Freethorpe
| Freethorpe | |
| Norfolk | |
|---|---|
 All Saints' Church, Freethorpe | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TG409054 |
| Location: | 52°35’35"N, 1°33’22"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,053 (2021) |
| Post town: | Norwich |
| Postcode: | NR13 |
| Dialling code: | 01493 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Broadland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Broadland and Fakenham |
Freethorpe is a village in Norfolk, seven miles west of Great Yarmouth and eleven miles east of Norwich, located within the Norfolk Broads, and in the county's Blofield Hundred.
The parish includes a hamlet, Wickhampton, and parts of Halvergate Marshes. The 2021 census recorded Freethorpe's parish population at 1,053 people.
The origin of Freethorpe's name is uncertain. Suggestions include a derivation from the Old Norse for 'Fræthi's settlement', or an amalgamation of the Old Norse and Old English for a settlement offering refuge or safety.[1]
History
In the Domesday Book of 1086, Freethorpe is listed as a settlement of 20 households, divided between the East Anglian estates of the King, William de Beaufeu and Rabel the engineer.[2]
Several nineteenth century almshouses are located within the village, which were built in 1871 by Richard Henry and Harriet Vade Walpole to care for local widows.[3]
During the First World War, the village was home to a Royal Flying Corps airfield between 1916 and 1918. During the Second World War, the airfield was passed on to the Royal Observer Corps who operated the site until the mid-Twentieth Century.[4] In addition, an eastern part of the parish was designated as a Starfish site during the Second World War to draw Luftwaffe attention away from Norwich and Great Yarmouth.[5]
All Saints' Church
Freethorpe's parish church is one of Norfolk's remaining 124 round-tower churches, with the tower dating from the twelfth century and the remainder of the church dating from the thirteenth century. All Saints' is located within the village on The Green and is a Grade II listed building.[6]
All Saints' was restored in the nineteenth century by Anthony Salvin at the behest of Richard Henry Vade Walpole, Lord of the Manor of Freethorpe. The stained-glass inside the church was installed by Thomas Willement and Clayton and Bell and largely glorify the Walpole family.[7]
Freethorpe also has a Methodist Chapel that holds regular church services and seats up to 150 people.[8]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Freethorpe) |
- All Saints: European Round Tower Churches
References
- ↑ Place-Names
- ↑ Freethorpe in the Domesday Book
- ↑ "mnf43513 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer". https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf43513.
- ↑ "mnf13616 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer". https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf13616.
- ↑ "mnf31920 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer". https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf31920.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1051456: Church of All Saints (Grade II listing)
- ↑ "Norfolk Churches". http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/freethorpe/freethorpe.htm.
- ↑ "Freethorpe Methodist Church". https://eangliamethodist.org.uk/freethorpe.