Garboldisham
Encyclopedia
Garboldisham is a village and civil parish
, part of Guiltcross (hundred) in the Breckland
district, in Norfolk
, England
, near the boundary with Suffolk
. In the 2001 census
the parish had a population of 721.
(1086) as Gerboldesham. The traditional view of Gaerbold is that it is an Old English name, i.e. homestead of Garbold. Others argue it has a Viking origin with Garbold being a famous Viking. As described above, the boundary between Anglian, Viking and possibly even Iceni is blurred in the light of recent genetic and linguistic research.
To the south of the village sit the small affiliated hamlet of Smallworth and Broomscot Common, the name of the latter according to some recalling the village's ancient pagan past but more likely, so Carole Hough thinks, an affiliation to a Scandinavian with the surname Brun. This name might reflect the Viking invasions or Scandinavian connections of the Wuffingas, founders of the kingdom of East Anglia. It might even go further back in time if you believe theories that the pre-Roman Iceni
inhabiting this area were Old English speakers rather than Cymric/Welsh.
. It feeds into Diss High School
and Old Buckenham High School. The school sits next to Garboldisham St John the Baptist Church and opposite the village hall. About 200 yards north is the ruined Garboldisham All Saints Church, where the 14th century western face collapsed into the nave in 1734. There is also a small Methodist Chapel, situated south of the A1066. The Fox Public House, on the crossroad of the A1066 and Hopton/Harling Road, closed in 2007.
There are few famous notables from Garboldisham, despite the active Amateur Dramatic Society. However, the "Garboldisham Road" was mentioned in the infamous Fry and Laurie
sketch "Strawberries and Cream". Queen Boudicca was also reputed to be buried in Soldier's Grave, a 10 foot 10,000 year old burial mound. The Garboldisham Hoard, discovered by Basil Brown
in the mound during excavations circa 1956, can be found in the British Museum
. John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough and grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill
, was born in Garboldisham Hall in 1822. Of more contemporary note, the mother of pianist of folk rock band Moishe's Bagel
Phil Alexander lives in the village. Alexander has also played for Salsa Celtica
and the Eliza Carthy
Band.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
, part of Guiltcross (hundred) in the Breckland
Breckland (district)
Breckland District is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in East Dereham.Breckland District derives its name from the Breckland landscape region, a gorse covered sandy heath of south Norfolk and north Suffolk...
district, 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...
, near the boundary with Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. 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....
the parish had a population of 721.
Origin of name
A D Mills (2003) says it was a 'homestead or village of a man called Gǣrbald'. It appeared in the 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...
(1086) as Gerboldesham. The traditional view of Gaerbold is that it is an Old English name, i.e. homestead of Garbold. Others argue it has a Viking origin with Garbold being a famous Viking. As described above, the boundary between Anglian, Viking and possibly even Iceni is blurred in the light of recent genetic and linguistic research.
To the south of the village sit the small affiliated hamlet of Smallworth and Broomscot Common, the name of the latter according to some recalling the village's ancient pagan past but more likely, so Carole Hough thinks, an affiliation to a Scandinavian with the surname Brun. This name might reflect the Viking invasions or Scandinavian connections of the Wuffingas, founders of the kingdom of East Anglia. It might even go further back in time if you believe theories that the pre-Roman Iceni
Iceni
The Iceni or Eceni were a British tribe who inhabited an area of East Anglia corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD...
inhabiting this area were Old English speakers rather than Cymric/Welsh.
Notable buildings
The village contains a Post Office with shop, selling a range of groceries as well as East Anglian regional "gourmet". On Church Road is Garboldisham Church of England School, a Primary School about 90 pupils strong serving Garboldisham, surrounding villages and also ThetfordThetford
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:...
. It feeds into Diss High School
Diss High School
Diss High School is a non-denominational secondary school located in Diss, Norfolk, England with an enrollment of approximately 1200 students from ages 11 to 18. It is a specialist school in Classics and English.-The Main School:...
and Old Buckenham High School. The school sits next to Garboldisham St John the Baptist Church and opposite the village hall. About 200 yards north is the ruined Garboldisham All Saints Church, where the 14th century western face collapsed into the nave in 1734. There is also a small Methodist Chapel, situated south of the A1066. The Fox Public House, on the crossroad of the A1066 and Hopton/Harling Road, closed in 2007.
Village life
There are active cricket and football teams. Village rumour has it that the Australian Cricket Team played at the cricket ground at some point in the 19th Century.There are few famous notables from Garboldisham, despite the active Amateur Dramatic Society. However, the "Garboldisham Road" was mentioned in the infamous Fry and Laurie
Fry and Laurie
Fry and Laurie, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, were a successful English comedy double act, mostly active in the 1980s and 1990s. Having met in 1980 through mutual friend Emma Thompson , Fry and Laurie have since collaborated on numerous projects together, including Jeeves and Wooster, in which...
sketch "Strawberries and Cream". Queen Boudicca was also reputed to be buried in Soldier's Grave, a 10 foot 10,000 year old burial mound. The Garboldisham Hoard, discovered by Basil Brown
Basil Brown
Basil John Wait Brown was a farmer, archaeologist, amateur astronomer and author who most famously discovered the buried ship at Sutton Hoo and excavated its sandy outline on the eve of war in 1939....
in the mound during excavations circa 1956, can be found in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough and grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, was born in Garboldisham Hall in 1822. Of more contemporary note, the mother of pianist of folk rock band Moishe's Bagel
Moishe's Bagel
Moishe's Bagel are a Scottish band formed in 2003, who play "jazz-inflected klezmer and Balkan music". They are critically acclaimed and have toured all over Britain, America and other parts of the world.-Members:...
Phil Alexander lives in the village. Alexander has also played for Salsa Celtica
Salsa Celtica
Salsa Celtica are a Scottish musical group famed for playing a form of music that is a fusion of salsa music with traditional Scottish instruments, including elements of folk and jazz.-History:...
and the Eliza Carthy
Eliza Carthy
Eliza Carthy is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. She is the daughter of English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson.-Life and career:...
Band.