OS grid reference TF4713 Country England Post town WISBECH Shire county Norfolk Civil parish West Walton | Region East Sovereign state United Kingdom Area 15.77 km² Dialling code 01945 UK parliament constituency South West Norfolk | |
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Population 1,731 (parish, 2011 census) District King's Lynn and West Norfolk | ||
West Walton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk The village is 56.5 miles (90.9 km) west of Norwich, 13.9 miles (22.4 km) west-south-west of King's Lynn and 105 miles (169 km) north of London. The nearest town is Wisbech which is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) south of the village. The nearest railway station is at Watlington, Norfolk for the Fen Line which runs between King's Lynn and Cambridge. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport. The parish of West Walton, in the 2001 census, has a population of 1659, increasing to 1,731 at the 2011 census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
Contents
- Map of West Walton UK
- Description
- History
- Governance
- Saint Mary Parish Church
- West Walton Ingleborough towermill
- References
Map of West Walton, UK
Description
The village and parish of West Walton is located in the western part of the county of Norfolk. The western flank of the parish is also the county border between Norfolk and Cambridgeshire and is also the course of the River Nene. On the southern flank is the parish of Walsoken. To the north is Walpole and to the east is Marshland St James. The name West Walton is thought to derive from the Old English meaning of the settlement by the wall which refers to the village's proximity to a Roman sea wall or defence.
History
West Walton was established by the time of the Norman Conquest. The village's population, land ownership and productive resources were detailed in its entry in the Domesday Book of 1085. In the great book West Walton is recorded by the name Waltuna. The parish was held by William de Warenne with the Abbot of St peter and St Paul, Cluny from him, The Abbot of Ely before and after 1066, and Oder from Ralph de Beufour. The survey mentions ½ Church, 38 Salt Houses and 1100 sheep. the survey also records the presence of a fishery. In the Domesday survey fractions were used to indicate that the entry, in this case the church, was situated within more than one parish.
Governance
West Walton is part of the electoral ward of Walton. The population of this ward at the 2011 Census was 2,641.
Saint Mary Parish Church
Saint Mary's dates from the 13th century built about 1240 and is unusual in that the church's Campanile, or Bell tower is detached some 60 feet from the main building of the church. The tower is supported at its base by four open arches. At each corner stands a buttress which climb to the pinnacles with gabled niches in the first, second and third storey. The tower is topped with delicately carved parapet walls. The west doorway to the church is flanked on either side by massive buttresses, a result of remedial works carried out here after the foundations failed not long after the church was built. The south porch is arched with arcaded buttress on each side. The nave is arcaded with six bays on each side. The arches are supported on pillars which are encircled by detached shafts crowned with capitals of stone carved foliage. The hammer beamed roof dates from the 15th century and is supported by 24 carved angels holding shields.
The bell tower, and the church itself, are both recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated Grade I listed buildings. The bell tower is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
West Walton, Ingleborough towermill
Ingleborough Tower Windmill is located one mile north of the village, and is located in the yard of Hill House Farm along with a house and assorted farm buildings. The mill is now in a state of disuse. It was designated as a Grade II listed building in 1951.