Wereham

Wereham is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.

Wereham
Wereham is located in Norfolk
Wereham
Wereham
Location within Norfolk
Area8.59 km2 (3.32 sq mi)
Population660 (2011 census)[1]
• Density77/km2 (200/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTF680016
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townKING'S LYNN
Postcode districtPE33
Dialling code01366
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament

Location

Wereham lies in the Wissey valley and is on the main A134 road; it is some five miles to the east of the town of Downham Market and thirteen miles from King's Lynn. Neighbouring villages include Boughton, Fincham, Crimplesham, West Dereham, Wretton and Stoke Ferry.

History

The villages name means 'Homestead/village on the River Wigor' or 'hemmed-in land by the River Wigor'. Wigor may be an older name for the River Wissey.[2]

The former Benedictine alien priory of St Winwaloe is now Winnold House. It lies a mile north of the village.[3] A large fair was held on St Winnold's Day (3 March); the fair moved to Downham Market in 1798.[4]

In the centre of the village is the pond - known locally as the pit. Nearby on the village green, the village sign depicts 'Billy the Seal', one of Wereham's most famous residents from the 1920s.

Facilities

Wereham once had four pubs: the George and Dragon, The Crown, The Nags Head and The Chequers; however, only the George and Dragon remains. The village also had a school which closed in the 1980s.

St Margaret of Antioch, Wereham

The Parish Church, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, is in the centre of the village.

2018 will see the completion of the 1st UK Passivhaus village hall www.werehamvillagehall.co.uk Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.[5]

References
  1. "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  2. "Key to English Place-names".
  3. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ST WINWALOES PRIORY
  4. "MNF 33628". Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. "New community hub". Werehamvillagehall.co.uk/. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
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