Trunch 1851 Census
In 1851, relationships to the head of the house were given, as well as marital status, birth places and fairly accurate ages. Streets in Trunch were named as well as some cottages. Major buildings such as farmhouses, pubs, the nursery and blacksmith’s shop were specified. Yards were mentioned for the first time - Watts’, Amies’, and Bullen’s and were probably yards surrounded by cottages. Farmers stated their acreage and number of employees - men and boys
Click here for Trunch 1851 census details
In 1851 there were 105 houses in Trunch with 214 men and 237 women - 451 in total. This census gives a more detailed picture of village life.
Farming. Still a mainly farming village with 63 men giving their occupations as agricultural workers and there were 14 farmers boys, one as young as 9. There were now 11 farms but as their acreage and workforces were given it is possible to see the dominance of the landowner William Primrose. His 660 acres were more than those farmed by all the others put together, and he employed 42 of the 63 labourers. He was living in the Rookery at that time with his wife and 7 grown up children. They employed a cook, housemaid and groom.
Other occupations The village still had all of the occupations of 1841 plus a few more. The numbers include boys and apprentices in that trade. Servant (19), Shoemaker (8), Seamstress/dressmaker/milliner (8), Carpenter/wheelwright (7), Thatcher (5), Smith (5), Carter (5), Gardener (3), Tailor (3), Grocer (3), Housekeeper (3), Innkeeper (2), Schoolmaster (2), Errand boy (2), Baliff (2), Miller's apprentice (2), Butcher (2), Brewer's labourer (2), Brewer (2), and 1 each of Maltster, Wine & spirit merchant, Rector, Nurse, Confectioner, Gamekeeper, Baker, Shopmaid, Warrener, Hawker, Washerwoman, Charwoman, Landlord, Coal seller, Fisherman, and Harness maker. Eleven people described themselves as independents and 12 as paupers.
A mobile population? As people gave the precise locations of their births it is possible to gain some idea of population mobility. Of the 105 heads of households only 38 were born in Trunch. Their family names were Newland (2), Wegg, Colman (3), Self (4), Tooley, Gibbons (3), Sussins (2), Frary (4), Pitt, French, Barber, Cutting, Fuller, Amies (2), Primrose, Riches (2), Nichols, Wortley, Lyall, Worts, Dixon, Ives, Larner, and Pilch. In other families 12 of the wives were born in Trunch, while their husbands were from nearby villages. It may be that the agricultural labourers moved villages to get work with cottages provided by their employers. There were "work tied" cottages in Chapel Street and others named "Primrose's".
At the time of the census there were 10 people in the village who had been born outside Norfolk, compared with 5 in 1841. The Rector was from Devon and his wife from Cornwall; George Pyle, a journeyman blacksmith staying at the Crown was from Ottery in Devon and one of the farmer's wives was from Surrey and another from London. There were also 3 people who had been born in Ireland - Margaret Carrick, an 80 year old pauper; James Kirkham, an apprentice gardener and John Weldon, a licensed hawker who was staying at the Crown. Elizabeth LeGood, a "proprietor of houses" was born in Rutlandshire and several of the properties on the Hill were described as "Legoods houses". But the furthest travelled was John Freeman, a 7 year old visitor staying with Theophilis Rump - schoolmaster, who was born in Evandale, Van Dieman's Land, which is now Tasmania. The William Hastings who was living with them was a cousin of Theophilis, who was sent from Mundesley, when his father died.
Farming. Still a mainly farming village with 63 men giving their occupations as agricultural workers and there were 14 farmers boys, one as young as 9. There were now 11 farms but as their acreage and workforces were given it is possible to see the dominance of the landowner William Primrose. His 660 acres were more than those farmed by all the others put together, and he employed 42 of the 63 labourers. He was living in the Rookery at that time with his wife and 7 grown up children. They employed a cook, housemaid and groom.
Other occupations The village still had all of the occupations of 1841 plus a few more. The numbers include boys and apprentices in that trade. Servant (19), Shoemaker (8), Seamstress/dressmaker/milliner (8), Carpenter/wheelwright (7), Thatcher (5), Smith (5), Carter (5), Gardener (3), Tailor (3), Grocer (3), Housekeeper (3), Innkeeper (2), Schoolmaster (2), Errand boy (2), Baliff (2), Miller's apprentice (2), Butcher (2), Brewer's labourer (2), Brewer (2), and 1 each of Maltster, Wine & spirit merchant, Rector, Nurse, Confectioner, Gamekeeper, Baker, Shopmaid, Warrener, Hawker, Washerwoman, Charwoman, Landlord, Coal seller, Fisherman, and Harness maker. Eleven people described themselves as independents and 12 as paupers.
A mobile population? As people gave the precise locations of their births it is possible to gain some idea of population mobility. Of the 105 heads of households only 38 were born in Trunch. Their family names were Newland (2), Wegg, Colman (3), Self (4), Tooley, Gibbons (3), Sussins (2), Frary (4), Pitt, French, Barber, Cutting, Fuller, Amies (2), Primrose, Riches (2), Nichols, Wortley, Lyall, Worts, Dixon, Ives, Larner, and Pilch. In other families 12 of the wives were born in Trunch, while their husbands were from nearby villages. It may be that the agricultural labourers moved villages to get work with cottages provided by their employers. There were "work tied" cottages in Chapel Street and others named "Primrose's".
At the time of the census there were 10 people in the village who had been born outside Norfolk, compared with 5 in 1841. The Rector was from Devon and his wife from Cornwall; George Pyle, a journeyman blacksmith staying at the Crown was from Ottery in Devon and one of the farmer's wives was from Surrey and another from London. There were also 3 people who had been born in Ireland - Margaret Carrick, an 80 year old pauper; James Kirkham, an apprentice gardener and John Weldon, a licensed hawker who was staying at the Crown. Elizabeth LeGood, a "proprietor of houses" was born in Rutlandshire and several of the properties on the Hill were described as "Legoods houses". But the furthest travelled was John Freeman, a 7 year old visitor staying with Theophilis Rump - schoolmaster, who was born in Evandale, Van Dieman's Land, which is now Tasmania. The William Hastings who was living with them was a cousin of Theophilis, who was sent from Mundesley, when his father died.