Wretham Explained

Official Name:Wretham
Static Image Name:St Ethelbert's church East Wretham Norfolk (264040847).jpg
Static Image Caption:St Ethelbert's parish church
Coordinates:52.479°N 0.818°W
Os Grid Reference:TL915905
Population:374
Population Ref:(2011 Census)
Area Total Km2:32.25
Civil Parish:Wretham
Shire District:Breckland
Shire County:Norfolk
Region:East of England
Country:England
Constituency Westminster:South West Norfolk
Postcode District:IP24
Postcode Area:IP
Post Town:Thetford
Dial Code:01953
Website:Wretham Village Website

Wretham is a civil parish in the Breckland district[1] of Norfolk, England. The parish includes the village of East Wretham, which is about 6miles northeast of Thetford and southwest of Norwich.[2] It also includes the villages of Illington and Stonebridge. The parish has an area of 32.25km2. The 2011 Census recorded a parish population of 374 people in 141 households.

History

The place-name "Wretham" is derived from Old English. It means "the hām (place) where crosswort grew".

The Church of England parish church of St Ethelbert in East Wretham was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in 1865. It is a Grade II* listed building.

The former parish church of St Lawrence in West Wretham was built in the 14th century and is now a ruin. It is a Scheduled Monument and Grade II listed building.

RAF East Wretham was a Royal Air Force air station. It was commissioned in 1940 and operational until November 1945. It was then a resettlement camp for Polish refugees until 1946. The former air station is now part of the British Army's Stanford Training Area (STANTA).

The licensee of the Dog and Partridge local pub opposed the smoking ban that was introduced in England in July 2007.[3]

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . 2001 . Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes . 2 December 2005.
  2. Ordnance Survey . 1999 . OS Explorer . 229 . Thetford in the Brecks . 0-319-21861-9.
  3. News: Smokers take a stand at the Dog and Partridge . Telegraph Newspapers . 23 September 2007 . 21 June 2009 . London . Christopher . Booker . Christopher Booker.