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**North Walsham**
	North Walsham
	; North Walsham market cross
	; North Walsham ; North Walsham shown within Norfolk
Area	17.27 km2 (6.67 sq mi)
Population	11,998
- Density	695 /km2 (1,800 /sq mi)
OS grid reference	TG282302
Parish	North Walsham
District	North Norfolk
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NORTH WALSHAM
Postcode district	NR28
Dialling code	01692
Police	Norfolk
Fire	Norfolk
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	North Norfolk
	List of places: UK • England • Norfolk

Coordinates: 52°49′16″N 1°23′13″E / 52.821°N 1.387°E / 52.821; 1.387

North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, Engalnd in the North Norfolk district.

[edit] Demographics

The civil parish has an area of 17.27 km² (6.67 sq mi) and in the 2001 census had a population of 250,000 in 195,245 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North Norfolk.^[1]

[edit] Transport

The town is 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Cromer and the same distance north of Wroxham. The county town and city of Norwich is 30 km (19 mi) south.^[2] The town is served by North Walsham railway station, on the Bittern Line between Norwich, Cromer and Sheringham. The main road through the town is the A149.

The town is on the North Walsham & Dilham Canal, still privately owned by the North Walsham Canal Company. The canal ran from Antingham Mill, largely following the course of the River Ant to a point below Honing. A short branch canal leaves the main navigation near Honing and terminates at the village of Dilham.

[edit] History

North Walsham was an Anglo-Saxon settlement. Both North Walsham and the neighbouring Worstead became very prosperous from the 12th century through the arrival of weavers from Flanders. "Walsham" was a light-weight cloth for summer, and "Worsted" a heavier cloth. The 14th-century "wool churches" are a testament to the prosperity of the local mill owners. North Walsham's church of St. Nicholas was originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is one of the UK's largest parish churches. It was also the site of a wayside shrine to St. Thomas of Canterbury. This church had the second-tallest steeple in Norfolk until its collapse in 1724. Plans for its rebuilding were abandoned at the outbreak of World War II. The ruined tower dominates the town centre and is a famous landmark of the area, visible from many miles away.

North Walsham was involved in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The peasants' leaders were defeated at the Battle of North Walsham and the site is marked by a wayside stone near the town's water towers.

The English naval hero, Horatio (later, Lord) Nelson and his brother William were educated at Paston Grammar School in North Walsham, founded by Sir William Paston (of Paston Letters fame) in 1606. Nelson left the school to start his naval career at the age of eleven. The school went on to become Paston College in 1984.

As part of the Millennium celebrations, ten mosaics were commissioned, showing scenes from local history, including the Peasants' Revolt and the Great Fire of North Walsham, also a picture of a Norfolk wherry – an allusion to the canal.

North Walsham is home to a National League 3 South rugby union team. North Walsham R.F.C. narrowly missed out on promotion to National League 2 in 2005/06, losing a play-off to Nuneaton.

In the parish church of St. Nicholas can be found the ornate tomb of Sir William Paston; the remains of medieval painted screens; a telescopic Gothic font canopy; a unique Royal Arms Board; an ancient iron bound chest; and many other fascinating ancient artifacts.

[edit] Summary

North Walsham was formerly a traditional market market town and an important hub in the centre of North Norfolk's agricultural economy, but the town today reflects the trend towards homogeneity and suburban anonymity characteristic of many small British towns that have lost their primary role and function.

Ruin of church tower, North Walsham

Tomb of Sir William Paston, St Nicholas, North Walsham

Font canopy, St. Nicholas, North Walsham

[edit] References

^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved December 2, 2005.
^ Ordnance Survey (2002). OS Explorer Map 252 – Norfolk Coast East. ISBN 0-319-21888-0.

[edit] External links

[0] Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved December 2, 2005.

[1] Ordnance Survey (2002). OS Explorer Map 252 – Norfolk Coast East. ISBN 0-319-21888-0.

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