| Reepham | |
|---|---|
 Thetown sign, showing sundry triplets | |
  Reepham Location withinNorfolk | |
| Area | 19.09 km2 (7.37 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,709 (2011 census)[1] |
| • Density | 142/km2 (370/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TG100228 |
| • London | 118 miles (190 km) |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORWICH |
| Postcode district | NR10 |
| Dialling code | 01603 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| 52°45′43″N1°06′43″E / 52.762°N 1.112°E /52.762; 1.112 | |
Reepham (/ˈriːfəm/) is amarket town andcivil parish in theBroadland district ofNorfolk, England. Reepham is situated on theB1145 road between theBure andWensum valleys. The town is 12 miles (19 km) northwest ofNorwich.[2] At the time of the 2001 census thecivil parish (includingPettywell) had a population of 2,455 residents in 970 households, occupying an area of 1,909 hectares (4,720 acres).[3] increasing to a population of 2,709 in 1,169 households at the 2011 census.
The town is mentioned in theDomesday Book of 1086, in which it is listed asRefham meaning thebailiff's orreeve's manor from theOld Englishgerafa (bailiff) andham (homestead).[4] Reepham has hadmarket town status since 1277; a sign to mark this has recently been erected. The town has undergone significant development throughout its life, with thehousing in the area showing a mix of vintages, styles and purposes.
Reepham Town Hall was constructed in 1860, originally as a school.[5]
In June 2021, archaeologists announced the discovery of goldcoins thought to have been lost in theBlack Death and dated back to the reign ofEdward III near Reepham. According to researcherHelen Geake, one of the rare coins was 23 carats and known as a leopard, while other was called a noble. They were equal to £12,000 today and probably would have been owned by high ranked person.[6][7]
Recent housing developments have mostly been onbrownfield land so have not significantly expanded the perimeter of the town.
The town has both a secondary school,Reepham High School and College, which achieved the highest grade – Outstanding – in every category in its 2008Ofsted inspection,[8] and a primary school.
The Reepham Society[9] is a registered charity, set up in 1976 to stimulate public interest in Reepham,Hackford, Kerdiston,Salle andWhitwell. The town was one of the filming locations of theAgatha Christie's Poirot episodeThe Tragedy at Marsdon Manor.[10]
Reepham is one of only two places inEurope to have three churches on the same site. Reepham's church of St. Mary is joined by its choir vestry to St. Michael's, Whitwell. The third church (All Saints') belonged to Hackford but burned down in 1543 and now only a fragment of the tower wall remains on the left of the path leading towards the market place. The three churches were built on their parish boundaries.[11]
Reepham church contains the fine tomb of Sir Roger de Kerdiston, 1337; Whitwell church has a Jacobean pulpit.[12]
In medieval times, Reepham Church was an important place of pilgrimage. Although it was less famous than the shrine atWalsingham, people came on pilgrimage to Reepham to visit the image of Our Lady of Reepham, which had many miracles attributed to it. What form this image took is unknown. It may have been a statue, or perhaps a wood carving. There is evidence to suggest its importance and it is mentioned in the 15th-century will of Alice Cook ofHorstead, who wrote that after her death, in order to smooth her passage from this world to the next, she would "Have a man goo a pilgrimage to our Lady of Reifham".[13]
The town sign was designed by the local high school and installed in 1992. Carved by the then head of Craft Design & Technology Mr. Geldard, and painted by male student Kerry Daniels, it depicts three of each of the following elements: churches, villagers, farm labourers, sheep, lambs and "sisters" and refers to a myth that three sisters were each responsible for building a church. In fact, the three churches were built over several generations.[2]
The B1145, which connectsKing's Lynn withMundesley, runs through the town.[14]
Reepham is no longer connected to theNational Rail network. The nearest station is inNorwich, 14 miles away.
By 1882, the town had two stations, located on different tracks and each managed by a separate railway company.Whitwell station was on theM&GN'sNorwich City toMelton Constable branch line.Reepham station was on theGEN'sWroxham toCounty School station line. In 1960, the tracks were joined by the construction of theThemelthorpe Curve; the work was carried out byBritish Rail, to facilitate the movement of concrete products fromLenwade.
Today, the railway trackbed forms theMarriott's Way, a long-distance footpath betweenNorwich andAylsham; both former stations are notable stops on the path.[15]
Sanders Coaches provide bus services to and from the town. The most regular services are on routes 43/A/B toAylsham and Norwich.
National Cycle Route 1 passes through the town.
The Reepham and Salle Cricket Club have their home ground in Salle, a village 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the north of the town.[16]
Destinations from Reepham | |
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