Olney's visit to Pulham Market & Pulham St Mary in 2007

http://richesfamilyarchives.blogspot.com.au

Peter and Joy Olney took a trip to England in 2007. Joy had already researched the families of our ancestors, so we hired a car and travelled to about 25 villages, looking for houses, churches and cemeteries. It is interesting to note that most our ancestors left their mother land England, leaving behind parents and siblings to start a new life in Australia. 

Pulham Market, Norfolk  

The name "Pulham" is regularly thought to mean "Village of Pools" taken from the Anglo-Saxon words, "Pul" or Pol" meaning pool, and "Ham" meaning settlement.

Pulham Market was regularised in 1249, as recorded in Court Plea rolls. Pulham became noted for hats, dornicks (a course kind of linen) and coverlets. In 1551 an Act was passed forbidding the manufacture of these goods, unless in some corporate or market town.  Pulham, however was allowed to carry on with these industries as they had been in existence for some time.

This postcard was sent to Jessie Wallis (nee Riches) in Australian from her step-sister Hannah Riches.  In correspondence from Hannah she said the house where Jessie lived was "at the back of the Church".  Is that the white house on the left hand side of the photo which is actually opposite the front entry of the Church?  Or was it the thatched roof house behind the Church facing the Common Green?

1 May 1939 The message on the back of the postcard reads - Dear Jessie, Thought you would like this. The house at the back of the Church is where you lived when small. One young young Wesleyan minister kissed you, you said "Now kiss Mummy".  I don't think he did.  Hope you have many happy returns of your birthday.  My love to all.Your loving sister, Hannah xxxxxxx

St Mary Magdalen Church at Pulham Market, Norfolk

This Church was founded as a chapel to ease the mother church at Pulham St.Mary the Virgin in the late thirteenth century to serve the community which had grown around the open space where a flourishing market was developing.  The existing building dates from the early 14th century to the late 15th century. There are eight bells which are rung regularly, the oldest being dated 1724.

The outstanding item in the church is the arched-braced roof in natural oak. It is of bold construction only made possible by the narrowness of the chancel (15 feet) and the thickness of the walls (about 3 feet). The painting over the chancel arch, showing the Ascension was done in 1895.

Interior St Mary Magdalen Church at Pulham Market, Norfolk

Interior St Mary Magdalen Church at Pulham Market, Norfolk

Stained glass windows in St Mary Magdalen Church, Pulham Market, Norfolk

Peter contemplating in Pulham Market Common Green

Houses overlooking Pulham Market Common Green

"Crown Inn" facing Common Green at Pulham Market, Norfolk.  Behind is the Church.

Houses opposite the front of the Church. Was that where Jessie lived in Pulham Market?

Pulham St.Mary, Norfolk

Pulham St.Mary is just a few miles down the road from Pulham Market.

Pulham St.Mary the Virgin Church dates back to about 1200. The Tower dates from the 15th century and contains a clock and eight bells. The clock was made in 1849 and originally at Flixton Hall, but moved to Pulham St.Mary the Virgin in 1953 at the time of  Queen Elizabeth's Coronation and restored in 1996.  There was a ring of six bells until the two trebles were added at the end of the 19th century. The bells became one of the most popular peal-ringing towers in the area, attracting fine ringers from far and wide. The porch was built about 1478.

Pulham St.Mary the Virgin Church at Pulham St.Mary, Norfolk

Interior of Pulham St.Mary the Virgin Church at Pulham St.Mary, Norfolk. There are 16 saints on the screen panels, dating from about 1450. Some can be recognised: St.John with a cup, St.Andrew with his cross, St.James as a pilgrim.

Stained glass window in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin, Pulham St.Mary, Norfolk

While wandering around the Pulham St.Mary the Virgin church graveyard we came across three Riches tombstones.  I took photos (see below), hoping I would be able to trace them back to being one of our ancestors.  I have now been able to work out who each of the tombstones belong to, how they were related to each other and where they fit into my line of Riches.

Samuel Riches (1813-1894) married Rebecca Mills (1817-1892) in 1835. He was the "Beerhouse" Keeper in St.Mary the Virgin and Farmer of 32 acres.
They had 9 children:  Mary Anne Riches born March 1836. Maria Riches born 1838 in Norfolk. James Riches born 1839 in Pulham St.Mary, died 6 June 1892 in London. Sophia Riches born 1843. Ellen Riches born 23 September 1846 in Pulham. Samuel Riches born 1847. Samuel Thomas Riches born October 1852 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin, died 1929 Pulham St.Mary the Virgin. Kate Riches born 1856 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin. Jane Emma Riches born 1859 at "The Malting". 

