Editing North Walsham

{{More citations needed|date=December 2024| reason=no citations}}
{{short description|Town and civil parish in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| region                   = East of England
| static_image_name        = North Walsham Market Cross in 2025.png
| static_image_caption     = The Market Cross in 2025
| coordinates              = {{coord|52.8228|1.3869|display=inline,title}}
| official_name            = North Walsham
| shire_district           = [[North Norfolk]]
| shire_county             = [[Norfolk]]
| population               = 12,829
| population_ref           = <ref name="NWP_1">{{cite web| title=North Walsham Details| url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/norfolk/E63002149__north_walsham| website=CityPopulation| date=8 April 2023| access-date=7 December 2024}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 17.27
| constituency_westminster = [[North Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|North Norfolk]]
| post_town                = NORTH WALSHAM
| postcode_district        = NR28
| postcode_area            = NR
| dial_code                = 01692
| os_grid_reference        = TG282302
| civil_parish             = North Walsham
| type                     = Town and civil parish
}}
[[File:North Walsham Town Sign.jpg|thumb|North Walsham Town Sign]]
'''North Walsham''' is a [[market town]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[North Norfolk]] district of the county of [[Norfolk]], England. The town is located {{cvt|8|mi}} south of [[Cromer]] and [[Norwich]] is {{cvt|15|mi}} south.<ref>Ordnance Survey (2002). ''OS Explorer Map 252 – Norfolk Coast East''. {{ISBN|0-319-21888-0}}.</ref>

==Demography==
The civil parish has an area of {{cvt|11.3|sqmi|km2}} and in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] had a population of 12,829.<ref name="NWP_1"/> For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the [[Non-metropolitan district|district]] of North Norfolk.<ref>Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). ''[http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211032229/http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls |date=2017-02-11 }}''. Retrieved 2 December 2005.</ref>

==Transport==
The town is served by [[North Walsham railway station]], on the [[Bittern Line]] between [[Norwich railway station|Norwich]], [[Cromer railway station|Cromer]] and [[Sheringham railway station|Sheringham]]. Services run generally hourly in both directions and are operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]].

The main road through the town is the [[A149 road|A149]]. The town is also located on the [[B1145 road|B1145]],<ref>County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, page 230 {{ISBN|978-1-84348-614-5}}</ref> a route that runs between [[King's Lynn]] and [[Mundesley]].

The town is on the [[North Walsham and Dilham Canal]], which is 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, Norfolk|Honing]]. A short branch canal leaves the main navigation near Honing and terminates at the village of [[Dilham]].

==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.

==North Walsham High School and the Atrium==
[[North Walsham High School]] is an academy school for pupils aged 11 to 16 located in the town. The school is administered by Enrich Learning Trust. The school converted from community school status in October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last=Whymark|first=Bethany|date=2019-03-18|title=North Walsham High School reveals academy conversion plans|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/north-walsham-high-enrich-learning-trust-academisation-1364948|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Eastern Daily Press|language=en-UK}}</ref> The school includes a £5.3m arts and education development called the 'Atrium', which is open to the wider community, funded by the initial co-location funds of reanimating communities. The building belongs to North Walsham High School, but the theatre, cinema, workshop, and events programme is run by a registered charity (The Atrium North Norfolk Ltd). The charity was formed in early 2013 and operates as 'the Atrium'.'''''<ref>http://www.theatrium.org.uk/ {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}</ref>'''''

==Sport==
North Walsham is home to a London 1 North rugby team. [[North Walsham R.F.C.]] narrowly missed out on promotion to National League 2 in 2005–06, losing a play-off to [[Nuneaton]]. It is also home to the North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club who train at the Victory Leisure Centre on Station Road.<ref name="NVSC_1">{{cite web| title=The North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club| url=http://www.norfolkvikings.co.uk| website=Norfolk Viking Swimming| date=2024| access-date=7 December 2024}}</ref> There is a North Walsham [[parkrun]] every Saturday morning which is a free, timed 5k event at 9am at [[North Walsham High School]]. England [[association football|footballer]] [[Lauren Hemp]] was born in the town and played for the local team as a child.

==Media==
Regional local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Tacolneston transmitting station|Tacolneston]] TV transmitter and via a local relay transmitter in [[West Runton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Tacolneston|title= Full Freeview on the Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=27 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/West_Runton|title=Freeview Light on the West Runton (Norfolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=27 September 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Norfolk]] on 95.6 FM, [[Heart East]] on 102.4 FM, [[Kiss (UK radio station)|Kiss]] on 106.1 FM,  [[Greatest Hits Radio East|Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk & North Suffolk]] (formerly [[North Norfolk Radio]]) on 96.2 FM and Poppyland Radio, a community radio station that broadcast online.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.poppylandradio.co.uk/. |title= Poppyland Radio|access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref>

The town is served by these local newspapers:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.northwalshamguide.co.uk/regional-media#:~:text=LocalRadio,Norfolk%20Radio%20and%20Broadland%20102. |title= North Walsham - Regional Media|access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref>
* [[Eastern Daily Press]]
* [[North Norfolk News]]
* [[Norwich Evening News|Eastern Evening News]]

==Museum and heritage==
North Walsham is home to the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum,<ref>[https://norfolk-motorcycle-museum.business.site/ the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum on the Visit Norfolk website]</ref> a privately owned collection of around 80 motorcycles dating up to 1960. Toys are also on display, particularly die-cast toys.

North Walsham is home to the North Walsham Heritage Centre.<ref>[https://www.northwalshamheritage.org.uk/ the North Walsham Heritage Centre website]</ref> The Heritage Centre displays information and artefacts on the whole range of the town's history.

==Freedom of the Town==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Town]] of North Walsham.

{{Incomplete list|date=August 2022}}

===People===
* [[Lauren Hemp]]: 5 August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/lauren-hemp-given-freedom-of-north-walsham-9192890 |title=Hundreds turn out to see Lionesses star Lauren Hemp given freedom of town  |last=Brown |first=Bruno |date=5 August 2022 |website=The Eastern Daily Press |access-date=5 August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Euro 2022: Lioness Lauren Hemp welcomed home in North Walsham |work=BBC News |date=5 August 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-62437714 |access-date=6 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|North Walsham}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://www.nwtc.org.uk North Walsham Town Council]
* [https://www.northwalshamarchive.co.uk/ North Walsham Archive]
* [https://www.northwalshamguide.co.uk/north-walsham-history North Walsham History]
* [https://www.northwalshaminbloom.com/ North Walsham In Bloom]
* [https://www.northwalshamcommunitycentre.co.uk/ North Walsham Community Centre]

{{Norfolk}}
{{Civil Parishes of North Norfolk}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:North Walsham| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Towns in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk]]
[[Category:North Norfolk]]