Population 496 (2011) Civil parish Great Witchingham Country England Area 9.12 km² District Broadland | OS grid reference TG100193 Region East Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county Norfolk | |
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Great Witchingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk about 11 miles (18 km) north-west of Norwich.
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Map of Great Witchingham, UK
It covers an area of 9.12 km2 (3.52 sq mi) and had a population of 564 in 235 households at the 2001 census, including Lenwade but reducing to a population of 496 in 219 households at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Broadland. Great Witchingham parish contains the hamlet of Lenwade.
The parish church of St Mary is a grade I listed building dating from the 14th century.
The Norfolk Wildlife Centre and Country Park, a well-known local attraction also known as the Animal Ark, is in Fakenham Road.
Old Witchingham Hall, built in the 16th century, was demolished in the 1980s. It was once the home of John Norris (1734–77), High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1766.
The village is also home to Great Witchingham Cricket Club, who play in the East Anglian Premier League. The club is also the home of Norfolk legend Carl Rogers.
Great Witchingham Hall
Great Witchingham Hall is a grade II* listed country house built in the 16th or 17th century but extensively remodelled in the 19th century. It is built in two and three storeys of red brick with stone and plastered brick dressings and a steeply pitched slate roof. The south wing was added in 1812 by Timothy Tompson and the north frontage redesigned in 1872 for Charles Kett Tompson, High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1827. After the latter's death it passed to his son-in-law, Viscount Canterbury. It later became the seat of William James Barry J.P. (1864–1952), High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1912, and his son Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald Barry (1896–1977).
The property was bought in 1950 by Bernard Matthews and after being initially used for turkey rearing, became the head office of his turkey business, Bernard Matthews Farms.