Editing North Walsham (section)

==History==
The town's name means 'W(e)alh's homestead/village'.

[[File:North walsham church tower.JPG|thumb|left|The ruined tower of the parish church, [[St Nicholas Church, North Walsham]].]] North Walsham, an [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] settlement, and the neighbouring village of [[Worstead]] became very prosperous from the twelfth century through the arrival of [[Weaver (occupation)|weavers]] from [[Flanders]]. The two settlements gave their names to the textiles they produced: 'Walsham' became the name of a lightweight [[cloth]] for summer wear, and '[[Worsted]]' a heavier cloth. The fourteenth century 'wool churches' are a testament to the prosperity of the local mill owners. [[St Nicholas Church, North Walsham|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 the [[Second World War]]. The ruined tower dominates the town centre and is a famous landmark of the area, visible from many miles away. 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 art|Gothic]] font canopy; a unique Royal Arms Board; an ancient iron-bound chest; and many other ancient artefacts.

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 Great Fire of North Walsham took place on 25 June 1600. It began at six o'clock in the morning from a house occupied by a person with the surname of Dowle. Dowle subsequently fled and was captured and placed in gaol. The fire was devastating and destroyed 118 homes, 70 shops, the [[market cross]], and market stalls. Although the church caught fire in five places, the building was mostly undamaged. It provided shelter for people whilst the town was being rebuilt.

The English naval hero, [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Horatio 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 became [[Paston College]] in 1984.

During [[World War II]], a North Walsham man lost his life when his [[Royal Air Force]] training aeroplane crashed in the United States. Local residents living near the site, in the State of [[Oklahoma]], erected a monument in 2000 honouring the lives of all four RAF fliers who perished. The residents, who include [[Choctaw Native American People]], and the [[Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma|Choctaw Nation]] government, continue honouring the lives of all four on each anniversary of the crashes, which took place in February 1943.<ref>[[AT6 Monument]]</ref>

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

North Walsham Picturedrome opened in King Arms Street around 1912 and survived until around September 1931. In 1931 the Regal Cinema opened in New Road and was open until 1979. When the Regal closed, the building was turned into a [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]] car dealership and later a Plant hire business, but in 2018 was knocked down to make room for housing..

===Oak tree sculpture===
The town's park features an oak tree sculpture commemorating the Battle of the Peasants' Revolt at North Walsham in 1381, and the Agricultural Workers Union being founded in the town in 1906. It is constructed from a 120-year-old tree that was diseased and was due to be felled.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hurrell|first=Alex|date=2016-01-27|title=Change of heart saves North Walsham's oak tree sculpture|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/change-of-heart-saves-north-walsham-s-oak-tree-sculpture-838046|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Eastern Daily Press|language=en-UK}}</ref> The sculpture was unveiled in September 1999.