Long Stratton

Long Stratton
Norfolk
The A140, which runs through the town
Location
Grid reference:	TM195927
Location:	52°29’17"N, 1°14’2"E
Data
Population:	4,424  (2011)
Post town:	Norwich
Postcode:	NR15
Dialling code:	01508
Local Government
Council:	South Norfolk
Parliamentary constituency:	South Norfolk

Long Stratton is a small town in Norfolk, halfway between Norwich and Diss. It historically consisted of two villages; the larger, Stratton St Mary, is to the south, and the other, Stratton St Michael, lies to the north.

The parish borders five others: Tharston and Hapton, Tasburgh, Morningthorpe and Fritton, Pulham Market, and Wacton. It had a recorded population of 4,424 at the 2011 Census.

History

St Mary's Church

The name 'Stratton' means 'road farm/settlement’, referring to an ancient Roman road, known as Pye Road, now the route of the A140, which runs from Cromer in the north of the county to Ipswich, in Suffolk.

Stratton St Mary & St Michael is recorded in the Domesday Book with 127 households belonging to nine different landowners.

One of the ancient parishes that make up the modern town of Long Stratton was served by St Michael's Church.

The Blennerhasett family, later prominent in the Plantation of Ulster, were Lords of the Manor in the 16th century.

The Sexton's Wheel in St Mary's Church

Churches

St Mary's Church contains a rare example of a Sexton's wheel; a pre-Reformation, mediæval device for randomly selecting worship days for the Virgin Mary. The only other example in the country is claimed to be at Yaxley, Suffolk.

St Mary is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk.

• Church of England:
  • St Mary
  • St Michae
• Methodist

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Long Stratton)

• St Mary's: European Round Tower Churches
• Long Stratton Council
• Information on Long Stratton  from GENUKI