Horning

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Horning
Norfolk

St Benedict's Church, Horning
Location
Grid reference: TG343170
Location: 52°42’0"N, 1°28’1"E
Data
Population: 1,033
Post town: Norwich
Postcode: NR12
Dialling code: 01692
Local Government
Council: North Norfolk

Horning is an ancient village in Norfolk, in the heart of the Broads. The village and parish lie along the northern bank of the River Bure between Wroxham and Ludham, south of the River Thurne.

The civil parish or Horning covers an area of 4 square miles and had a population of 1,033 recorded in the 2001.

The name 'Horning' is from the Old English Horningaham, in which horn means 'horn' and by extension the high ground between rivers, and hence 'home of the horn folk'.

Parish church

The Church of St. Benedict lies half a mile east of the village and dates back to the 13th Century.[1]

History

Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts have been found.[2] The earliest ancient monument is a Bronze Age ring ditch and possible burial pit. Archaeologists have found ancient earthworks in Horning, which run alongside the River Bure, possibly dating to the early Saxon period.

The village's recorded history begins in 1020 when the manor was given by King Canute to the newly founded Abbey of St Benet at Hulme. The Bishop of Norwich, as successor to the Abbots of St Benets, is still Lord of the Manor.[3]

Horning has an entry in the Domesday Book, noted under the name 'Horningam', and it records that Horning had 18 villagers, 11 smallholders, 4 cattle, 10 pigs, 360 sheep and the taxable value was £4.[4]

A ferry has plied across the river for more than 1,000 years.

Horning Parish extends along the south bank of the River Bure to Thurne Mouth and includes the ruins of St Benet's Abbey & St James Hospital. St Benet's Abbey is a Grade I listed ruin, and dates back to the 9th Century.[5] The importance of the Abbey as a mediæval place of pilgrimage is reflected in the mediæval finds of two papal seals, that would have secured documents from the Pope.[6]

About the village

A mill in Horning

The village of Horning is a very popular tourist destination within the Norfolk Broads, having attractions both around the village and surrounding areas. The village lies on the north bank of the River Bure, and has many waterside properties, pubs, shops, restaurants, tea-rooms, boat-trips as well as other features to enjoy.

Horning is picturesque, and described as the prettiest village on the broads.[7] The sights to see are the River Bure from the landing stages, Lower Street, St Benedicts Church and many properties with thatched roofs.

Following Lower Street to the east, leads to the school, marina, leisure centre, church and the old riverbank. North of Horning are the broads of Barton, Alderfen and Burntfen, and village of Neatishead. West is the popular area of Hoveton & Wroxham. Eastwards stands the quaint village of Ludham. To the south, across the river by way of the ferry, are the Bure Marshes and village of Woodbastwick. Adjacent to the ferry, The Ferry Inn reopened in 2010 after a period of closure. The Ferry Inn was largely destroyed in a Second World War bombing raid by the German Luftwaffe on 26 April 1941, during which 15 bombs are believed to have been dropped on Horning and the surrounding area by a single aircraft. Most landed in the local marshes but one hit the ferry and one hit the Inn, where 21 of the 24 people in the pub at the time were killed. The Ferry Inn was open for business with a makeshift bar only three weeks later. Rebuilt in the 1950s, the pub was damaged again by fire in 1965.[8]

Horning is home to "Southern Comfort" the Mississippi Cruise boat, which leaves from the wharf adjacent to The Swan Inn.[9]

The village is popular for sail & motor boating, and Horning Sailing Club hosts regular annual events. Several boatyards specialise in boat sales, boat hire, boat building and repairs.[10] There are two marinas which offer private mooring facilities. The River Bure is navigable from the North Sea at Great Yarmouth all the way to Horning.

The village centre is quite small, consisting of just a single street, a village green, The Swan Inn pub (built early 19th century but dates back to 1696), a few shops and restaurants and a riverbank adjacent to the River Bure. The main Village Hall, playing fields and children's play area are located behind Lower Street on the upper side of the village.

Outside the village centre is the popular Bewilderwood theme park, which was voted best large attraction in the East of England (2009), as well as having many other UK and International awards. Broadland Cycle Hire is located within Bewilderwood, from which there are many good cycle routes through rural areas to villages and broads.[11]

Other local attractions nearby include Barton Broad boardwalk, Neatishead village, Ludham village, shopping in Hoveton and Wroxham. A short distance away are many beautiful beaches of the Norfolk coast.

