Surlingham
Encyclopedia
Surlingham is a village and civil parish in South Norfolk
situated on the Broads
. It lies approximately 6½ miles (10½ km) south-east of Norwich
on the south bank of the River Yare
between Bramerton
and Rockland St Mary. In the 2001 census
it contained 266 households and a population of 637. Although Surlingham is part of South Norfolk District
, as in other broadland villages those areas of the village adjacent to the river and broads fall into the executive area of the Broads Authority
.
es in Norfolk
. The adjacent Church Marsh nature reserve is owned by the RSPB and is overlooked by the ruins of St Saviour's church (less than half a mile north-east of St Mary's). Dating from the 12th century, the church was in regular use until 1705. A campaign has been launched by local villagers to save the site from further deterioration and to make it safe for visitors. Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis is buried here.
currently caters for 83 children in four classrooms, two in the original Victorian building and two more built in a similar style completed in 2006. It is situated on Walnut Hill in the centre of Surlingham and opposite the village pond; nearby are the village shop and post office as well as a garage. Surlingham is also home to Padmaloka
, one of the biggest Buddhist retreats in the UK, as well as the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve at Wheatfen Broad; Surlingham Broad, owned by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust
; and the RSPB reserve at Church Marsh.
, both in the north of the village on the bank of the river: Coldham Hall Tavern and The Ferry House Inn. The latter marks the site of a ferry which crossed the river to Postwick; it ceased operating c.1939 following a collision with a coaster.
Coldham Hall Sailing Club which was founded in 1951 is situated in the grounds of Coldham Hall Tavern. It opened its new clubhouse on 26 April 2003.
. One of the central lakes, Bargate, is connected to the Yare by two dykes; the area is known as the 'wherry
graveyard' as 13 wherry hulls have been sunk here. It was in the Yare valley and in particular on Surlingham Broad in the 1950s that Dr Joyce Lambert
, helped by schoolboys from the City of Norwich School
, began taking peat borings which led her to conclude that the Broads
were the result of human activity, peat digging.
, above the byline 'E.A.E'. (for Edward Augustine Ellis). As E. A. Ellis, he wrote books, such as the volume on The Broads in Collins
' New Naturalists series. He often appeared on local television (on BBC Look East) and on radio (on BBC Radio 4
's Nature Postbag) and he was active in many nature and conservation organisations. A naturalist with a national reputation whose painstaking research was respected and admired by the academic world, he communicated his enthusiasm to a wide audience through his writing and broadcasting. Ellis and his wife are buried among the ruins of St Saviour's Church.
David Bellamy
compared the significance of Wheatfen Broad to that of "Mount Everest or the giant redwood forests of North America". He went on, "It is probably the best bit of fenland we have because we know so much about it... purely because one man gave his life trying to understand it - Ted Ellis."
via Rockland St Mary, Bramerton
and Kirby Bedon
— timetable
National Cycle Route 1 passes through Surlingham on its way from Norwich to Beccles
via Loddon
.
South Norfolk
South Norfolk is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Long Stratton.-History:The district was formed on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of Diss Urban District, Wymondham Urban District, Depwade Rural District, Forehoe and Henstead...
situated on the Broads
The Broads
The Broads are a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. The Broads, and some surrounding land were constituted as a special area with a level of protection similar to a UK National Park by The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act of 1988...
. It lies approximately 6½ miles (10½ km) south-east 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...
on the south bank of the River Yare
River Yare
The River Yare is a river in the English county of Norfolk. In its lower reaches the river connects with the navigable waterways of The Broads....
between Bramerton
Bramerton
Bramerton is a village in South Norfolk 4¾ miles south-east of Norwich, just north of the main A146 Norwich-Lowestoft road and on the south bank of the River Yare. In the 2001 census it contained 158 households and a population of 350.-The village:...
and Rockland St Mary. 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....
it contained 266 households and a population of 637. Although Surlingham is part of South Norfolk District
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
, as in other broadland villages those areas of the village adjacent to the river and broads fall into the executive area of the Broads Authority
Broads Authority
The Broads Authority is the agency which has statutory responsibility for the Broads in England. Originally, the Nature Conservancy Council , pressed for a special authority to manage the Broads which had been neglected for a long time. In 1978, the forerunner to the present-day Broads Authority...
.
The churches
The church of St Mary in Surlingham is one of 124 existing round-tower churchRound-tower church
Round-tower churches are a type of church found mainly in England, almost solely in East Anglia; of about 185 surviving examples in the country, 124 are in Norfolk, 38 in Suffolk, 6 in Essex, 3 in Sussex and 2 each in Cambridgeshire and Berkshire. There is evidence of about twenty round-tower...
es in 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...
. The adjacent Church Marsh nature reserve is owned by the RSPB and is overlooked by the ruins of St Saviour's church (less than half a mile north-east of St Mary's). Dating from the 12th century, the church was in regular use until 1705. A campaign has been launched by local villagers to save the site from further deterioration and to make it safe for visitors. Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis is buried here.
The village
Surlingham Community Primary School complete with maypoleMaypole
A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, particularly on May Day, or Pentecost although in some countries it is instead erected at Midsummer...
currently caters for 83 children in four classrooms, two in the original Victorian building and two more built in a similar style completed in 2006. It is situated on Walnut Hill in the centre of Surlingham and opposite the village pond; nearby are the village shop and post office as well as a garage. Surlingham is also home to Padmaloka
Padmaloka Buddhist Retreat Centre
Padmaloka Buddhist Retreat Centre is a Buddhist retreat centre for men, located at Lesingham House in Surlingham, Norfolk, England. The centre is part of the Triratna Buddhist Community, formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, which aims to make the teachings of the Buddha and Buddhism...
