NHER 21989 (Monument record) - Post medieval wayside burial

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Summary

The burial place of one Richard Nobbs, who hanged himself in 1785 after the discovery of his son's skeleton, buried in a ditch and apparently murdered by him. As was the usual custom with those who 'self murdered', he was buried at the side of the highway.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TM29SE
Civil Parish HEMPNALL, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK
Civil Parish TOPCROFT, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK
Civil Parish WOODTON, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

1785. Suicide burial. Nobbs Corner.
Burial place of one Richard Nobbs, who hung himself at Hempnall Pope's Wood in 1785 after the discovery of the skeleton of his son buried in a ditch at Tasburgh and apparently murdered by him.
Buried at Sisland Cross as a self murderer, the name thereafter becoming Nobb's Corner and Lane. (It was also known as Nobb's Grove, presumably a variant of Nobbs Grave as with Crosses Grave, Buggs Grave, Piggs Grave etc., all Norfolk suicide burials).
Information from sources (S1) and (S2)
E. Rose (NAU) 29 November 1985.

  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • <S1> Newspaper Article: Norfolk Chronicle. 1785. [unknown]. June.
  • <S2> Newspaper Article: Norwich Mercury. 1785. [unknown]. 4 June.
  • <S3> Newspaper Article: Bury and Norwich Post. 1785. [unknown]. 1 June.
  • <S4> Newspaper Article: Bury and Norwich Post. 1785. Bury and Norwich Post.. 8 June.
  • <S5> Newspaper Article: Cambridgeshire Chronicle. 1785. [unknown]. 18 June.
  • <S6> Article in Serial: Halliday, R. 1994. Wayside Graves and Crossroad Burials. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLII Pt I pp 80-83. pp 80-81.

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Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Nov 28 2025 3:29PM

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