Textile Manufacture
In East Anglia, a commercial textile industry developed in the Middle Ages. The production, for outside markets, of both linen made from locally grown Hemp and Worstëad (wool) in Norfolk goes back to, at least, the 13th Century, and possibly much earlier.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, linen manufacture continued, but it only produced cheap quality cloth for local markets. About 6 to 10 weavers are known to have produced linen in Sharrington during this period.

This might be due to the village predominantly being tenants of the estate. Possibly it was employment for independent villagers.

However, by 1840, all textile manufacture had virtually ceased in Norfolk owing to the competition from factory produced cottons.

Extraction Industry
Norfolk has a surface mix of sand, clay and gravel so extraction pits were opened as local needs arose.

Although there is no evidence of clay extraction in the village its earliest workers cottages would have been constructed using clay puddled with straw and animal hair to make building blocks. An example of this type of building remains in the village at Stone Cottage in The Street.

To improve the soil marl pits were dug and date to the post medieval period in Norfolk. They can be recognised by their small size and regular shape, with three steep sides and a shallower access side.

Marl was used as an early form of fertiliser, an ancient technique practised by the Celts. The lime rich marl is dug out and spread over the fields enriching poorer soils. Several pits can be found around the village in fields where this substance occurs.

References:

• An Historical Atlas of Norfolk. Published by Norfolk Museums Service. 2^nd
• Wikipedia – Marl definition.