HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Erpingham ( ) is a village and
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
in the English county of
Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...
. Erpingham is located north of
Aylsham Aylsham ( or ) is a historic market town and civil parish on the River Bure in north Norfolk, England, nearly north of Norwich. The river rises near Melton Constable, upstream from Aylsham and continues to Great Yarmouth and the North Sea ...
and north of
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...
, along
Scarrow Beck Scarrow Beck is a minor watercourse. The Gill (ravine), beck rises in the north of the England, English county of Norfolk. It is a tributary of the River Bure. Its Spring (hydrosphere), spring is in the North Norfolk village of Aylmerton west o ...
. The parish also includes the nearby village of Calthorpe.


History

Erpingham's name is of
Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...
origin and derives from the
Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...
for the homestead or village of Eorp's people. There is archaeological evidence to suggest Erpingham was the site of two
Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
settlements, one of which suggests a military or religious function. Furthermore, Roman artefacts, including coins, brooches and a
quern-stone A quern-stone is a stone tool for hand-grinding a wide variety of materials, especially for various types of grains. They are used in pairs. The lower stationary stone of early examples is called a ''saddle quern'', while the upper mobile st ...
, have been discovered close to the village. In the
Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...
, Erpingham is listed as a settlement of 27 households in the
hundred 100 or one hundred (Roman numerals, Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 (number), 99 and preceding 101 (number), 101. In mathematics 100 is the square of 10 (number), 10 (in scientific notation it is written as 102). The standar ...
of South Erpingham. In 1086, the village was divided between the
East Anglia East Anglia is an area of the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, with parts of Essex sometimes also included. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, ...
n estates of Roger Bigot, St Benet's Abbey, Drogo de la Beuvrière and Ranulf brother of Ilger. Erpingham Watermill is first recorded in the mid-Eighteenth Century as one of the smallest mills in
Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...
, drawing on the
Scarrow Beck Scarrow Beck is a minor watercourse. The Gill (ravine), beck rises in the north of the England, English county of Norfolk. It is a tributary of the River Bure. Its Spring (hydrosphere), spring is in the North Norfolk village of Aylmerton west o ...
for its power. The watermill was gutted by fire in 1965 and was subsequently demolished. Erpingham Windmill dates from the late-Fourteenth Century and is a private residence today. During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, an artillery emplacement and bunker were built in the village for use of the
Home Guard Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense. The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting ...
.


Geography

According to the 2021 census, Erpingham has a population of 737 people which shows an increase from the 700 people recorded in the 2011 census. Erpingham is located along
Scarrow Beck Scarrow Beck is a minor watercourse. The Gill (ravine), beck rises in the north of the England, English county of Norfolk. It is a tributary of the River Bure. Its Spring (hydrosphere), spring is in the North Norfolk village of Aylmerton west o ...
.


Church of St. Mary

Erpingham's parish church is dedicated to
Saint Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
and has a
nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
dating from the Fourteenth Century and a
chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the Choir (architecture), choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may termi ...
from the Fifteenth Century. St. Mary's is located along Church Road, outside of the village and has been Grade I listed since 1960. St. Mary's
font In metal typesetting, a font is a particular size, weight and style of a ''typeface'', defined as the set of fonts that share an overall design. For instance, the typeface Bauer Bodoni (shown in the figure) includes fonts " Roman" (or "regul ...
is from the Nineteenth Century and was originally placed in St Benedict's Church in
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...
, but was transferred to Erpingham after the church was destroyed in the
Norwich Blitz The Norwich Blitz refers to the heavy bombing of Norwich and surrounding area by the German ''Luftwaffe'' during World War II. The bombings launched on numerous British cities were known as the Blitz. Initially bombed in the summer of 1940, N ...
. The church also holds a good example of a Fourteenth Century brass memorial dedicated to Sir John de Erpingham, an English soldier present at the
Battle of Agincourt The Battle of Agincourt ( ; ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected victory of the vastly outnumbered English troops agains ...
, and installed by his son,
Sir Thomas Erpingham Sir Thomas Erpingham (27 June 1428) was an English soldier and administrator who loyally served three generations of the House of Lancaster, including Henry IV and Henry V, and whose military career spanned four decades. After the Lancastrian ...
. Additionally, St. Mary's has good examples of British and Continental stained-glass, largely copied from examples in
Blickling Hall Blickling Hall is a Jacobean stately home situated in 5,000 acres of parkland in a loop of the River Bure, near the village of Blickling north of Aylsham in Norfolk, England. The mansion was built on the ruins of a Tudor building for Sir He ...
and restored in the Twenty-first Century by King & Son.


Amenities

Erpingham's 'Spread Eagle'
public house A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption Licensing laws of the United Kingdom#On-licence, on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the ...
has stood on its current site since the late eighteenth century. In its long history, the Spread Eagle has been owned by Watney & Mann Brewery and Woodforde's and was briefly known as the Erpingham Arms from 2011 to 2017. Local children usually attend Erpingham Church of England Primary School which is part of the Blue Sky Federation. After an
Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training ...
inspection in October 2023, the school was given a rating of 'Requires Improvement.'


Notable Residents

* Sir Thomas Erpingham KG- (1347–1428) soldier and administrator, Lord of Erpingham manor. * Elizabeth Grimston- (1563-1603) poet, born in Erpingham. * Jacob Mountain, Bishop of Quebec- (1749-1825) clergyman and judge, born in Erpingham. * Nathaniel Pilch- (1793-1881)
Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...
cricketer, died in Erpingham. * William Frederick Windham- (1840-1866) aristocrat, born in Erpingham. * Sir Kenneth Hagar Kemp, 12th Baronet- (1853-1936) lawyer, soldier and banker, born in Erpingham. * Sir Graham Savage CB- (1886-1981) civil servant, born in Erpingham. * Grace Marcon- (1889-1965) Suffragette, born in Erpingham. *
Steven Wright Steven Alexander Wright (born December 6, 1955) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and film producer. He is known for his distinctive lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical j ...
- (born 1958) serial killer, born in Erpingham. * Steve Goble- (1960-2009)
Norwich City Norwich City Football Club is a professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The club was founded in 1902. Since 1935, Norwich have played their h ...
and
FC Groningen Football Club Groningen () is a Dutch professional association football club based in Groningen, Groningen (province), Groningen province. Founded in 1971 as the successor of GVAV-Rapiditas, GVAV, Groningen compete in the Eredivisie, the first t ...
footballer, born in Erpingham.


Governance

Erpingham is an
electoral ward A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. In some countries, wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected t ...
for local elections and is part of the
district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
of
North Norfolk North Norfolk is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Cromer, and the largest town is North Walsham. The district also includes the towns of Fakenham, Holt, Norfolk, Holt, Shering ...
. The village's national constituency is
North Norfolk North Norfolk is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Cromer, and the largest town is North Walsham. The district also includes the towns of Fakenham, Holt, Norfolk, Holt, Shering ...
, which has been represented by the Liberal Democrat Steff Aquarone MP since 2024.


War memorial

Erpingham War Memorial is a stone wheel-cross with a plinth inscribed with 'Pro Patria 1914-1919' inside St. Mary's Churchyard. The memorial lists the following names for the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
: The following names were added after the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
:


Gallery

File:Alby Crafts.JPG, Crafts centre in the village File:Erpingham Barn.JPG, Barn conversion File:Erpingham Campsite.JPG, Entrance to the campsite


References


Further reading

* Vigar, J. (2021). ''Churches of Norfolk''. Stroud: Amberley Publishing.


External links

{{authority control Villages in Norfolk Civil parishes in Norfolk North Norfolk