Stoke Ferry
| Stoke Ferry | |
| Norfolk | |
|---|---|
 All Saints, Stoke Ferry | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL706995 |
| Location: | 52°34’0"N, 0°31’0"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,020 |
| Post town: | King's Lynn |
| Postcode: | PE33 |
| Dialling code: | 01366 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South West Norfolk |
Stoke Ferry is a village in Norfolk, six and a half miles south-east of Downham Market. The village lies on the River Wissey, previously known as the River Stoke.[1]
The parish had a population of 1,020 at the 2011 Census.
All Saints' Church, a Grade II listed building, was rebuilt by William Donthorn. It is no longer used for church services and was owned by Kit Hesketh-Harvey[2] until his death in 2023.[3]
The village has many small businesses such as two takeaway shops, a hairdresser, wood yard, DIY hardware shop and metalworks workshop, funeral directors, and a corner shop. There is also a thriving community-owned pub, The Blue Bell Pub-Cafe which was bought by the local community on 30 June 2021 and, after extensive refurbishment reopened on 4 June 2022. Stoke Ferry Hall is a Grade II* listed building.
Historical references
In 1805, Stoke Ferry is described[4] as being "distant from London 88 miles 2 furlongs; on the Stoke river, which is navigable to this place from the Ouse. Fair, December 6...on the right, 5 m is the seat of Robert Wilson, esq. Inn, Crown."
The village was serving as a post town (under the name "Stoke") by 1775; the name had been changed to "Stoke Ferry" by 1816. A type of postmark known as an undated circle was issued to the village in 1828, and it had a Penny Post service, under Brandon (in Suffolk), between 1835 and 1840.
Stoke Ferry once had its own railway station, the terminus of the Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway, a branch from the main line between Cambridge and King's Lynn. It closed to passengers in 1930 but remained open for goods until 1965. From the early 2000s it was used as a wood yard which moved to its new home on Boughton Road North. The site of the old station is currently being developed as a housing complex which will retain its Grade II listed buildings.
There is still a blacksmith's shop, Thomas B. Bonnett, in the heart of the village that has been trading over 100 years. As well as ironwork, they also sell hardware, plumbing supplies, timber and steel. As well as a hairdresser's, there are takeaways and many other small businesses that help make Stoke Ferry such a vibrant village.
Outside links
| ("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Stoke Ferry) |
*Stoke Ferry
References
- ↑ "Stoke Ferry | Village | Downham Market|Norfolk" (in en). http://info.visitwestnorfolk.com/thedms.aspx?dms=3&venue=0163200&feature=1001&miles=8&groupid=2,7&catid=82&fit=Village&browsetype=V.
- ↑ Bishop, Chris (2013). "Norfolk artists transform Stoke Ferry church into riot of colour". Eastern Daily Press. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21083949.norfolk-artists-transform-stoke-ferry-church-riot-colour/.
- ↑ O'Connor, Roisin (2023). "Kit Hesketh-Harvey, renaissance man of opera, film and theatre, dies suddenly aged 65". Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kit-hesketh-harvey-dead-age-cause-b2273706.html.
- ↑ The Traveller's Guide; or, English Itinerary, by Walley Chamberlain Oulton, published by James Cundee, London, 1805.
- Coates, Doris E.: 'Stoke Ferry: the Story of a Norfolk Village' (Harpsden Press, 1980) ISBN 0-9506871-0-3