clerk son of Robert de Saham held lands in this town and was a benefactor to Wendling Abbey.
In the register Niger of Bury Abbey, is an entry of a deed of grant of John de Norwold abbot about the year 1298 of 50s per annum rent to William son of Ralph de Saham clerk which the convent received of Sir Jordan de Foliot, lord of this town, and of the Manor of Gressenhale, witnesses Sir Jordon de Sankevill then steward of the liberty of Bury Abbey, Sir Osbert de Caylby, Sir Robert de Cateston, Sir Warin de Hereford, Sir Ralph de Alneton, Sir Lauserce de Offington, Knights, Robert Norwold William de Badenham and Richard de Saham. In the 3rd of Edward 1 (1275) Sir Adam Foliot lord held the arrige etc.
WENDLING ABBEY
The abbey was built in the year 1265 and stood on ten acres of land. The abbey and outbuilding covered approx. two acres of land and was used by the Order of White Canons till approx. 1546.
WENDLING CHURCH
The church of St. Peter & Paul was built in approx. 1345. The porch dates from the Perpendicular period (15th century). The doorway has a rolled mould with head stops typical of that time. Above the entrance is a fine carving of a Norman Head with a beard and moustache, wearing chain mail headress. Note these features as you walk round the outside of the church: first there is a two light perpendicular window in the nave, followed by a South Transept. The transept window is a very fine 4 - light perpendicular window with a centre transome. It has excellent victorian stained glass, dated 1858.
The chancel has a copper roof; it has a fourteenth century priest\' door and a pair of windows of the same date; this is the \"decorated period\", which is earlier than the nave windows. At the east end is a 3 - Light perpendicular window.
On the north side may be found the position of the rood staircase, where bricks show in the wall. The north side of the nave has two windows of differing dates: the eastern one is later in date because it has a less pointed arch.
There was a north doorway, now bricked up, next to the organ, which was installed in the 1970\'s and came from a chapel in South Creake.
The west tower is of the early perpendicular period. It has diagonal buttresses reaching to the top stage and a turret staircase very neatly fitted into the buttress. The tower is surmounted by low battlements with flushwork decoration of a later date.
There are gargoyles on the north and south sides. The west window is another 2 - light perpendicular window witha horizontal embattled transome. The belfry contains three bells:
1. \"John Draper made mee 1633\"
2. \"Ave: Maria: Gracia: Plena: Don.\"
3. \"Johannes de Gudding fecit meBells 2 and 3 were cast in King\'s Lynn in the mid fourteenth century and may have been brought here from Wendling Abbey when that house was closed in the sixteenth century.
The interior of the church.
The screen was removed in 1979 owing to severe woodworm. Notice that the roof apex is not central with the chancel arch.
The choir seats have some very old poppy heads at each end, probably about fifteenth century. There is an open piscina with flower drain, but no covering, and it has a plain sedilia adjacent. The terazzo marble floor and reredos in the sanctuary is a special feature.
In the north wall is a cavity which possibly could have been used as an Easter Sepulchre.
A brass at the east end of the nave marks the grave of Henry de Wendling who died in 1620. The nave roof has carvings on the base of the corbels worth noting.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of this church is the font; it was made by a local craftsman which is unusual because most fonts are made at the quarry site to save the cost of transporting an un-necessary weight of stone. This one has received the attention of vandals, who removed the heads of all the figures and the base. The eight sides depict the seven sacraments as follows:
East - Matrimony, SE - Extreme Unction, South - Baptism of Christ, SW - Baptism, West - Confirmation, NW - Penance, North - Mass, NE - Ordination.
There is a large chest made from some ancient carved pews, and a Jacobean cupboard is used for storing the hymn books. The chalice and paten were made in Norwich in 1567 by Peter Peteregs.
There is a nice quatrefoil arch at the entrance to the turret stairs.
METHODIST CHURCH
The Methodist meetings were held in a local cottage till 1848. The first church was built on damp ground next to the Railway Tavern Inn in 1848.
The second church was built in 1877 on Dereham Road next to what was the Old Post Office and village shop. In 1915 the present church was built in Station Road.
CARR LANE
This lane derives its name from the early ages. Wendling Carr was a low land covered with water, which laid on the north side of Abbey Farm towards Gressenhall.
HULVER STREET
1590 at this time Hulver Street occurs, and a water mill occurs. (From \'The Hundred of Launditch 1, 2 and 3.
THE RAILWAY
The railway arrived in Wendling in the mid 1800\'s which was known as the East Anglian Line and closed in 1967.
Information kindly supplied by Stephen & Gordon Olley.
Clubs and Societies
WENDLING WOMENS GUILD
The guild meet every 1st Thursday in the month at Wendling Village Hall except for our outing this year to Holkham Hall, the garden party and our yearly meal. At the meetings we have various speakers; the last two being Simon from Peter Beales Roses (speaking about growing roses for Chelsea Flower Show) and Trudi from the Anthony Nolan Trust. We have also handi craft and musical evenings and the odd beetle drive. The guild has currently 20 members.
Contact Lena Smith 01362 687118.
Parish Council
WENDLING PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk:- G. Hubbard (Mrs) Tel/Fax 01362 693427
Chairman:- Cllr. R. Keron Tel. 01362 687006
Vice Chairman:- Cllr. S. Warwick
Other Councillors:- , Cllr. C Foster, Cllr. S Bales, Cllr. C Nelson, Cllr. N. Phillips, Cllr. R. Hughes
Meetings for 2010:
14th January, 11th March, 13th May, 15th July, 16th September and 18th November. All meetings will take place on Thursdays in the Village Hall, unless otherwise advised.
Agenda can be viewed five days before each meeting on village notice boards and minutes will be displayed after the meeting has been held.
