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The Hamond family

In the early 20th century the family let, and later sold, the market rights to the Swaffham Urban Council

Born

1650

Died

1725

Nicholas (1650-1725) was the first of the Hamond family to become Lord of the Manor of Swaffham in 1695.

It was he who endowed the town with a free school for twenty boys and accommodation for a teacher on Campingland.

It opened in 1736 and continued until 1899 when the school moved to the Marketplace. It closed as a grammar school in 1977.

He also made the bequest that the shop he owned in the Marketplace would provide bread and red herrings to be distributed to the poorest of the inhabitants of Swaffham if they attended church for the six Sundays in Lent. The shop later burnt down and now cannot be traced.

A branch of Hamond family, originally from South Wootton, eventually settled at Westacre and retained the Manor of Swaffham, owning 90% of the town.

During the 19th century Anthony (father and son) oversaw the changes brought about by enclosure, agriculture technology, the railway, water, drainage, health, politics and education. There were many clashes.

Sarah Hamond, Anthony I’s daughter, lived at the Manor. A charitable lady, in 1833 she opened a school in the town in what was once the parish workhouse in the churchyard.

In the early 20th century the family let, and later sold, the market rights to the Swaffham Urban Council, houses were sold away from the estate and the Manor estate was also sold.