Fakenham
Encyclopedia
Fakenham is a town
and civil parish in Norfolk
, England
. It is situated on the River Wensum
, some 30 km (18.6 mi) north east of King's Lynn
, 30 km (18.6 mi) south west of Cromer
, and 40 km (24.9 mi) north west of Norwich
.
The civil parish has an area of 9.04 km² (3.5 sq mi) and in the 2001 census
had a population of 7,357 in 3,292 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
of North Norfolk
.
The name Fakenham is Saxon
, possibly meaning Fair Place/Place on a Fair River, or Hamlet (Ham) on the river (Ken) Fa/Fair (Fa).
) Fakenham had only 150 residents. Hempton
, on the opposite side of the river, was the larger community and had an abbey that played host to pilgrims on their way to Walsingham
. Fakenham became the dominant centre when the abbey was abolished by Henry VIII
.
It has been a market town since 1250, when it was given a Charter. The stalls probably occupied space around the parish church of St.Peter & St.Paul. Fakenham's modern-day Thursday market is still situated very close to its original positioning and around the market place.
Its major industry in the 19th and 20th centuries was printing
, but the major printworks (Cox and Wyman) closed in the 1970s. Nevertheless, there are still more than ten small printing firms in industrial premises around and near the town. A large number of printing blocks have been set into the surface of the market place as a memorial to this lost industry.
Recent investment in Fakenham has seen the town centre being renovated and pedestrianised. It now enjoys a popular farmers' market
on the morning of the 4th Saturday of each month.
The town was the base for North Norfolk's first independent commercial radio station broadcasting for a short period between 4 and 30 August 1997. Other radio stations followed, between November 1998 and May 2001, including FCR 107.2 and Central Norfolk Radio.
Historically, Fakenham had two railway stations. Fakenham West railway station
was on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
, and closed in 1959. The site is now a builders' depot, although 20 feet of the platform has been preserved. Fakenham East railway station
was on the Great Eastern Railway
and closed in the 1960s although goods trains carried on until the 1980s. This station site is now sheltered housing
.
Although now without a railway, the Mid-Norfolk Railway
plans to return trains to the town, and intends to build a new station near the gas works. The line would link Fakenham to East Dereham, Wymondham
and Norwich
. Sections of the former railway lines have been protected from development that would be prejudicial to the creation of railway transport links by North Norfolk District Council and Norfolk County Council.
Another scheme, the Norfolk Orbital Railway plans to link the town to the coast at Sheringham
.
racecourse
, the Museum of Gas and Local History, a small cinema, 6 Lane Tenpin Bowling Centre, a flea market
held every Thursday, a farmers' market
held monthly. The town is well placed to act as a base for exploring north Norfolk.
In 1913 a council school was built on Queen's Road to replace these and all the children moved there, being separated into the boys', girls' and infants' schools provided within the one complex.
In 1944 the Queen's Road school was converted into a "primary and secondary modern school", but the growth of the town was putting a lot of pressure on the available space. In 1956 a new secondary modern school
was built on Field Lane, opening in 1959.
The town is presently served by a purpose-built infant school, a junior school on Queen's Road, a high school on Field Lane plus a sixth form college.
2nd Fakenham (Salvation Army
) Scout Group were first registered on 10 February 1954, meeting in the Salvation Army Hall on Oak Street. 2nd Fakenham closed in 1969, with the remaining Scouts and leaders joining Fakenham Wensum.
In February 2008 the Baden-Powell Scouts
opened Fakenham Lancaster Baden-Powell Air Scouts, giving the town two active Scout groups for the first time in 39 years. This group is presently based at the Fakenham Children's Daycare Centre, offering Traditional Scouting
to young people aged 5 to 25.
, who parade on Mondays and Wednesdays at Fakenham College.
parade at their headquarters, which is at Fakenham High School.
, a charity working with young people and their families in the Fakenham area. As part of their support, they provide free water, tea, biscuits, information, help and advice from a converted London bus parked in the market place on Friday evenings.
hall, also providing activities and trips during the school holidays. This club is a service provided for young carer
s, aged 11 to 19.
based in Fakenham. It was established in 1881 and has enjoyed continuous existence since. The main focus of the band is to provide entertainment for the local community and for the personal pleasure of the players. To maintain and increase the standard of playing and provide a challenge, the band also enjoys contesting. Practices are held every Monday and Thursday evening in Trap Lane Pavilion, Fakenham.
Other notable people from the town include footballing brothers Ryan Jarvis
and Rossi Jarvis
formerly of Norwich City
and Adam Tann
who plays for Histon FC was from Fakenham.
movie Barry Lyndon
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and civil parish in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated on the River Wensum
River Wensum
The River Wensum is a chalk fed river in Norfolk, England and a tributary of the River Yare despite being the larger of the two rivers. The complete river is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation ....
, some 30 km (18.6 mi) north east of King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
, 30 km (18.6 mi) south west of Cromer
Cromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
, and 40 km (24.9 mi) north west of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
.
