Saham Toney

Saham Toney
Norfolk
St George's parish church, Saham Toney
Location
Grid reference:	TF899020
Location:	52°34’57"N, 0°48’12"E
Data
Population:	1,507  (2011)
Post town:	Thetford
Postcode:	IP25
Dialling code:	01953
Local Government
Council:	Breckland

Saham Toney is a village in Norfolk, standing 14½ miles north of Thetford and 13 miles west of Attleborough.

The wider civil parish had a population of 1,507, in 679 households, at the 2011 Census.

Name

The name 'Saham' is believed to be from the Old English sæ ham, meaning homestead by the lake., The suffix 'Toney' refers to manorial ownership by the Toney family, from Ralph de Toeni, standard-bearer of William the Conqueror, in the period shortly after the Norman conquest.

Parish church

The parish church, St George, is constructed from flint and has a 15th-century tower containing six bells and a clock. The church has some very beautiful stained glass windows, the east window of the chancel portrays the Last Supper; this was a gift by the Rev. W. H. Parker, who restored the whole building at considerable expense in 1864. The nave arcades, clerestory, and part of the chancel date from the 14th century.

History

There is evidence that Saham Toney was close to a significant Romano-British settlement. The Peddars Way footpath, partly using remaining Roman roads, passes close to the village.

The village derives part of its name from the 13-acre mere that lies in the parish. The mere is well stocked with fish, especially two species of eel; one noted for its delicious, and the other for its nauseous, flavour, also one is of a peculiar shape. There are also large pike in the mere. The privately owned mere, which is dangerous, is thought to be as old as the last Ice Age. Access is by special permission of the owner only.