Hingham, Norfolk
Encyclopedia
Hingham is a market town
and civil parish
in the Forehoe district in the heart of rural Norfolk
, in England. The civil parish covers an area of 14.98 km² (5.8 sq mi) and had a population of 2,078 in 944 households as of the 2001 census
. Grand architecture
surrounds the market place and village green. In the 18th century, when the socialites of high society built houses and took residence in Hingham, it became fashionably known as "Little London".
Hingham is 17 miles (27.4 km) from Norwich
, Norfolk’s county town. While many Hingham people now work in Norwich, commuting
by car or bus, the town has maintained a strong base, providing work in a wide range of commercial businesses in its industrial estate
on Ironside Way. A major employer in the parish is E. F. Shingfield & Sons, agricultural
suppliers.
Several other firms provide a variety of services to agriculture and industry
.
The many and varied local shops have the special character of a small market town but are up-to-date in what they provide. Despite the influence and attractions of neighbouring Norwich, an active and independent town life continues to thrive and grow in Hingham.
A fair visits every year, setting up on the historic Fairlands (an area of several triangular greens). There is a state-run village school, providing education for children from the ages of 4-11. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
of South Norfolk
.
The nearest railway stations are Wymondham
and Attleborough
. Both stations are on the Breckland Line
.
residents of Hingham, led by Hingham's former vicar Robert Peck and his associate Peter Hobart, emigrated to the then colony of Massachusetts
, where they founded the town of Hingham
. Peck had been censured by religious authorities for his Puritan practices, and his daughter had married the son of another well-known Puritan minister, John Rogers.
The parishioners who left Hingham with Peck and Hobart had been so prominent in the community that the town was forced to petition Parliament for help, claiming that it had been devastated by the loss. Amongst their number were Samuel Lincoln
, ancestor of President Abraham Lincoln
, and Edward Gilman Sr., ancestor of Nicholas Gilman
, New Hampshire delegate to the Continental Congress
and signer of the U.S. Constitution. Memorials to the Gilman family, ancestors of those who went to America, are still visible in St Andrew's Church in Hingham, which also has a bust of Abraham Lincoln on the wall. (Several centuries later, the Gilmans of Hingham supplied two mayors of Norwich
.)
In 2000, it was reported that Adrian Semmence, whose family had farmed at Hingham for three generations, was opening a woodland park (to be funded by the sale of 36 square feet (3.3 m²) plots, mainly to Americans having connections with Hingham) to commemorate the links between his village and Hingham, Massachusetts
.
The Lotus Racing F1 team is based here. Previously, as Team Lotus
, it used to be based in Norfolk, but after its bankruptcy in 1994 there wasn't much activity until Lotus was resurrected as an F1 team in 2010.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
and civil parish
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...
in the Forehoe district in the heart of rural 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...
, in England. The civil parish covers an area of 14.98 km² (5.8 sq mi) and had a population of 2,078 in 944 households as of 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....
. Grand architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
surrounds the market place and village green. In the 18th century, when the socialites of high society built houses and took residence in Hingham, it became fashionably known as "Little London".
Hingham is 17 miles (27.4 km) from 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...
, Norfolk’s county town. While many Hingham people now work in Norwich, commuting
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
by car or bus, the town has maintained a strong base, providing work in a wide range of commercial businesses in its industrial estate
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
on Ironside Way. A major employer in the parish is E. F. Shingfield & Sons, agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
suppliers.
Several other firms provide a variety of services to agriculture and industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
.
The many and varied local shops have the special character of a small market town but are up-to-date in what they provide. Despite the influence and attractions of neighbouring Norwich, an active and independent town life continues to thrive and grow in Hingham.
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 South Norfolk
South Norfolk
South Norfolk is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Long Stratton.-History:The district was formed on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of Diss Urban District, Wymondham Urban District, Depwade Rural District, Forehoe and Henstead...
.
The nearest railway stations are Wymondham
Wymondham railway station
Wymondham is a railway station in the town of Wymondham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by local services operated by East Midlands Trains and National Express East Anglia on the Breckland Line 17 km west of Norwich to Peterborough and Cambridge.Wymondham station is...
and Attleborough
Attleborough railway station
Attleborough railway station is a railway station serving the town of Attleborough in the English county of Norfolk. It is served by local services operated by East Midlands Trains and on the Breckland Line 16 miles west of Norwich to Peterborough and Cambridge.A new Ticket Office opened in 2008...
. Both stations are on the Breckland Line
Breckland Line
The Breckland Line runs from Cambridge in Cambridgeshire to Norwich in Norfolk, in East Anglia, England. It is so called because it runs through the Breckland region of Norfolk. The line also passes through Thetford Forest. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5, SRS 05.09 and part...
.
History
In the early 17th century, a number of PuritanPuritan
The 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...
residents of Hingham, led by Hingham's former vicar Robert Peck and his associate Peter Hobart, emigrated to the then colony of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
, where they founded the town of Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
. Peck had been censured by religious authorities for his Puritan practices, and his daughter had married the son of another well-known Puritan minister, John Rogers.
The parishioners who left Hingham with Peck and Hobart had been so prominent in the community that the town was forced to petition Parliament for help, claiming that it had been devastated by the loss. Amongst their number were Samuel Lincoln
Samuel Lincoln
Samuel Lincoln , was progenitor of many notable United States political figures, including his great-great-great-great-grandson, President Abraham Lincoln, Maine governor Enoch Lincoln, and Levi Lincoln, Sr...
, ancestor of President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, and Edward Gilman Sr., ancestor of Nicholas Gilman
Nicholas Gilman
Nicholas Gilman, Jr. was a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and a signer of the U.S. Constitution, representing New Hampshire. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives during the first four...
, New Hampshire delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and signer of the U.S. Constitution. Memorials to the Gilman family, ancestors of those who went to America, are still visible in St Andrew's Church in Hingham, which also has a bust of Abraham Lincoln on the wall. (Several centuries later, the Gilmans of Hingham supplied two mayors 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...
.)
In 2000, it was reported that Adrian Semmence, whose family had farmed at Hingham for three generations, was opening a woodland park (to be funded by the sale of 36 square feet (3.3 m²) plots, mainly to Americans having connections with Hingham) to commemorate the links between his village and Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
.
The Lotus Racing F1 team is based here. Previously, as Team Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
, it used to be based in Norfolk, but after its bankruptcy in 1994 there wasn't much activity until Lotus was resurrected as an F1 team in 2010.