The civil parish has an area of 9.04 km² (3.5 sq mi) and in the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
had a population of 7,357 in 3,292 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of North Norfolk
North Norfolk
North Norfolk is a local government district in Norfolk, United Kingdom. Its council is based in Cromer. The council headquarters can be found approximately out of the town of Cromer on the Holt Road.-History:...
.
The name Fakenham is Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
, possibly meaning Fair Place/Place on a Fair River, or Hamlet (Ham) on the river (Ken) Fa/Fair (Fa).
History
In 1086 (Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
) Fakenham had only 150 residents. Hempton
Hempton
Hempton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is south west of Fakenham, north west of Norwich and north east of London. The village straddles the A1065 between Fakenham and Swaffham. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which...
, on the opposite side of the river, was the larger community and had an abbey that played host to pilgrims on their way to Walsingham
Walsingham
Walsingham is a village in the English county of Norfolk. The village is famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and as a major pilgrimage centre...
. Fakenham became the dominant centre when the abbey was abolished by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
.
It has been a market town since 1250, when it was given a Charter. The stalls probably occupied space around the parish church of St.Peter & St.Paul. Fakenham's modern-day Thursday market is still situated very close to its original positioning and around the market place.
Its major industry in the 19th and 20th centuries was printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
, but the major printworks (Cox and Wyman) closed in the 1970s. Nevertheless, there are still more than ten small printing firms in industrial premises around and near the town. A large number of printing blocks have been set into the surface of the market place as a memorial to this lost industry.
Recent history
In the late 1990s the town was listed by a contributor to the Knowhere Guide as "the most boring place on Earth". The contribution was specifically referring to Wednesday afternoon which is 'early closing' day in Fakenham. This comment, made by an individual, was taken and quoted out of context as "voted the most boring place on Earth" and very rapidly the story was running in national newspapers with the town council defending the town and spending considerable time, money and effort trying to prove that this was not the case.Recent investment in Fakenham has seen the town centre being renovated and pedestrianised. It now enjoys a popular farmers' market
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
on the morning of the 4th Saturday of each month.
The town was the base for North Norfolk's first independent commercial radio station broadcasting for a short period between 4 and 30 August 1997. Other radio stations followed, between November 1998 and May 2001, including FCR 107.2 and Central Norfolk Radio.
Railways
Fakenham West railway station
Fakenham West railway station was a station in Norfolk. It was built as part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway main line that meandered across Norfolk from King's Lynn to a number of coastal destinations. It was closed in 1959....
was on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, was a joint railway owned by the Midland Railway and the Great Northern Railway in eastern England, affectionately known as the 'Muddle and Get Nowhere' to generations of passengers, enthusiasts, and other users.The main line ran from Peterborough to...
, and closed in 1959. The site is now a builders' depot, although 20 feet of the platform has been preserved. Fakenham East railway station
Fakenham East railway station
Fakenham East railway station was a railway station in the market town of Fakenham in the English county of Norfolk.This station is one of the possible sites protected in local plans in case it is needed to be restored as part of the Mid-Norfolk Railway's eventual plans to return to Fakenham...
was on the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
and closed in the 1960s although goods trains carried on until the 1980s. This station site is now sheltered housing
Sheltered housing
Sheltered housing is a British English term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people. Most commonly it refers to grouped housing such as a block or "scheme" of flats or bungalows with a scheme manager or "officer"; traditionally the manager has...
.
Although now without a railway, the Mid-Norfolk Railway
Mid-Norfolk Railway
The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway....
plans to return trains to the town, and intends to build a new station near the gas works. The line would link Fakenham to East Dereham, Wymondham
Wymondham
Wymondham is a historic market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It lies 9.5 miles to the south west of the city of Norwich, on the A11 road to Thetford and London.- Before The Great Fire :...
and Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. Sections of the former railway lines have been protected from development that would be prejudicial to the creation of railway transport links by North Norfolk District Council and Norfolk County Council.
Another scheme, the Norfolk Orbital Railway plans to link the town to the coast at Sheringham
Sheringham
Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
.
Attractions
Attractions in the town include a national huntNational Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
racecourse
Fakenham Racecourse
Fakenham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Fakenham, Norfolk, England.The course is left-handed, almost square in shape, with a circumference of about a mile. The steeplechase course is situated to the outside of the hurdle course and consists of six fences per circuit,...
, the Museum of Gas and Local History, a small cinema, 6 Lane Tenpin Bowling Centre, a flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
held every Thursday, a farmers' market
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
held monthly. The town is well placed to act as a base for exploring north Norfolk.
Schools
The first school in the town was the National School for Boys which opened in 1839. The second, provided by the British School Society, was built in 1844. A National School for Girls followed in 1848.In 1913 a council school was built on Queen's Road to replace these and all the children moved there, being separated into the boys', girls' and infants' schools provided within the one complex.
In 1944 the Queen's Road school was converted into a "primary and secondary modern school", but the growth of the town was putting a lot of pressure on the available space. In 1956 a new secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
was built on Field Lane, opening in 1959.
The town is presently served by a purpose-built infant school, a junior school on Queen's Road, a high school on Field Lane plus a sixth form college.
