Welney
| Welney | |
| Cambridgeshire, Norfolk | |
|---|---|
 St Mary's Church, Welney | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL526940 |
| Location: | 52°31’0"N, -0°13’60"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 528 |
| Post town: | Wisbech |
| Postcode: | PE14 |
| Dialling code: | 01354 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
Welney is a village in the Great Fen, precisely on the border of Cambridgeshire with Norfolk, which is formed by the Old Croft River. The village stands immediately to the west of the parallel channels of the Old Bedford River, River Delph and New Bedford River, which are here crossed by the A1101 road; on of the few crossings of the rivers. The village is about 9 miles southwest of the town of Downham Market, Norfolk.
In the 14th century, Welney was called Wellenhe, from the Old English Wellan ea meaning "River Welle" (the old name of the Old Croft River). In the second half of the 19th century, Welney became famous for its fen skaters.
The Church
The parish church in Welney is St Mary's.
Nature and conservation
Welney stands on the Ouse Washes, an internationally important area of wildlife conservation. WWT Welney is a nature reserve in the care of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Nearby, there are also the RSPB Ouse Washes, a reserve managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Listen to Welney is a BBC Radio 4 nature programme broadcast from Welney[1]
The Cricket Club
The Welney Croft Cricket Club (WCCC)has been a centre of attention and social gathering for over 50 years for the locals to the village. The season begins in mid May and finishes in late September. It has a lovely ground and is one of the best maintained grounds for a village in the country.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Welney) |
- Information from Genuki Norfolk on Welney.
- Welney's website