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Morston Timeline
Compiled by John C Algar,  © 2003-2004
from information provided by
J.J.R.Wingfield;  J.C.Algar; The History Centre, Blakeney, and others
together with extracts from Blomefield, F., "The History of Norfolk" (1700s)
and from the 1638 Will of William Armestead [sic];






Morston Timeline















Coming soon   
"East Anglia; Birthplace and Home of the Powditch's;
Part 1. Norfolk"
YEAR
EVENT
pre-1066
All Saints Church built
1066
King Harold (reigned 6 Jan 1066 - 14 Oct 1066)'s younger
brother Guert held 30 acres and a borderer, with half a carucate,
valued at two oras per annum (ora was a Saxon coin, some
make it to be the value of 16d, and some more; 15 of them made
one pound, as the laws of Canute [Cnut reigned from Nov
1016 - 12 Nov 1035] testify)
1087
Morston consisted of two manors or estates
pre-1289
Nave and Chancel of Church rebuilt
1289
Robert de Brundishe instituted as Rector of Morston
Church, presented by the King, in the vacancy of the see of
Norwich
'medieval times'
In the good weather months, at least three quarters of inward cargoes passing through the Pit (the harbour) were cargoes
of coal from the area of Newcastle
1341
Robert de Hales, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1349
Thomas Colyn, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
Bishop
1361
John de Stowe, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
Bishop
1383
Walter Poul, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1384
Jann Curson, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
King
1399
Richard Turner, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
Bishop
1400s
When the tower of the Church was heightened, buttresses were
added
1435
Mr. John Ayr, S.T.B. occurs as Rector of Morston Church by
the Bishop
1443
John Est. occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the Bishop
1478
Florence Wooley, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by
the Bishop of Clogher in Ireland, by the Bishop
1480
The screen in the Church is believed to have been the gift of
the Rt. Reverend Florence Woolley, in 1480. He had been
Bishop of Clogher (Co. Tyrone) and served at Morston as
Rector and Suffragen Bishop.
1500
John Stanton, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
King
1507
William Parys, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
Bishop
post-1507 but pre-1554
Thomas Baker, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1500s
Privateers-cum-Pirates frequented the area
1530s - 1730s
Powditch family lived at Morston
1538
The first entry in the Parish Register for Morston Church, was
made
1554
William Umfrey, occurs as Rector of Morston Church by the
assignees of Richard, late Bishop of Norwich
1556
Richard Marken [sic. Makynges], occurs as Rector of Morston
Church by Thomas Gresham, Esq
1596
Under the Communion Table is a beautiful brass of the
Reverend Richard Makynges, who was Rector of Morston
for 40 years and died in 1596. He is wearing his M.A. gown and
ruff.
1596
Ralph Furnes(s), S.T.B. occurs as Rector of Morston Church
by Nathaniel Bacon, Esq
post-1596 but pre-1638
William Arm(i)stead, occurs as Rector of Morston Church,
compounded for first fruits in 1606, presented by Sir Nathaniel
Bacon
c1600
Manor House and Sunnyside Cottages (east of Quay Road) were built
11 Oct 1638
William Armstead, made his last Will on this date, stating;
(that he was a) clerke being sicke in body but of sound and
perfect remembrance (praised be God) revoking all former wills
doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme
following ffirst and principally I give my soule into the handes of
almightie god that gave it trusting to be saved by the alone
merrittes of Jesus Christ my mercyfull Saviour and redeemer And
my bodie to be buried in the Chancell to Morston church
att the discrecion of my executors Item I give unto the
Churchwardens of Morston for the tyme being five poundes
currant money of England to be paid unto them within one halfe
yeare after my deathe and to be disp[y/o]sed of in buying of
a comily [...]mentable and a decent Carpett for the same
and in repayring the floore in the Chancell of Morston and
then if there be any [overplus] remayninge to be bestowed
upon the Church of Morston aforesaid Item I give unto the
poore of Morston forty shillinges to be disposed as myne
executors shall thinke fittinge And alsoe I give to the [poor]
of Langham Claye Wiveton and Blakeney three poundes
that is to the poore of [each] towne fifteene shillinges
17(?) Oct 1638
"Willyam Armestead, Clarke was bured one the seventhe
of October 1638"
(William Armstead, Clerk, was buried on the seventh of October
1638) at Morston
post-1638 but
pre-1663
Richard Astley, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
17 Jun 1647
Robart [sic: Robert] Powdich died (click here to see the
1663
Edmund Day, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1664
Hearth Tax showed 40 hearths or families (say 100 souls
perhaps), the largest household, that of the parson, William
Armistead, gent - being six souls
1666
William Mitchell, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1678
Robt. Framlingham, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1684
Thomas Nelson, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
early 1700s
Marquess of Townshend's Farmhouse built (the same
property with additions is, today, Morston Hall Hotel)
1700s
The benches in the Church were made in the 18th century.

