Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for MELTON-CONSTABLE

MELTON-CONSTABLE, a parish in Erpingham district, Norfolk; 5½ miles SW by S of Holt, and 6 NE of Ryburgh r. station. It includes the hamlet or quondam parish of Burgh-Parva; and its Post town is Briston, under Thetford. Acres, 2,710. Real property, £2,429. Pop., 118. Houses, 19. The property belongs to Lord Hastings. The manor was given, by William the Conqueror, to the Bishop of Thetford; was held, under the Bishop, by Roger de Lyons; continued to be held by his descendants, who assumed the name of Mealton, with sometimes the affix of.De Constable, in allusion to their office under the Bishop; and passed, several centuries ago, to the Astleys. Melton Hall is the seat of Lord Hastings; was built in 1680, by Sir J. Astley; is a handsome square edifice of brick and stone, with four fronts, and with an elegant interior; includes an ornate domestic chapel; and stands in a fine park, about 4 miles in circuit, containing a tower which commands a charming view of the surrounding country to the sea. A small house of industry stands within the parish; serves, under. Gilbert's act, for Melton-Constable and Brinton; and, at the census of 1861, had 9 inmates. The living is a rectory, united with the rectory of Burgh-Parva, in the diocese of Norwich. Value, £219. Patron, Lord Hastings. The church consists of nave and chancel, with a central tower.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "countries, 4th order divisions")
Administrative units: Melton Constable CP/AP       Erpingham RegD/PLU       Norfolk AncC
Place: Melton Constable

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