Potter Heigham
| Potter Heigham | |
| Norfolk | |
|---|---|
 Repps Staithe, Potter Heigham | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TG415193 |
| Location: | 52°43’3"N, 1°34’28"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 961 |
| Post town: | Great Yarmouth |
| Postcode: | NR29 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | North Norfolk |
Potter Heigham is a village in the Norfolk Broads. It stands on the bank of the River Thurne in Norfolk, some 12 miles northeast of the City of Norwich, on the A149 road by land and the river by water.
The village is known for its mediæval bridge and the Church of St Nicholas. There are two National Nature Reserves within the parish; the Ludham - Potter Heigham NNR is to the west of the village whilst the Heigham Holmes NNR is to the east. The Weavers Way, a long distance footpath, passes through the village on its way from Cromer to Great Yarmouth.
History
Potter Heigham and its parish have a number of features related to the World Wars. Hickling Broad, to the north of the parish, was used as a seaplane base during the Great War, and from the Second World War is Ludham Airstrip, a now shrunken remnant of a larger wartime airbase. There were a number of defensive structures around the mediæval bridge too.
Church of St Nicholas
Potter Heigham church is St Nicholas. The earliest surviving feature is the round tower, which dates from the 12th century and has a 14th-century octagonal extension, one of the best preserved in the country.[1]
The church has a fine hammerbeam roof and the almost unique 15th-century brick font.[2] The church also contains a scheme of wall paintings dating from the 14th century, the most readable of which depicts the Seven Works of Mercy.[3] When the roof was re-thatched it required about 1850 bundles of reed. It is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. The church is a Grade I listed building.[4]
Sights of the village
Apart from the church of St Nicholas and the mediæval bridge, Potter Heigham has a number of buildings of historic or architectural note. These include the Heigham Holmes windpump to the east of the parish, High's mill on the River Thurne,[1] and Sunways corn mill,[5] all of which are listed buildings.
Potter Heigham Bridge
Potter Heigham Bridge is a mediæval bridge, believed to date from 1385, famous for being the most difficult to navigate in the Broads. The bridge opening is so narrow that only small cruisers can pass through it, and then only at low water, usually with the help of resident pilots at Phoenix Fleet boatyard next to the Bridge - there is a fee of £20 - £10 each way for holiday craft in the summer.Hire boats from the main agencies pay 50%, i.e. £10 for both trips. A modern roadbridge is close by.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Potter Heigham) |
- Information on Potter Heigham from GENUKI
- Potter Heigham S. Nicholas
- Southall, A. (2006).‘A Vision of Britain Through Time: Potter Heigham CP’
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. (1991). The Buildings of England. Norfolk 2: North-West and South, London: Penguin Books.
- ↑ Mortlock D. P. & Roberts, C. V. (1981) The Popular Guide to Norfolk Churches No. 1, North-East Norfolk . Acorn Editions.
- ↑ Marshall, A. The Seven Works of Mercy, Potter Heigham, Norfolk. Retrieved December 08, 2006
- ↑ National Heritage List 1049923: St Nicholas, Potter Heigham
- ↑ Neville, J. (2004).Potter Heigham towermill, Retrieved December 08 2006.