Hilgay, Norfolk

Description
Hilgay, a village and a parish in Norfolk. The village stands on the river Wissey, 2 miles from the Onse, 3 NE from Hilgay Fen station, 1 mile S from Ryston station on the G.E.R., and 4 SSE from Market Downham, and has a post and money order office under Downham; telegraph office, Southery. The parish comprises 6816 acres; population, 1491. A fair is held on 1 May. The Hall, about half a mile from the village, belonged to the abbots of Bamsey, went at the dissolution to James Howe, and belongs now to the Stocks family. Modney Priory, a cell to Ramsey Abbey, stood at what is now a farmhouse 2 miles SW. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Norwich; net value,, £653, in the gift of Hertford College, Oxford. The parish church is mainly Decorated English, partly Later English, with a modern tower, and has been restored. The district church of St Mark is a small building of brick. There are also two Primitive Methodist and two Wesleyan chapels. There are some charities worth about £380 a year. A large pumping station was constructed in this parish in 1884 for the Felt-well and Methwold Drainage Commissioners. Phiaeas Fletcher the poet was rector from 1621 to 1650.