Near the lectern lies the Rev. Thomas Shorting who died after
preaching his first sermon (aged 24). His father was the collector
of customs in Cley and his brother assisted Francis Blomefield
to compile "The History of Norfolk".

A stone slab near the pulpit has the outline of two small figure
brasses which have been lost long ago.
1713
In the centre of the floor (of the Church) lies the Reverend and
Pious Thomas Nelson", but the inscriber did not have room for
the 'Is" of pious. He is described as "sometime minister of this
TOWN in fact he was rector here
1713/1714
William Wilson, occurs as Rector of Morston Church, on
Thomas Nelson's death, by the Lord Townsend
1724
Daniel Defoe (author of "Robinson Crusoe") toured through
"Masham" (Morston)
1736
Theophilus Lowe, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1742
Lord Viscount Townsend, lord and patron of the Church
1743
The tower of the Church was struck by lightning and most of the
battlements on the nave roof parapets were destroyed.
1762
Just outside the south porch of the Church is a massive
Georgian tomb with two slabs on top and picture panels around
the sides. It is in memory of the Butter family
1769
Arthur Branthwayte, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey) Church
c1790s
"the cottages known as China Row were apparently 'christened'
with that name because the building seen at dusk from Morston
Chase looked like "Chinatown" - if not because Chinese sailors
off the colliers sometimes stayed there overnight".
1792
Ld. Fred. Townshend, occurs as Rector of Morston (with
Stiffkey) Church
1794
Stiffkey and Morston enclosures came into being.
1796-1815/16
The Long(e) family (originally of Bale) lived in the five cottages
known as 'China Row'
1798-1809
The Long(e) owner who lived in the five cottages known as
'China Row' "had a little earner" - but a very dangerous one -
of hiding escaped French Officer prisoners-of-war in a "hiding
hole" [or cupboard] in his Morston House, the future China Row
(which displayed the "code sign" of three oyster shells over the
door).
1817
Major Loftus of the local Yeomanry Cavalry, noted 15 carts
standing by at Morston "awaiting a signal from a smuggler
offshore", the on-shore smugglers having sent men to get the
dragoons drunk in the Swan at Cley.
1817
William Buck, Jr. (1755-1835) a 62 year old farmer and
Gentleman of Morston, registered his 76-ton brig, the Cruizer
1818
William Buck Jr. owned 12 cottages in Morston, from Beehive
Cottage to the five cottages at China Row (built "c1820" now
called Tides Reach)
c1818-c1820
Five cottages at China Row, built
1822
The Coastguard was formed from the merger of the
Preventative Men with the Revenue Commission.  Its duties
were defence of the coast, provision of a reserve for the Navy
and "protection of the revenue against evasion by smuggling".
1823
The space above the chancel arch is filled by the Royal Arms
of George Ill dated 1823, with an angel on each side and then
the Creed, Ten Commandments and Lord's Prayer below.
post-1826
Captain of William Buck Jr's brig Cruizer was R. Craske
(perhaps kin of Morston's William Craske, 1775-1854)
pre-1830
The men of the Coastguard had accommodation in the
Townshend Arms (west of the Anchor Inn) at Morston
1830
The Morston Coastguard seized a 30-ton fishing vessel,
 "believed to have been involved with the recent smuggling"
c1830 to 1891
The men of the Coastguard moved to either China Row or
Sunnyside on Quay Lane, Morston
1836
Michael Ward, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1836
Coastguard House was built for Morston's new Captain of the
Coastguard, Lieutenant George Thomas
1842
Geo. Townshend Hudson, occurs as Rector of Morston
(with Stiffkey) Church
1845
Randle Barwick Brereton, occurs as Rector of Morston
(with Stiffkey) Church
1851
(Census)
22 houses with a population of 100-110 in the village
1851
(Census)
George Wood (grandfather of the famous sprinter) was a
tenant-farmer of 1,500 acres and employed 25 agricultural
labourers
1851
(Census)
Edward Woodenham, publican of the Townshend Arms
1851
(Census)
James Roman, publican of the Anchor Inn
1851
(Census)
Mr Osborne, ran a general stores opposite the Anchor Inn
1851
(Census)
The Census also revealed that within the village there were also
a schoolmistress - with her school - and three fishermen and
two paupers.  Although the Coastguards' then numbered 7, plus
their 26 dependants, none of these were local people
1857-1866
Local railways were transforming life in north Norfolk
1860s-1870s
The great athlete "C.G." Wood (1861-1937) was brought up in
Morston at Lower Farm and then at Morston Hall, as one of ten
children.
