Martham
Encyclopedia
Martham is a village
and civil parish in the English
county
of Norfolk
and within the Broads National Park. It is situated some 15 km (9.3 mi) north-west of the town of Great Yarmouth
and 30 km (18.6 mi) north-east of the city of Norwich
.
The civil parish has an area of 11.84 km² (4.6 sq mi) and in the 2001 census
had a population of 3,126 in 1,267 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
of Great Yarmouth
. In recent years the population has expanded with considerable building of new housing. There is a good bus service to Great Yarmouth. There was formerly a Martham railway station
, but this closed in 1959.
The village has several Georgian
houses, a large green and duck pond. Near the church, a lane leads to the former location of Martham Ferry across the River Thurne
. The ferry no longer exists, but has been replaced by a swing bridge
, which can only be crossed by the public on special occasions. About 2 km (1.2 mi) to the north of the village is Martham Broad
, a 140 acres (56.7 ha) nature reserve
.
The Saxons settled in Martham around AD600 and gave the village its name, "the ham of the martens", the home of the polecats.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and within the Broads National Park. It is situated some 15 km (9.3 mi) north-west of the town of Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
and 30 km (18.6 mi) north-east of the city of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
.
The civil parish has an area of 11.84 km² (4.6 sq mi) and in the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
had a population of 3,126 in 1,267 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth (borough)
The Borough of Great Yarmouth is a local government district with borough status in Norfolk, England. It is named after its main town, Great Yarmouth.-History:...
. In recent years the population has expanded with considerable building of new housing. There is a good bus service to Great Yarmouth. There was formerly a Martham railway station
Martham railway station
Martham railway station was a station in Martham, Norfolk. It was on the line between Melton Constable and Great Yarmouth. It closed in 1959.-References:Former Services...
, but this closed in 1959.
The village has several Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
houses, a large green and duck pond. Near the church, a lane leads to the former location of Martham Ferry across the River Thurne
River Thurne
The River Thurne is a river in Norfolk, England in The Broads. Just six miles long it rises two miles from the coast near Martham Broad and is navigable from West Somerton. It flows southwest and is linked by Candle Dyke and Heigham Sound to both Horsey Mere and Hickling Broad...
. The ferry no longer exists, but has been replaced by a swing bridge
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
, which can only be crossed by the public on special occasions. About 2 km (1.2 mi) to the north of the village is Martham Broad
Martham Broad
Martham Broad is a broad and National Nature Reserve on the River Thurne in the English county of Norfolk. The broad is located within The Broads National Park about 2 km north of the village of Martham....
, a 140 acres (56.7 ha) nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
.
The Saxons settled in Martham around AD600 and gave the village its name, "the ham of the martens", the home of the polecats.