Castle Acre is a village and parish, 117½ mlles north-east from London, 4 south-east from Swaffham station, and 30 west from Norwich, in the hundred, union and rural deanery of Freebridge Lynn, western division of the county, archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich, situated on the river Nar, navigable to Narborough only, 6 miles distant; the stream abounds in trout. The church, named St. James, is a building of the fourteenth century, in the Perpendicular style of architecture; it has nave, aisles, chancel, transept, tower with 5 bells, clock, and porch, there is a remarkable font cover, and a curious shrine. The register dates from about 1598, but is very imperfect.
The living is a vicarage, annual value £168, with three acres of glebe, in the gift of the Earl of Leicester; the Rev. John Hague Bloom, B.A., of Caius College, Cambridge, is the incumbent. There are chapels for Baptists, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists. There is a National school for 150 children, supported by voluntary contributions; and there is a Sunday school, held at the schoolroom, for 179 children. Fairs are held yearly on the 1st of May and the 5th of August, for toys &c. There are extensive remains of British, Roman, and Norman work, the ruins of a castle, a priory, early British earthworks, a castrum, and a fine Anglo-Saxon cemetery, rich in magnificent urns. The population in 1861 was 1,405, and the acreage is 3,249. The soil is light sandy loam; the subsoil is chalk. The Earl of Leicester is lord of the manor, lay impropriator, and chief landowner. The chief crops are wheat, barley, and turnips. There are charities of £2 10s. annual value.
Post Office: — John Harvey, receiver. Letters through Brandon, arrive at 5.45 a.m.; dispatched at 7.35 p.m. Swaffham is the nearest money order office
National School (for the three parishes of Castle Acre, South Acre & Newton), Thomas Phillips, master
Carriers : —
Betts, passes through from Lynn to Dereham & Norwich, tuesday & friday, returning monday & thursday
William Reynolds, to Swaffam, daily
Bloom Rev. John Hague, B.A. [vicar]. Vicarage
Love Joshua, esq
Young Misses
Commercial.
Abbott Stephen, farmer, Wicken farm
Betts John, grocer & draper
Bitten William, baker & miller
Bowers John, wheelwright
Bush Francis, plumber
Cann Charles, news agent & shopkeepr
Cann Robert, basket maker
Codling William, basket maker
Comer Isaac, grocer & draper
Comer William, chemist & druggist
Cresswell Edward, beer retailer
Eglen William, shoe maker
Elvin Benjamin, iron founder
Goate George, shoe maker
Gooderson William, Rising Sun
Goatling Edward, butcher
Harrison William, Foresters’ Arms
Harvey John, grocer & draper
High Edward, blacksmith
Hook Samuel, Ship
Howard Thomas, shoe maker
Hudson John, farmer
Hudson Thomas Moore, farmer
Isbills Thomas, Ostrich, & farmer
Kettle James, shopkeeper
Kidall Samuel, saddler & harness maker
Kidall Sarah Ann (Miss), dress maker
Love Joshua, surgeon
Manning William, joiner
Moy Richard, baker
Nicholds Thomas, butcher
Nicholds William, Red Lion
Pollard Henry, baker & shopkeeper
Preston Thomas, cooper
Raven Henry, baker
Roper Richard, baker
Rose Thomas, saddler &c
Sculpher Robert, shoe maker
Shilling William, shoe maker
Spooner William, chimney sweeper
Taylor George, blacksmith
Taylor George, miller
Taylor Henry, grocer & stationer
Taylor Richard, tanner & fellmonger
Taylor Susan (Mrs.), baker
Taylor Thomas, baker
Tipple George, chimney sweeper
Wales John, butcher
Wales Maria (Mrs.), Dun Cow
Whiskerd Henry, farmer
Whiskerd Henry, pork butcher
Whiskerd John, thatcher & shopkeeper
Whiskerd Robert, carpenter
Whiskerd Samuel, bricklayer
Winkfield Thomas, bricklayer
Wright Michael, pig dealer
Source: Post Office Directory of Norfolk & Suffolk; Kelly & Co.; London; 1865.