, one of the biggest Buddhist retreats in the UK, as well as the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve at Wheatfen Broad; Surlingham Broad, owned by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Norfolk Wildlife Trust
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk, England, formerly known as the Norfolk Naturalists' Trust, is one of almost 50 wildlife trusts throughout the United Kingdom.Founded in 1926, it is the oldest of all the trusts....
; and the RSPB reserve at Church Marsh.
The pubs
The village has two pubsPublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, both in the north of the village on the bank of the river: Coldham Hall Tavern and The Ferry House Inn. The latter marks the site of a ferry which crossed the river to Postwick; it ceased operating c.1939 following a collision with a coaster.
Coldham Hall Sailing Club which was founded in 1951 is situated in the grounds of Coldham Hall Tavern. It opened its new clubhouse on 26 April 2003.
Surlingham Broad
Lying between Surlingham Ferry and Coldham Hall Tavern is Surlingham Broad, a maze of waterways and swamp over 1 km2 in area owned by Norfolk Wildlife TrustNorfolk Wildlife Trust
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk, England, formerly known as the Norfolk Naturalists' Trust, is one of almost 50 wildlife trusts throughout the United Kingdom.Founded in 1926, it is the oldest of all the trusts....
. One of the central lakes, Bargate, is connected to the Yare by two dykes; the area is known as the 'wherry
Norfolk wherry
The Norfolk wherry is a type of boat on The Broads in Norfolk, England. Three main types were developed over its life, all featuring the distinctive gaff rig with a single, high-peaked sail and the mast stepped well forward.-Development of the wherry:...
graveyard' as 13 wherry hulls have been sunk here. It was in the Yare valley and in particular on Surlingham Broad in the 1950s that Dr Joyce Lambert
Joyce lambert
Joyce Lambert , was an English botanist and stratigrapher. She showed that the Norfolk Broads are artificial when it had been thought that they were natural.-Early life:...
, helped by schoolboys from the City of Norwich School
City of Norwich School
The Eaton School, more commonly known as CNS, is a secondary comprehensive school situated in Norwich, Norfolk on Eaton Road.-Admissions:It has over 1500 pupils and currently employs over 190 staff...
, began taking peat borings which led her to conclude that the Broads
The Broads
The Broads are a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. The Broads, and some surrounding land were constituted as a special area with a level of protection similar to a UK National Park by The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act of 1988...
were the result of human activity, peat digging.
Ted Ellis (E. A. Ellis)
A well known and widely respected local figure, the writer, broadcaster and naturalist Ted Ellis (1909-1986) lived with his wife Phyllis for 40 years at Wheatfen Cottage near Wheatfen Broad, where he set up his own nature reserve. From 1928-56 he was Keeper of Natural History at Norwich Castle Museum, but aged 47 he resigned to focus on his work as a naturalist. He wrote a nature column in the local newspaper, the Eastern Daily PressEastern Daily Press
The Eastern Daily Press, commonly referred to as the EDP, is a regional newspaper covering Norfolk, and northern parts of Suffolk and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is published daily in Norwich, UK....
, above the byline 'E.A.E'. (for Edward Augustine Ellis). As E. A. Ellis, he wrote books, such as the volume on The Broads in Collins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
' New Naturalists series. He often appeared on local television (on BBC Look East) and on radio (on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Nature Postbag) and he was active in many nature and conservation organisations. A naturalist with a national reputation whose painstaking research was respected and admired by the academic world, he communicated his enthusiasm to a wide audience through his writing and broadcasting. Ellis and his wife are buried among the ruins of St Saviour's Church.
David Bellamy
David Bellamy
David James Bellamy OBE is a British author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner and botanist. He has lived in County Durham since 1960.-Career:...
compared the significance of Wheatfen Broad to that of "Mount Everest or the giant redwood forests of North America". He went on, "It is probably the best bit of fenland we have because we know so much about it... purely because one man gave his life trying to understand it - Ted Ellis."
Surlingham Tornadoes
In 2009 a football team was established to give boys and girls in the village the opportunity to play the game. In the 2010/2011 season an under 10 team is competing in the KMH Testing B League division of the South Norfolk Youth Football League.Transport links
Surlingham is served by bus route 001 operated by Anglian Coaches providing six services a day into NorwichNorwich
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...
via Rockland St Mary, Bramerton
Bramerton
Bramerton is a village in South Norfolk 4¾ miles south-east of Norwich, just north of the main A146 Norwich-Lowestoft road and on the south bank of the River Yare. In the 2001 census it contained 158 households and a population of 350.-The village:...
and Kirby Bedon
Kirby Bedon
Kirby Bedon is a small village in South Norfolk which lies approximately 3½ miles southeast of Norwich on the road to Bramerton. It covers an area of and had a population of 186 in 77 households as of the 2001 census....
— timetable
National Cycle Route 1 passes through Surlingham on its way from Norwich to Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
via Loddon
Loddon, Norfolk
Loddon is a small market town about southeast of Norwich on the River Chet, a tributary of the River Yare within The Broads in Norfolk, England. The name "Loddon" is thought to mean muddy river in Celtic in reference to the Chet.-Origins:...
.
External links
- Surlingham Tornadoes
- Surlingham Village Website
- Ordnance Survey Pathfinder (1:25000) map of Surlingham
- Surlingham Parish Council
- Website with photos of Surlingham St Mary
- Surlingham on Geograph
- A stroll around Bramerton and Surlingham
- The RSPB: Surlingham Church Marsh
- Surlingham Church Marsh walk
- Padmaloka