1861
(Census)
By 1861, Morston had added a baker, a carrier, 3 dressmakers,
a shipwright, a shepherd, a straw-bonnet maker, a surveyor
and a vermin destroyer
1865-post1918
The Coastguard came under the Admiralty; a Chief Boatman
instead of a Chief Officer now being in charge
1882
The Lynn & Fakenham Railway planned to build a line from
Blakeney through Morston village, then curving northwards to the
southern end of the Pit (or harbour), before returning on a single
track to the village and continuing westwards to Stiffkey; but this
never came to fruition
1883
Eugene Sweny, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1886-1887
In 1886 and 1887 the great athlete "C.G." Wood (1861-1937)
held the English Record for a Quarter of a Mile,
the French Record for 100 metres,
the French Record for 400 metres,
the European Record for 220 yards,
as well as the World Record for 150 yards                           (14 4/5 seconds),
the World Record for 220 yards (21 3/5 seconds),
and the World Record for 250 yards (25 ½ seconds).
1890-91
The present Coastguard Cottages were built
c1890s
"The cottages known as China Row were apparently 'christened'
with that name because the building seen at dusk from Morston
Chase looked like "Chinatown" - if not because Chinese sailors
off the colliers sometimes stayed there overnight".
1891
22 houses with a population of 100-110 in the village
1891
(Census)
George Thomas, Jr., was a gamekeeper
1891
(Census)
Master Mariner Robert Temple and his wife Sarah were running
the Townshend Arms with a coachman available
1891
(Census)
Henry Temple (Robert's brother) was running the blacksmith's
shop with two staff
1891
(Census)
By 1891, the village also had a brickyard with 3 bricklayers, a
carpenter, a fisherman, a mariner, a seaman, and Harriot the
shepherd; and apparently, for a short while, a smock mill south
of the Church
1898-1935
a Lifeboat Service operated from the Point
1902
Philip Hamond, at the age of 18, at Rooival in the Boer War,
became the youngest regular officer to that date to earn a DSO
1906
Harold F. Davidson, occurs as Rector of Morston (with
Stiffkey) Church
1908
Population of village about 108 persons
1908
By 1908 Morston's baker, William Russell, had added on a
grocery business, there was a village cobbler and Henry
Temple - as well as the smithy - was running the Anchor Inn,
but our school had gone and children now went to school in
Langham.  The village post office, opposite the two pubs, had
two collections a day.  Morston's acreage was shown as 1,694
acres "exclusive of a tract of low marshes", with the vicar's
"glebe" (land) being 56 acres.
1914
(WWI)
When WWI broke out, members of the Coastguard were taken
out of the Coastguard Cottages and immediately drafted into
the Royal Navy, in Destroyers.  Apparently they weren't allowed
off the ships, which had to cruise the coastline slowly, although
just one U-boat took out the lot.  One of the casualties was
John Morris.
8 Aug 1914
Rupert Brooke visited Morston and transcribed the epitaph on
Robart Powdich's gravestone within the Church
Sept 1914
(WWI)
The irreplaceable Coastguard were returned to their watch-house
duties!
1914
(WWI)
Philip Hamond re-enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment and won an
MC and (as a Major), a second  DSO
1914
(WWI)
Leading Stoker (Coastguard) John Morris - lost at sea during
WWI.  He had been serving on HMS Hogue, R.N. and died in
1914 after the ship was torpedoed in the North Sea
1914
(WWI)
Leading Seaman Alec Gray (son of the Townshend Arms publican) - lost at sea during WWI.  He had been serving on
HMS Vanguard, and died at Scapa Flow, in 1914, aged 16 years
old.
Nov 1916
(WWI)
Private George J. Balding of the 9th (Svc) Battn. Norfolk
Regiment, was killed in France - just after the first ever tank
skirmish.  He was shot in the August and died of his wounds in
November.
1916-1918
(WWI)
"Diamond" Bean (who had been George Balding's platoon sergeant) was, later in the war, awarded the MM and DCM
1918
(WWI)
Major Philip Hamond of the Norfolk Regiment, was part of the
British Military Mission that was sent to the USA to teach
"American Army tank warfare".
