Topcroft Explained

Official Name:Topcroft
Country:England
Region:East of England
Civil Parish:Topcroft CP
Static Image:Topcroft-g3.jpg
Static Image Width:240px
Static Image Caption:The parish church of Saint Margaret, Topcroft, Norfolk
Population:268
Population Ref:(parish, 2001 census)
Area Total Km2:7.76
Os Grid Reference:TM260920
Coordinates:52.4888°N 1.3354°W
Post Town:BUNGAY
Postcode Area:NR
Postcode District:NR35
Dial Code:01508
London Distance:119miles

Topcroft is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.[1] The village is around 7miles north-west of Bungay and 14miles south of Norwich in the South Norfolk district. The village lies close to the B1527 road.[2]

The villages name means 'Topi's small enclosed field'.[3]

The parish had a population of 265 at the 2011 census.[4] A notable resident of Topcroft is the artist Hannah Giffard, creator of Pablo the Little Red Fox, an animated television series for children.

History

Topcroft has an entry in the Domesday Book of 1085.[5] In the great book Topcroft is recorded by the name Topercroft and Topercropt and was part of the holdings of Eudo FitzSpirwic, Berenger from Saint Edmund's.

The population peaked in the 1851 census at 477 people, falling to a low of 257 in 1931 and staying stable at this level since then.[6]

During World War II RAF Hardwick was built just to the south-west of the parish boundary. The airfield was operated by Bombardment groups of the US Eighth Air Force during the war and closed in 1945.

The church of Saint Margaret

The parish church is dedicated to Saint Margaret. It is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk.[7]

Culture and community

Topcroft Cricket Club is based in the village with the First XI playing in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division Two.[8]

Notes and References

  1. OS Explorer Map 230 – Diss & Harleston
  2. County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk,
  3. Web site: Key to English Place-names.
  4. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11129783&c=NR35+2BA&d=16&e=62&g=6450408&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1441622316085&enc=1 Parish population 2011
  5. The Domesday Book, Englands Heritage, Then and Now, Editor: Thomas Hinde,Norfolk, Topcroft entry, page 195
  6. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10123290/cube/TOT_POP Topcroft Parish - Population
  7. https://www.roundtowerchurches.net/norfolk/norfolk-s-y/topcroft-2/ St Margaret's on the European Round Tower Churches website
  8. Web site: Topcroft CC . 2023-07-17 . topcroft.play-cricket.com.