Swanton Morley
Encyclopedia
Swanton Morley is a picturesque village situated in the heart of Norfolk
. It is a village steeped in history documented back to the Domesday Book
. Today the village exists as a tranquil village community of about 2,500 people.
, Swaffham
and Fakenham
, Swanton Morley is a self sufficient village, located only three miles away from larger amenities. The village is adjacent to Bylaugh
and Bylaugh Hall.
and Richard's coat-of-arms can be seen today in the east window of All Saints Church in Swanton Morley. Richard Lincoln disinherited Samuel's father Edward from his will in favour of his fourth wife, thus throwing the Lincoln family into penury and forcing young Samuel to flee to Hingham, Massachusetts
. His great-great-great-great-grandson was Abraham Lincoln
, President of the United States. Richard Lincoln was interred under the center aisle of St Andrew's Church in Hingham, Norfolk
, a privilege reserved for gentry.
extend to ‘embrace’ the tower, which is supported on three sides by massive arches.
Also of great historical interest is the Mill Bakery, which has been in business since 1645, and is now Norfolk’s only organic
bakery.The Mill bakery has changed ownership and premisies, and is currently owned by Budgens in Drayton and still continues production under the same name. The old premises including the historic mill are now being demolished.
The village has two public houses, The Angel, and Darbys, both of which serve authentic real ale. The village hall
, a relatively new building, is centrally located and used for community events within the village. It is regularly used by the Swanton Morley Entertainers, the Under 5’s Group and the Women’s Institute as well as other village groups.
There are several areas to walk and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the village, including two large areas of common land and several footpaths suitable for pleasant walks. There are also areas with good opportunities for fishing on the nearby River Wensum
. There was formerly a mill on the river which was burnt down in the 19th century. The mill was used for making paper - one of the pubs in the village was called "The Papermakers".
Swanton Morley is home to Hunter’s Hall, a large Victorian
converted barn that hosts conferences and celebrations such as wedding receptions, along with bed and breakfast facilities on the Park Farm Estate on which the hall stands. In addition there are a number of holiday accommodation lets available within the village.
, but this was formally handed over to the army in 1996. The RAF base was renamed Robertson Barracks and is home to the Light Dragoons.
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 is a village steeped in history documented back to the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. Today the village exists as a tranquil village community of about 2,500 people.
Geography
Located centrally between the market towns of DerehamDereham
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...
, Swaffham
Swaffham
Swaffham is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is situated east of King's Lynn and west of Norwich.The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 6,935 in 3,130 households...
and Fakenham
Fakenham
Fakenham is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, some north east of King's Lynn, south west of Cromer, and north west of Norwich....
, Swanton Morley is a self sufficient village, located only three miles away from larger amenities. The village is adjacent to Bylaugh
Bylaugh
Bylaugh is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, about 6 miles north-east of East Dereham. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 65.-Buildings:...
and Bylaugh Hall.
History
Swanton Morley was the home of Richard Lincoln (1550–1620), local churchwarden who built the mansion known today as The Angel Free House pub. Lincoln was the wealthy grandfather of Samuel LincolnSamuel Lincoln
Samuel Lincoln , was progenitor of many notable United States political figures, including his great-great-great-great-grandson, President Abraham Lincoln, Maine governor Enoch Lincoln, and Levi Lincoln, Sr...
and Richard's coat-of-arms can be seen today in the east window of All Saints Church in Swanton Morley. Richard Lincoln disinherited Samuel's father Edward from his will in favour of his fourth wife, thus throwing the Lincoln family into penury and forcing young Samuel to flee to Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
. His great-great-great-great-grandson was Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, President of the United States. Richard Lincoln was interred under the center aisle of St Andrew's Church in Hingham, Norfolk
Hingham, Norfolk
Hingham is a market town and civil parish in the Forehoe district in the heart of rural Norfolk, in England. The civil parish covers an area of and had a population of 2,078 in 944 households as of the 2001 census. Grand architecture surrounds the market place and village green...
, a privilege reserved for gentry.
Notable buildings and facilities
On the top of a hill to the North of the village lies All Saints Church, a large church in comparison to the size of the village built to ambitious design, in particular the aisles of the naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
extend to ‘embrace’ the tower, which is supported on three sides by massive arches.
Also of great historical interest is the Mill Bakery, which has been in business since 1645, and is now Norfolk’s only organic
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
bakery.The Mill bakery has changed ownership and premisies, and is currently owned by Budgens in Drayton and still continues production under the same name. The old premises including the historic mill are now being demolished.
The village has two public houses, The Angel, and Darbys, both of which serve authentic real ale. The village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
, a relatively new building, is centrally located and used for community events within the village. It is regularly used by the Swanton Morley Entertainers, the Under 5’s Group and the Women’s Institute as well as other village groups.
There are several areas to walk and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the village, including two large areas of common land and several footpaths suitable for pleasant walks. There are also areas with good opportunities for fishing on the nearby River Wensum
River Wensum
The River Wensum is a chalk fed river in Norfolk, England and a tributary of the River Yare despite being the larger of the two rivers. The complete river is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation ....
. There was formerly a mill on the river which was burnt down in the 19th century. The mill was used for making paper - one of the pubs in the village was called "The Papermakers".
Swanton Morley is home to Hunter’s Hall, a large Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
converted barn that hosts conferences and celebrations such as wedding receptions, along with bed and breakfast facilities on the Park Farm Estate on which the hall stands. In addition there are a number of holiday accommodation lets available within the village.
Military links
Swanton Morley has strong links with the armed forces. The village was home for many years to RAF Swanton MorleyRAF Swanton Morley
The former Royal Air Force Station Swanton Morley, more commonly known as RAF Swanton Morley, was a Royal Air Force Station in Norfolk, England, located near to the village of Swanton Morley...
, but this was formally handed over to the army in 1996. The RAF base was renamed Robertson Barracks and is home to the Light Dragoons.