Transport

View from church staithe

Horning lies just off the A1062 road, which is a designated "Rural Route". This Rural Route starts at Hoveton, passes through Horning, Ludham and ends in Potter Heigham.

There has been a ferry service connecting Horning and Woodbastwick for generations. The ferry connected Horning Lower Street with Woodbastwick Staithe, for access to Bure Marshes, Cockshoot Broad, Woodbastwick brewery and The Fur & Feather Inn. The Ferry had seen many operators in its history including the Ferry Inn public house and local boat yards including Woods Dyke and Freedom Boating Holidays.

Sadly the Horning Ferry Service ceased operating in 2012 due to changes in licence conditions imposed by the Broads Authority. However, the vessel has been acquired by the Ferry Inn public house with a view to operating the service again in 2014.[12]

Events

  • Horning Boat Show (Sat 4 May 2013)[13]
  • Three Rivers Race (usually first weekend in June) - premier sailing event, over 24hrs[14]
  • Village Fete (July)
  • Boat Regatta (July)
  • School Summer Fair (July)

Shops

  • Post Office
  • Newsagents & General Store
  • The Galley - delicatessent, giftware and art gallery
  • Butcher[15]
  • Gift Shops
  • Fishing Tackle[16]
  • Art Gallery

Pubs

Restaurants

Staithe & Willow restaurant
  • Bure River Cottage (fresh local fish restaurant)[20]
  • Staithe & Willow[21]

Eateries

  • Fish & Chips shop[22]
  • Golden City Chinese (award winning)
  • Country Treats Cafe
  • The Galley (homemade food and local products)[23]
  • Harry's Poolside Cafe[24]

Places to Stay

The Moorhen Bed and Breakfast (4 star)

Recreational

  • Horning Sailing Club[25]
  • Mississippi River Boat[26]
  • Canoe Hire[27]
  • Helska Leisure Centre (swimming pool)
  • Crown Green Bowling
  • Fitness classes at the Village Hall (every Wednesday evening)
  • Children's Playground
  • Playing field
  • St. Benets Hall (for regular art exhibitions)
  • Boat Hire (day boats, Picnic Boats, dinghies & Cruisers) [28]

Services & Facilities

  • Public Toilets
  • Car and Coach Park
  • Public Moorings
  • Pub Moorings
  • Electric Hook-up
  • Refuse disposal
  • Bottle & Paper recycling banks
  • Water (standpipe at Swan green)
  • Laundrette (Ferry Marina)
  • Hair & Beauty Salon [29]

Media

Arthur Ransome|Arthur Ransome's books Coot Club and The Big Six were written based on his time spent in Horning. Several scenes in the books take place in the village.[30]

Outside links

 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Horning)

References

  1. ↑ St. Benedicts Church
  2. ↑ Norfolk Heritage Explorer Summary of historic environment records for Horning Parish
  3. ↑ Norfolk Tourist Information
  4. ↑ Domesday book entry for Horning
  5. ↑ National Monuments Record: No. 133454 – St Benets Abbey
  6. ↑ Norfolk Heritage Explorer Horning Parish Summary
  7. ↑ Norfolk Broads Feature on Horning
  8. ↑ Broadland Memories
  9. ↑ Mississippi River Boat (Southern Comfort)
  10. ↑ Waterside Marine and Horning CharterCraft
  11. ↑ Norfolk Broads Cycling Centre
  12. ↑ Horning Ferry
  13. ↑ Horning Boat Show
  14. ↑ Three Rivers Race
  15. ↑ Horning Butchers Butcher, Deli and General Store
  16. ↑ Horning Fishing Tackle Shop
  17. ↑ The Swan Inn pub
  18. ↑ The New Inn Pub
  19. ↑ The Ferry Inn Pub
  20. ↑ Bure River Cottage Restaurant
  21. ↑ Staithe & Willow restaurant
  22. ↑ Horning Fish Bar
  23. ↑ Finest of Norfolk - The Galley
  24. ↑ Harry's Poolside Cafe
  25. ↑ Horning Sailing Club
  26. ↑ Mississippi River Boat
  27. ↑ The Canoe Man Canoe & Kayak Hire, Canoe Trails, Tipi Hire
  28. ↑ FreedomCruisers
  29. ↑ Pure Ritual Hair & Beauty Salon
  30. ↑ Literary Norfolk
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