Syderstone

Syderstone is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, near the town of Fakenham, with an area of 9.94 km2 (3.84 sq mi). Its population of 532 in 224 households at the 2001 census fell to 445 at the 2011 Census.[1][2]

Syderstone

Signpost in Syderstone
Syderstone
Location within Norfolk
Area9.94 km2 (3.84 sq mi)
Population445 
• Density45/km2 (120/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTF829326
Civil parish
  • Syderstone
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townKING'S LYNN
Postcode districtPE31
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England

Governance

For the purposes of local government, Syderstone falls within the Norfolk district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Churches
Syderstone St. Mary

St Mary's, the parish church, is one of 124 round-tower churches in Norfolk, as is the nearby church at Barmer. St Mary's has a service every Sunday at various times.[3]

In its present form the church has its origins in the Norman period, but may date from earlier. It was remodelled and reduced in size in 1785, and underwent major restoration and refurnishing in 1859.[4]

The initials "A. R." on the church gates refer to Amy Roberts, whose family were lords of the manor. She and her husband, Robert Dudley, later Earl of Leicester, lived for a time at Syderstone Hall, which no longer stands. She died young amid rumours that her husband had poisoned her. She provided the basis for a novel, Kenilworth, by Sir Walter Scott. The village hall is named after her.[5]

Wildlife

It is famous for the natterjack toads which have been seen near the popular but overgrown duck pond. Syderstone is also known for its large common, which spans roughly 4 square miles (10 km2). Much wildlife can be seen there including snakes, hares, rabbits and foxes.[6]

In a field alongside the road that passes the duck pond there is a World War II Home Guard pill box. On a bright spring day in 1944 or 1945 two P-51 Mustangs collided over Barwick Hall Farm near Stanhoe. One of the Mustangs crashed on Syderstone Common, killing the pilot.[7]

References
  1. Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes Archived 2017-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  2. "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  3. Village site, church. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  4. Village history. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  5. Village site: village history. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. Retrieved 7 June 2020
  7. Wartime. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.