Wiggenhall St Germans

Wiggenhall St Germans is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is 85 miles (137 km) north of London and 5 miles (8.0 km) south-west of King's Lynn. The parish covers an area of 18.98 km2 (7.33 sq mi) and had a population of 1,373 in 554 households at the 2011 census.[1]

St Mary the Virgin's Church, Wiggenhall
Ruined church of Wiggenhall St Peter beside the River Great Ouse

Wiggenhall St Germans
  • North Wiggenhall
St German's church, Wiggenhall
Wiggenhall St Germans is located in Norfolk
Wiggenhall St Germans
Wiggenhall St Germans
Location within Norfolk
Area18.98 km2 (7.33 sq mi)
Population1,373 (2011)
• Density72/km2 (190/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTF596141
• London136 km (85 mi) WbS
Civil parish
  • Wiggenhall St Germans
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townKing's Lynn
Postcode districtPE34
Dialling code01553
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
WebsiteWiggenhall St Germans Parish Council

The parish is on the River Great Ouse which divides the village into two. Most of the parish lies below the high-water mark and some areas are level with the bed of the river, which is confined by high banks.[2] The parish includes the hamlets of Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin and Wiggenhall St Peter, and the settlements of Eau Brink[3][4] and Saddlebow[5] (Saddle Bow on some maps).[6]

History

The village's name means 'Wicga's nook of land'.[7]

An estate just south of the village was the site of Fitton, the ancient seat of the Howard family, later the dukes of Norfolk;[2] their former hall of 1570–77 is now the Grade II* listed building called Fitton Oake.[8]

During the Second World War, two Hawker Hurricanes collided over the parish. The crash site was investigated by a local local aviation society and a book published.[9]

Governance

Wiggenhall St Germans is part of the electoral ward called Wiggenhall. The population of this ward at the 2011 Census was 2,102.[10]

Amenities

The village has a primary school, St Germans Academy.[11]

St German's Church is a Grade I listed building.[12] St Mary the Virgin's Church, also Grade I,[13] is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[14] The ruined St Peter's Church is a Grade II* listed building.[15]

See also

References
  1. Office for National Statistics (2011). "Neighbourhood Statistics — Wiggenhall St Germans". Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  2. Samuel Lewis, ed. (1848). "Wiggenhall-Wigton". A Topographical Dictionary of England. British History Online. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  3. "Google Streetview of A47 showing Eau Brink name sign".
  4. "Google Streetview showing Eau Brink name sign in Wiggenhall St Germans".
  5. ."Google Streetview showing Saddlebow village entry highway name sign".
  6. "Saddle Bow". GetOutside. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. "Key to English Place-names".
  8. Historic England. "Fitton Oake, Wiggenhall St Germans (Grade II*) (1077894)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  9. Andrew B.N. Ketley (1990). The Saddlebow Hurricanes: The account of a wartime mid-air collision and the recent excavation of one of the aircraft. Fenland Aircraft Preservation Society.
  10. "Wiggenhall Ward population 2011". Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  11. "St Germans Academy". www.stgermansacademy.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. Historic England. "Church of St Germans, Wiggenhall St Germans (Grade II*) (1077892)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  13. Historic England, "Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wiggenhall St Germans (1342293)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 April 2015
  14. Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wiggenhall, Norfolk, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 3 December 2016
  15. Historic England. "Ruins of Church of St. Peter, Wiggenhall St Germans (Grade II*) (1152777)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 August 2020.

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