Narford Explained

Country:England
Coordinates:52.6932°N 0.6113°W
Official Name:Narford
Population:41
Area Total Km2:9.70
Population Ref:UK census 2001
Shire District:Breckland
Shire County:Norfolk
Region:East of England
Constituency Westminster:South West Norfolk
Post Town:KING'S LYNN
Postcode District:PE32
Postcode Area:PE
Os Grid Reference:TF764138
Static Image:St Mary the Virgin, Narford, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 694830.jpg
Static Image Width:240px
Static Image Caption:St Mary the Virgin, Narford

Narford is situated in the Breckland District of Norfolk and covers an area of 970 hectares (3.75 square miles). Narford village has all but disappeared, with a population of only 41.[1] At the 2011 Census the population of the area remained less than 100 and is included in the civil parish of South Acre.

The villages name probably means 'narrow ford' or 'ford at the narrow place'.

The large 18th-century Narford Hall built by Andrew Fountaine, art collector and amateur architect, is nearby.[2] [3] Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini's decorations were removed from Burlington House in London by 1727 and survive at Narford Hall. Andrew Fountaine (1918–1997) who was a founder member of the National Labour Party and deputy leader of the British National Front lived at the hall.

To the rear of the hall runs the river River Nar on its way from West Acre towards Narborough. Adjacent to the hall is St Mary the Virgin church[4] in the Benefice of Narborough and part of the Nar Valley Group of Parishes. Both the church and the hall are Grade I listed.

The village is on the Nar Valley Way path.

In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Narford.[5]

References

http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Narford

Notes and References

  1. http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes
  2. http://www.soane.org/AmArchEssay.pdf The Amateur Architect in England 1650 to 1850
  3. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain
  4. http://www.achurchnearyou.com/narford-st-mary/ The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
  5. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=3418 Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer