Middleton, Norfolk
Encyclopedia
Middleton is a civil parish
in the English county of Norfolk
.
It covers an area of 5.02 mi2 and had a population of 1,516 in 621 households as of the 2001 census
.
For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district
of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
.
Middleton is the second village on the A47 road
to Norwich
, after North Runcton
approximately 3 miles (5 km) from King's Lynn
. The A47, the main road of Norfolk, runs through the village, and in the past and present the village has been the site of road traffic accidents. The A47 effectively divides the village in two. Fair Green and Blackborough End are also areas of Middleton. Fair Green is on the northern part of the village, whilst Blackborough End is in the southern half of the village.
Middleton has a primary school, Middleton V.C. Primary School, a village hall, post office and a car repair garage called Total Motors. The village church is called Saint Mary's, and the current Rector is the Revd Jim Ryan. The church is situated beside the A47, opposite the Crown pub. The village had a petrol filling station, but this closed during the 1990s. The village also has a golf club.
was founded by William d'Ecouis
. It was a motte and bailey fortress which was thought to be constructed from timber. The large motte is surrounded by a wide ditch.
The Gate Inn, which may have been opened in c. 1845, is situated on Hill Road in Fair Green. Its first owner is recorded as Ann Bardell. The current owner Mr. McAllister has been the landlord since Christmas 2008 and offers service as a traditional country pub. As well as being a dog friendly establishment, the Gate Inn offers traditional homecooked foods.
Previously, there have been a few other pubs in Middleton. These included the Castle Inn, which was opened by Bedingfield Bardell in c. 1845, later on sold to Thomas Edward Bagge of Gaywood Hall, and closed in 1969. The Wheatsheaf, which was only open from 1858 to 1879 had two owners, George Smith and Robert Rye. Finally the Royale Oak, which was situated on East Winch Road in Blackborough End. The first landlord was Robert Berry, who opened the pub in 1851. The pub closed in 1963. Some of Robert Berry's descendents still live in Middleton, and its surrounding villages, North Runcton
and East Winch
.
on the King's Lynn
to Dereham
secondary line. Although the passenger route has been closed the station remains as a sand loading depot and has been the destination of a number of charter trains.
aircraft which had taken off from nearby Little Snoring
airfield crashed into Middleton Fen.
Eyewitnesses saw the plane spiralling out of a cloud. It then righted itself before spinning into the ground. Both the pilot and navigator were killed.
Mosquito DD736 was piloted by Flying Officer
Charles Preece from Hardisty, Alberta
, Canada
. He was one of two brothers and the son of a railway engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railway
.
He his buried at St Thomas a Beckett Church, Clapham
, Bedfordshire
.
The navigator was a wartime hero - Flying Officer Frederick Ruffle DFC of 515 squadron. Before the crash Fred had flown over 61 sorties on intruder operations. Most of them with the elite 8 Group pathfinder
squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for the part he played in a succession of bombing raids on the Dortmund–Ems Canal in Germany
.
Fred left a wife and a ten month old daughter. He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, High Hurstwood just off the A26
between Crowborough
and Uckfield
in Sussex
.
The aircraft had taken off so the pilot could train on a system known as Serrate
. This was a device which enabled the Mosquito crew to home in on a German night fighter's airborne radar transmissions.
In the late 1970s the aircraft was excavated from Middleton Fen by the R.A.F. and aircraft enthusiasts. Parts of the aircraft were taken to the Tower Museum
at Bassingbourn
in Cambridgeshire
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the English county 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...
.
It covers an area of 5.02 mi2 and had a population of 1,516 in 621 households as of 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....
.
For the purposes of local government, it 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
King's Lynn and West Norfolk
King's Lynn and West Norfolk is a local government district and borough in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in the town of King's Lynn.-History:...
.
Middleton is the second village on the A47 road
A47 road
The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:...
to 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...
, after North Runcton
North Runcton
North Runcton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is west of Norwich, south-south-west of King's Lynn and north of London. The village is located a small distance south-west of the A47 between King's Lynn and Swaffham. The nearest railway station is at...
approximately 3 miles (5 km) from King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
. The A47, the main road of Norfolk, runs through the village, and in the past and present the village has been the site of road traffic accidents. The A47 effectively divides the village in two. Fair Green and Blackborough End are also areas of Middleton. Fair Green is on the northern part of the village, whilst Blackborough End is in the southern half of the village.
Middleton has a primary school, Middleton V.C. Primary School, a village hall, post office and a car repair garage called Total Motors. The village church is called Saint Mary's, and the current Rector is the Revd Jim Ryan. The church is situated beside the A47, opposite the Crown pub. The village had a petrol filling station, but this closed during the 1990s. The village also has a golf club.
Middleton Castle
Middleton CastleMiddleton Mount
Middleton Mount, also called Middleton Motte and Middleton Castle, is the remains of a medieval castle situated in the village of Middleton, in Norfolk, England, at .-Details:...
was founded by William d'Ecouis
William d'Ecouis
William d'Ecouis was a knight who accompanied William the Conqueror on his invasion of England in 1066...
. It was a motte and bailey fortress which was thought to be constructed from timber. The large motte is surrounded by a wide ditch.
Public houses
There are currently two pubs in Middleton, the Crown and the Gate Inn. The Crown has spent many years opening and closing with new tenants. The earliest recorded landlord was William Newman, who lived there in 1836, although the pub is known to have been there before this, as it is shown in historical maps.The Gate Inn, which may have been opened in c. 1845, is situated on Hill Road in Fair Green. Its first owner is recorded as Ann Bardell. The current owner Mr. McAllister has been the landlord since Christmas 2008 and offers service as a traditional country pub. As well as being a dog friendly establishment, the Gate Inn offers traditional homecooked foods.
Previously, there have been a few other pubs in Middleton. These included the Castle Inn, which was opened by Bedingfield Bardell in c. 1845, later on sold to Thomas Edward Bagge of Gaywood Hall, and closed in 1969. The Wheatsheaf, which was only open from 1858 to 1879 had two owners, George Smith and Robert Rye. Finally the Royale Oak, which was situated on East Winch Road in Blackborough End. The first landlord was Robert Berry, who opened the pub in 1851. The pub closed in 1963. Some of Robert Berry's descendents still live in Middleton, and its surrounding villages, North Runcton
North Runcton
North Runcton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is west of Norwich, south-south-west of King's Lynn and north of London. The village is located a small distance south-west of the A47 between King's Lynn and Swaffham. The nearest railway station is at...
and East Winch
East Winch
East Winch is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, a few miles southeast of King's LynnIt covers an area of and had a population of 782 in 325 households as of the 2001 census....
.
Primary school
Middleton's children are served by the Middleton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. In June 2008 it was announced that the school was to be provided with a new hall and that the temporary classrooms would be replaced in 2010-11.Railway
From 1846 to 1968 village was served by Middleton Towers railway stationMiddleton Towers railway station
Middleton Towers railway station was a station in Middleton, Norfolk. It was on the line between Swaffham and King's Lynn, and closed along with the rest of the line in 1968....
on the King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
to Dereham
Dereham
Dereham, also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of...
secondary line. Although the passenger route has been closed the station remains as a sand loading depot and has been the destination of a number of charter trains.
Middleton bomb
On Monday 26 April 2010, bomb disposal experts were called to the village after a dog walker discovered an unexploded grenade in a field behind the primary school on School Road. Police were called at 7.00am and are also investigating as to how the device, believed to date back to the Second World War, ended up in the field in the first place. Justin Bell, from the bomb disposal team, said: “We were called to attend the scene following a call from police that an unexploded hand grenade had been discovered. The number 36 Mills grenade was then destroyed by demolition. We suspect someone has disposed of it in the field which is highly irresponsible and we would urge this person to contact the police in future.” Middleton Primary School was closed as a result of the find..Middleton air crash
On 23 November 1944 a MosquitoDe Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
aircraft which had taken off from nearby Little Snoring
Little Snoring
Little Snoring is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is east-north-east of the town of Fakenham, west-south-west of Cromer and north-north-east of London. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham,...
airfield crashed into Middleton Fen.
Eyewitnesses saw the plane spiralling out of a cloud. It then righted itself before spinning into the ground. Both the pilot and navigator were killed.
Mosquito DD736 was piloted by Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Charles Preece from Hardisty, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was one of two brothers and the son of a railway engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
.
He his buried at St Thomas a Beckett Church, Clapham
Clapham, Bedfordshire
Clapham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It has a population of 3,643.-Facilities:Clapham has numerous public houses and several small shops; including a post office, Chinese and Indian takeaways, fish and chips, a florist, a hairdresser and a small...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
.
The navigator was a wartime hero - Flying Officer Frederick Ruffle DFC of 515 squadron. Before the crash Fred had flown over 61 sorties on intruder operations. Most of them with the elite 8 Group pathfinder
Pathfinder
-Aerospace:* Pathfinder , orbiter vehicle simulator for the U.S. Space Shuttle program* Mars Pathfinder, a space exploration probe* NASA Pathfinder, an unmanned solar-powered aircraft* Piper Cherokee Pathfinder, a light, piston-powered aircraft...
squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
The Distinguished Flying Cross may refer to:*Distinguished Flying Cross , including Commonwealth countries*Distinguished Flying Cross...
for the part he played in a succession of bombing raids on the Dortmund–Ems Canal in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Fred left a wife and a ten month old daughter. He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, High Hurstwood just off the A26
A26 road
For the road in Northern Ireland see A26 road The A26 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A25 road and A27 road. It carries traffic from Maidstone in Kent in a generally south-westerly direction to Tunbridge Wells and...
between Crowborough
Crowborough
The highest point in the town is 242 metres above sea level. This summit is the highest point of the High Weald and second highest point in East Sussex . Its relative height is 159 m, meaning Crowborough qualifies as one of England's Marilyns...
and Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
The aircraft had taken off so the pilot could train on a system known as Serrate
Serrate radar detector
Serrate was an Allied radar detection and homing device, used in Allied nightfighters to track German night fighters equipped with the earlier UHF-band BC and C-1 versions of the Lichtenstein radar during World War II....
. This was a device which enabled the Mosquito crew to home in on a German night fighter's airborne radar transmissions.
In the late 1970s the aircraft was excavated from Middleton Fen by the R.A.F. and aircraft enthusiasts. Parts of the aircraft were taken to the Tower Museum
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Bassingbourn is a former military airbase located in Cambridgeshire approximately north of Royston, Hertfordshire and south west of Cambridge. During World War II it served first as an RAF station and then as a bomber base of the U.S. Eighth Air Force...
at Bassingbourn
Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth
Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth is a civil parish in the South Cambridgeshire district of Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles south-west of Cambridge. Since the 1960s the parish contains the villages of Bassingbourn and Kneesworth and is situated just north of Royston in Hertfordshire...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
.