Serving as British Liaison Officer at Camp Colt, Pennsylvania,
USA, Philip Hamond instructed the Americans in the method of
'Tank Warfare' alongside Major "Ike" Eisenhower (who in later
years became the 4-star General and President of the USA).
Although the "Tank" had been invented by the British in 1916,
and had proved its worth in many succesfull battles, by 1918 the
Americans still didn't actually own such a vehicle, so Major Philip
Hamond had to teach them how to operate one.
1925
Morston's Coastguard Station was closed down
1932
Charles H Fitch, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
3 Sept 1939
(WWII)
Alfred Munnings was painting Morston Church from by the
pond to its north-east, when a "harvesting waggon laden with
corn (he wrote) passed along the road."  The Morston boy on
top - Morris Pye - called out: "The war's started!"
1939-1945
(WWII)
Young Morstoners enlisted or were later called up, including men
from the village's families of Balding, Bean, Gotts, Hamond
and Starman
1942
Harold W. Levi Harrison, occurs as Rector of Morston (with
Stiffkey) Church
1942
(WWII)
"Langham Airfield" was constructed on land in Cockthorpe,
Langham and Morston
1942
(WWII)
Gunner Edward G. Balding, 11th Regt. RHA (HAC), (the nephew
of George J. Balding see above) lost his life at Rommel's Siege
of Tobruk in Libya.  He was aged 24 years old.
1942
(WWII)
Petty Officer Leslie J. Docking, MVO, R.N., lost his life at sea
whilst  serving on HMS Avenger, which was on convoy PQ-18.  The
ship was torpedoed off Gibraltar,.  He was aged 27 years old.
1943
(WWII)
Captain Renton Walker, Royal Norfolk Regiment attached to
the RIASC, lost his life in Delhi, India.
1943
(WWII)
Sapper RE, Frederick C. Starman lost his life at sea when the
SS Yuma  -  on which he was serving  -  was torpedoed off Libya.
He was aged 23 years old.
after 1945
Morston's tourist industry involved ferryboats to and from the
Point (where 260 species of bird - especially migrants - have
been recorded) and the ferrying of individual anglers to the Pit
(the harbour) or offshore
1946
Victor T. S. Jagg, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1950s
Saw the expansion of Morston's commercial fishing industry
1950s
Tourist Industry expanded.  Sailors of small boats, anglers,
birdwatchers and walkers attracted to Morston
1952
Major Andrew Athill started a sailing school
1953
Tidal surge (rage) occurred
1955
Leslie J. Lee, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1961
Michael W. Finch, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1962
Arthur F. Roberts, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1963
Alan Gates, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1968
Cecil Cullingford, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1969
Charles Ward began sailing-boat hire and boatbuilding
(including Norfolk Urchins and John Leather's Norfolk
Oysters)
1970
Conservation of Seals Act declared the common seal a protected species in its June to August pupping season (with exceptions)
1971
Philip Steer, occurs as Rector of Morston Church
1974
Llewellyn Fawcett, occurs as Rector of Morston (with
Stiffkey) Church
1975
A presumed "hiding-hole" - now thought to be a cupboard - for
the escaped French prisoners-of-war, which was at the creek
end of China Row  -cum-  Gull Cottage, was discovered when
the building was being refurbished
1978
Tidal surge (rage) occurred
1980s
Tourist Industry expanded further, as Morston became the
"Gateway to the Seals", attracting holiday homes, Morston
Hall (hotel) and B&Bs
1980
John Bean and Jim Temple started ferryboat trips for visitors
to see and photograph the seals resting on sandbanks near the
Point
20th century
A large number of new buildings have been added in the
twentieth century, including the Scaldbeck group, the Village
Hall, Perseverance House, Morston House, the extensions
to Church Farm and the Anchor Inn, the National Trust
Watch Tower, South Close, the Garden of Eden, and the
steel-framed buildings of Hall Farm
1987
Morston Hall (part 17th century) opened as a 6-bedroom hotel
1988
Common, alias harbour seals and grey, alias Atlantic seals
were attacked by phocine distemper, following which, an Act
was passed declaring all types of seal protected species (the
grey seals' pupping season being October to December)
1991
Robert C. Wright, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
1992
Morston Hall (part 17th century) re-opened by Galton & Tracy
Blackiston and Justin Fraser.  It is well-known for its high
quality food, the prizes it has won and its excellent cooking
courses
1997
E. John Penny, occurs as Rector of Morston (with Stiffkey)
Church
2000
Morston Post Office closed
2003
Population of village is about 100 persons
2004
17-19 September.  The first ever Powditch Family Gathering
was held in the Village and Church.  For photographs and information, click here.
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