Stalham, Norfolk

Description
Stalham, a small market-town and a parish in Norfolk. The town stands near the navigable river Ant, 8 miles SE from North Walsham, 15 NE from Norwich, and has a station on the Midland and Great Northern Joint railway, and a post, money order, and telegraph office (S.O.) A corn market was opened in 1855, but during recent years the market has fallen into desuetude. In consequence of this the Corn Hall is now used only as a reading-room, and for concerts and public meetings. There is a police station. Area of the parish, 1800 acres; population, 867. There is a parish council consisting of nine members. Stalham and Sutton Broads form a large sheet of water about 1 mile in length from west to east, and three quarters of a mile from south-west to north-east. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Norwich; net value, £150 with residence. The church is an ancient building of flint and stone, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, S porch, and a western tower. It has a brass of 1460 and another of 1624, a finely carved octagonal font, and a carved oak reredos, which was erected in 1889. In 1886 the roof of the church was raised to its original pitch, and a memorial SW window in stained glass was put in. The chancel roof was also raised in 1886, and a memorial E window placed representing the Lord's Supper. In 1894 the N and S aisles were rebenched, and in 1895 a stone Maltese cross was placed over the porch of the church. There are Baptist and Wesleyan chapels.