Scouts
1st Fakenham Scouts were established on the 3rd May 1923, with their headquarters listed as being on Bridge Street. The group was re-registered on 21 October 1948 as part of the North West Norfolk District. At this time the group was meeting at the Congregational Schoolroom on Norwich Road, which is now part of an antique centre. On 1 April 1968, 1st Fakenham Scout Group, now a part of the Fakenham District, asked for permission to change their name to Fakenham Wensum Scout Group. Fakenham Wensum Scout Group still offers scouting to young people aged 6 to 14, on behalf of the Scout Association.2nd Fakenham (Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
) Scout Group were first registered on 10 February 1954, meeting in the Salvation Army Hall on Oak Street. 2nd Fakenham closed in 1969, with the remaining Scouts and leaders joining Fakenham Wensum.
In February 2008 the Baden-Powell Scouts
Baden-Powell Scouts
The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is a youth organisation found in the United Kingdom, with affiliations in various countries. Baden-Powell Scouting focuses on the importance of tradition in the Scout movement...
opened Fakenham Lancaster Baden-Powell Air Scouts, giving the town two active Scout groups for the first time in 39 years. This group is presently based at the Fakenham Children's Daycare Centre, offering Traditional Scouting
Traditional Scouting
The Traditional Scouting movement refers to a back to basics effort that returns Scouting to a scheme intentionally based on Baden-Powell's own model of Scouting; rejecting the world-wide trend to "modernize" Scouting in order to appeal to more youths. This movement is very popular in Canada and...
to young people aged 5 to 25.
Girl Guides
The Girl Guides Association has two active Groups in the town. One meets at the Methodist Church Hall, and the other meets in Hempton village hall. There are also several Rainbow and Brownie groups.Air Training Corps.
The town is the home of 2534 Squadron, Air Training CorpsAir Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
, who parade on Mondays and Wednesdays at Fakenham College.
Army Cadet Force
The Britannia Army Cadet ForceArmy Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
parade at their headquarters, which is at Fakenham High School.
EP Youth
EP Youth is the working name for the Ekklesia ProjectEkklesia Project
The Ekklesia Project is an ecumenical Christian group consisting of a network of Christians from across the various denominations to promote a more active and God-centered faith...
, a charity working with young people and their families in the Fakenham area. As part of their support, they provide free water, tea, biscuits, information, help and advice from a converted London bus parked in the market place on Friday evenings.
Fakenham Young Carers
This club is funded by Norfolk County Council Children's Services, and meets every other Monday during term time at the Fakenham Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
hall, also providing activities and trips during the school holidays. This club is a service provided for young carer
Young carer
A young carer or young caregiver is a child or young person whose life is affected by looking after someone with a disability or a long-term illness....
s, aged 11 to 19.
Fakenham Town Band
Fakenham Town Band is a thriving traditional brass bandBrass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
based in Fakenham. It was established in 1881 and has enjoyed continuous existence since. The main focus of the band is to provide entertainment for the local community and for the personal pleasure of the players. To maintain and increase the standard of playing and provide a challenge, the band also enjoys contesting. Practices are held every Monday and Thursday evening in Trap Lane Pavilion, Fakenham.
Notable people
Famous people from Fakenham include:- Henry Buckenham, a Primitive Methodist missionaryMissionaryA missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. - Thomas Miller, who set up the printing press.
- Edmund Peckover, a Cromwellian PuritanPuritanThe Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
who established the first bank in the town. - John Garrood, who improved the Penny Farthing bicycle.
- Sir George EdwardsGeorge Edwards (British politician)Sir George Edwards OBE was a trade unionist and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.- Life :...
, farm workers' leader, and later local MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. - Sir Robert Seppings, a shipwright who was knighted on the Royal YachtRoyal YachtA royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
in 1819. - Peter ParfittPeter ParfittPeter Parfitt is an English former cricketer. He attended Fakenham Grammar School, and King Edward VII Grammar School, in Kings Lynn, Norfolk....
, an EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and MiddlesexMiddlesexMiddlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
cricketerCricketerA cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
in the early 1960s, attended Fakenham Grammar School.
Other notable people from the town include footballing brothers Ryan Jarvis
Ryan Jarvis
Ryan Robert Jarvis, , is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Walsall. His younger brother, Rossi Jarvis, played alongside him at Norwich City, while his cousin, Adam Tann, is currently unattached...
and Rossi Jarvis
Rossi Jarvis
Ross Anthony "Rossi" Jarvis is an English professional footballer who plays primarily as a midfielder. He currently plays for Cambridge United in the Conference National.-Norwich City:...
formerly of Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Adam Tann
Adam Tann
Adam John Tann is an English footballer who plays as a defender. He is currently playing for Chelmsford City.-Career:Born in Fakenham, Tann started his career with Cambridge United, after being awarded a professional contract at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season...
who plays for Histon FC was from Fakenham.
Popular culture
'Fakenham' is the alias that the character Redmond Barry adopts after deserting his regiment and impersonating a messenger in the Stanley KubrickStanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
movie Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon is a 1975 British-American period romantic war film produced, written, and directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray which recounts the exploits of an 18th century Irish adventurer...
.
External links
- Information from Genuki Norfolk on Fakenham.
- Fakenham Town Council