Snarehill Warren
Map of Location
Warren Features
Lodges
The site marked on early maps as Old Lodge and occupied in 19c census by warreners, is characteristically on higher land commanding an all round view. The present buildings (1,3 and 4 Snarehill Farm Cottages) are mid 19c but there is a range of ruined Victorian flint farm buildings further down the slope which may incorporate flints from an earlier warren lodge.
A line of flint rubble runs along the rear boundary of the garden beside no. 4. The garden was in the process of being extensively landscaped when we visited, and apart from the line of flint rubble was reduced to mud.
Earliest documentary evidence
1440s DUCHY OF LANCASTER LEASED SNAREHILL WARREN
FROM(? To) THETFORD PRIORY –raiding Thetford and Brandon for traps and snares
[The Register of Thetford Priory Pt 1]
Other documentary evidence
The Register of Thetford PrioryVols LIX & LX Norfolk Records Society
Grant in fee ‘Henry VIII: July 1540, 21-31’, Letters &Papers Foreign &Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol 15: 1540 (1896) p445-81
Historical notes
Agreement NRO
PTR 1/147, 757X2
Will NRO T/NS1/1
Purchase Sussex RO
Danny MS 1596
Settlement31.5.1758 cited DAN/151
1768 Sussex RO
Also Buxton MS Box 94/25
Sale Catalogue
Shadwell NMHC
Folio catalogue filed under Rushford
Breckland Portraits Rev CHR Harper pp 31-2
Lodges
1482/3 Roberto Ruscel pro port lez fagotwood apud Snarehill 8d
(note: in the index this entry was listed under lodge repairs)
Otherwise earliest entry = 1510/11 pro reparac fact. Snarishill logge £1 9s 8p
[Register of Thetford Priory Pt 1 p75, Pt 1 p277]’
Number of Gates
To THOMAS POLETT, smith, for staple for Snarehill Gate 1527/8
To THOMAS POLETT, smith, for eyes and hooks for Snarehill Gate 1528/9
[Register of Thetford Priory Pt 2 p 520, p537]
Enclosure Acts
MEN PAID FOR BANKING AND CARTING FURZE Dec 1848/Jan 1849
Snarehill was never enclosed, but tree planting and shelter belts planted by the Buxtons
Poaching
1440s DUCHY OF LANCASTER LEASED SNAREHILL WARREN FROM(? To) THETFORD PRIORY –raiding Thetford and Brandon
for traps and snares
Trapping Banks
PAYMENTS MADE FOR DOGS, FERRETS, LINES, NETS, TRAPPING AND BRUSHING WITH DOGS, TARPAULIN TO KEEP GAME DRY IN CART
Note also reference to shot rabbits May 21st 1847 (sold cheaper than trapped
or live rabbits) [Shadwell Estate Account Book 1847-50 Buxton Papers, Box 124/2 MSS Dpt Camb Univ Library Box 123/5]
1767/8 Possibly warreners called in to kill rabbits, not directly employed
1727 destroying coneys with dogges or engines mentioned in lease [Box 94/24]
Numbers Culled
SALE OF RABBITS AND CARCASSES TO WM WHISTLER
May 21st 1847 329 dozen killed in season @8s6d doz 139 16 6
Shot rabbits 18 @ 7s dozen 10 6
May 12th 1850 441 dozen rabbits @ 8s6d dozen. £187.8.0
May 12th 1850
Of Geo Hilton 4 dozen live rabbits to Mr Freeman (?Firman) £1.14.0
Elsewhere only amounts paid by Wm Whistler, either to Shadwell Estate direct or per George Hilton, are listed
[Shadwell Estate Account Book Buxton Papers Box 124/2 MSS Dpt Camb Univ Library]
1898 an average kill of about 8,600 Rabbits, producing an approximate income of about £430 per annum
[1898 Sale Catalogus NMHC filed under Rushford]
Leases
RICHARD FULMERSTON leased 11.8.47/granted 21.2.1549 – 1554 [Grant in fee ‘Henry VIII: July 1540, 21-31’, Letters &Papers Foreign &Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol 15: 1540 (1896)p445-81
Historical notes]