Samuel Thomas Riches (1852-1929) married Emma Spink (1856-1897). They had 10 children:
Ellen Ada Riches born July 1877 Pulham St.Mary and died January 1888 in Depwade. Samuel Henry Riches born 1878 Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died 29 July 1963 in London. William Alefounder Riches born July 1880 Pulham St Mary and died 2 July 1944 in Ipswich, Suffolk. James Frank Riches born 4 December 1882, bap 4 December 1883, died 20 July 1894. Maria Beatrice Riches born 1884 Pulham St. Mary the Virgin, and died 1914 Depwade. Walter Alfred Riches born October 1886 Pulham St.Mary and died September 1911 Depwade.  Kate Rebecca Riches born 1889 Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died 9 March 1962 in London. Ethel Grace Riches born 1890 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died 1912 in Depwade. Hilda Mary Riches born 16 April 1893 in Pulham St.Mary and died 21 November 1961 in Pulham St.Mary. Winifred Riches born 1894 and died 1967 in Ipswich, Suffolk.

So how are they related you ask?

Samuel Riches born 1742 and died 1815 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin married Dinah Forster born 1742 and died 1823 in Pulham St.Mary. Samuel and Dinah had 10 children: William Riches born 1766 in Norfolk and died April 1843 in Depwade.  William married Elizabeth Tailor born 1768 and died 1856. Henry Riches born 1767 in Pulham St.Mary and died 1847 Poringham, Norfolk.  Elizabeth Riches born 1770 and died 1771 in Flordon, Norfolk.  James Riches born 1771 in Flordon.  Jeremiah Riches born 1773 in Norfolk.  Elizabeth Riches born 1775 in Norfolk and died 1856 in Norfolk.  Samuel Riches born 19 October 1777 and died 1831 in Great Moulton.  John Riches born 1780 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died April 1868 in Henstead.  George Riches born 1783 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died 1835 in Norfolk. Frances Riches born 18 July 1785 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin, Norfolk.

William Riches (1766) and George Riches (1783) were brothers. William was the father of John Riches (1802) and George was the father of Samuel (1813).

William Riches born 1766 in Norfolk and died April 1843 in Depwade. William Riches married Elizabeth Tailor born 1768 and died 1856.  They had 6 children: William born 1795 in Pulham St.Mary.  James born 1797 in Pulham St.Mary. John Riches born 1802 in Pulham St.Mary and died April 1875 in Depwade. George Riches born 1805 in Pulham St.Mary and died September 1876 in Hempnell, Norfolk. Mary Ann Riiches born 1808 in Pulham St.Mary.  Maria Riches born 1814 in Pulham St.Mary, Norfolk.

George Riches born 1783 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died 1835 in Norfolk. George Riches married Sarah Nudds born 1775 in Pulham St.Mary Magdalen and died April 1842 in Depwade, Norfolk.
They had 8 children: Francis Riches born 1806 in Pulham St.Mary and died 1891 in Norfolk. George Riches born 1808 in Norfolk and died 1877 in Ecclesall, Yorkshire.  William Riches born 1 October 1811 in Norfolk and died 1 December 1811 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin. Samuel Riches born 1813 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin and died 1894 in Norfolk. William Riches born 7 February 1815 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin.  Robert Gooderham Riches born 1817 and died April 1817 in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin.  James Riches born 1819 in Norfolk.  Robert Riches born 1821 in Norfolk.

Samuel (1813-1894) married Rebecca Mills (1819-1892) in 1835. Their eldest son James died 189? was buried with his mother in the Pulham St.Mary the Virgin Churchyard.

Another son of Samuel & Rebecca Riches was Samuel Thomas Riches (1852 - 1929) who married Emma Spinks (1856-1897)

James Frank Riches (1883-1894), a son of Samuel Thomas & Emma Riches

Village "Beerhouse", once owned by a Samuel Riches (1813-1894) of Pulham St.Mary, Norfolk.  He also owned 32 acres.

Village of Pulham St.Mary the Virgin, Norfolk

Blacksmith in Pulham St.Mary the Virgin, Norfolk

Just days after publishing my Riches Family Archives blog I had an email from Simon Torrington and Raymond Riches in England. As a result of "googling" around they found my blog, which reinforces to me the time and effort of writing blogs is well worthwhile as you just never know where it will lead. Thank you Simon for these old photos which I have included in this blog.

Samuel Riches 1813-1894

Rebecca Riches nee Mills 1819-1892

Samuel Thomas Riches 1852-1929

Emma Riches nee Spink 1856-1897

Daughters of Samuel Thomas & Emma Riches - Katie, Hilda and Winifred Riches at St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard - where I found the Riches tombstones.

If you wish to contact the author of the Riches Family Archives blogs with comments or further  information, please email Joy Olney at - joyolney@gmail.com