Mulbarton, Norfolk
Encyclopedia
Mulbarton is a village
and civil parish
located south of Norwich
in the English county of Norfolk
. It covers an area of 5.34 km² (2.1 sq mi).
The population at the 2001 census
was 2,827.
Facilities include an Adnams'
public house
, The World's End, a social club, 2 convenience stores (One Stop and CO-OP), a church, a fish-and-chip shop, and a chinese takeaway. There is a regular bus service to Norwich, with buses coming every 30 minutes. In the centre of the village is a large common, and a pond where many ducks live.
Mulbarton is famous for having more association football teams than any other village in Norfolk
. Its churchyard is famous for having a large population of bats, some of which have been recorded as having the largest wingspans in British recorded natural history.
A Roll of Honour in the Church porch lists all the Mulbarton men who served in the 1914-18 war. The 16 who died are highlighted in gold. A total of 90 men went to war, which must have been a high proportion of the men of the village, as it was 19% of the total population (481 in the national census of 1911).
Although the Second World War is within living memory, something of its local impact can also be gleaned from records of Parish Council discussions and from the school Log Book.
The War Memorial in the church lists seven names of those who died in the 1939-45 war.
In 2000, Harford Belles were awarded the Umbro club of the year title. In 2001, the Belles moved to Mulbarton and joined the Wanderers. They became the Mulbarton Belles and formed one of the largest football clubs in Norfolk.
The Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles were awarded the FA National Football Grass Roots award, presented in Mulbarton by Kevin Keegan
. This was later shown on national ITV. The Belles formed their first Ladies senior team.
In 2002, Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles became the first club in Norfolk to be awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award. The Wanderers formed their first Men’s senior team.
In 2004, both senior teams achieved the FA Charter Standard Adult Club award. The club was granted the FA Charter Standard Community Club Award.
In 2005, Mulbarton became the Charter Standard Community Club of the Year for Norfolk.
In 2007, Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles were recognised as the FA Charter Standard Community Club 2007. The Senior Men were recognised as Charter Standard Adult Club of the year.
Mulbarton was originally the home to world famous footballers such as Rivaldo, Diego Maradona and Frank Sinclair. Sinclair and Rivaldo were both in the under 12 team and scored 83 goals in 19 games between them, 74 of them being netted directly from corners. More recently, David Ginola has been seen playing hockey with Iker Casillas at the Mulbarton Common. There has also been talk of of multi-billionaire Roman Abramovich buying the club and setting up a 65,000 seater stadium. This however, has yet to be confirmed.
Mulbarton common is famous for being one of the possible locations of King John's lost caravan of gold. Many attempts to locate the hoard, which is thought to have sunk into boggy ground, have been thwarted by the now hard-packed ground and thick undergrowth.
Even in the 19th century, there were day-trips from Norwich to Mulbarton for games on the common and liquid refreshment at the World's End. A move to enclose the common aroused great opposition in 1865, and modern development on the perimeter has been resisted with partial success.
Today there is just one pub - the World's End, which offers food as well as beverages. But there is also a licensed social club in the Village Hall. This is the modern successor to the old Parish Hall (often called the Wingfield Hall) that was very near the World's End. For over 60 years, it was the venue for many village activities. Many of these continued when the old school became the Village Hall, and their present home is the modern Village Hall and Social Club near the common.
It also has a mediocre fish and chip shop just behind the chemist and dentist, famous for never handing out bags even if you spend £20.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
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...
located south 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 the English county of 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...
. It covers an area of 5.34 km² (2.1 sq mi).
The population at 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....
was 2,827.
Facilities include an Adnams'
Adnams Brewery
Adnams PLC is a British regional brewery company founded in 1890 in Southwold, Suffolk, England, by George and Ernest Adnams. The earliest recorded brewing on the Adnams site was in 1396 by Johanna de Corby. The company produces cask ale and pasteurised bottled beers. Annual production is around...
public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, The World's End, a social club, 2 convenience stores (One Stop and CO-OP), a church, a fish-and-chip shop, and a chinese takeaway. There is a regular bus service to Norwich, with buses coming every 30 minutes. In the centre of the village is a large common, and a pond where many ducks live.
Mulbarton is famous for having more association football teams than any other village 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...
. Its churchyard is famous for having a large population of bats, some of which have been recorded as having the largest wingspans in British recorded natural history.
War
Both the First and Second World Wars had a profound effect on Mulbarton, affecting not only those who lost their lives in the wars, but the generation of children who missed out on their education in order to do agricultural work during the First World War.A Roll of Honour in the Church porch lists all the Mulbarton men who served in the 1914-18 war. The 16 who died are highlighted in gold. A total of 90 men went to war, which must have been a high proportion of the men of the village, as it was 19% of the total population (481 in the national census of 1911).
Although the Second World War is within living memory, something of its local impact can also be gleaned from records of Parish Council discussions and from the school Log Book.
The War Memorial in the church lists seven names of those who died in the 1939-45 war.
Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles FC
In 1989, Mulbarton United Youth Formed and five years later Harford Belles formed playing at the South Harford School, Norwich. Four years later Mulbarton Youth FC split and formed Mulbarton Wanderers Youth FC.In 2000, Harford Belles were awarded the Umbro club of the year title. In 2001, the Belles moved to Mulbarton and joined the Wanderers. They became the Mulbarton Belles and formed one of the largest football clubs in Norfolk.
The Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles were awarded the FA National Football Grass Roots award, presented in Mulbarton by Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
. This was later shown on national ITV. The Belles formed their first Ladies senior team.
In 2002, Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles became the first club in Norfolk to be awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award. The Wanderers formed their first Men’s senior team.
In 2004, both senior teams achieved the FA Charter Standard Adult Club award. The club was granted the FA Charter Standard Community Club Award.
In 2005, Mulbarton became the Charter Standard Community Club of the Year for Norfolk.
In 2007, Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles were recognised as the FA Charter Standard Community Club 2007. The Senior Men were recognised as Charter Standard Adult Club of the year.
Mulbarton was originally the home to world famous footballers such as Rivaldo, Diego Maradona and Frank Sinclair. Sinclair and Rivaldo were both in the under 12 team and scored 83 goals in 19 games between them, 74 of them being netted directly from corners. More recently, David Ginola has been seen playing hockey with Iker Casillas at the Mulbarton Common. There has also been talk of of multi-billionaire Roman Abramovich buying the club and setting up a 65,000 seater stadium. This however, has yet to be confirmed.
Church
For centuries the church has been at the hub of village life, not just as a religious institution, but as a provider of housing for villagers, administering charity, and overseeing the work of the school. Both the church and the Methodist chapel have traditionally been at the centre of village celebrations such as coronations, social events and social clubs, and village entertainments.Common
Today, the common is a recreation area for the rapidly increasing number of people in the village. Its football pitches are used by all ages.Mulbarton common is famous for being one of the possible locations of King John's lost caravan of gold. Many attempts to locate the hoard, which is thought to have sunk into boggy ground, have been thwarted by the now hard-packed ground and thick undergrowth.
Even in the 19th century, there were day-trips from Norwich to Mulbarton for games on the common and liquid refreshment at the World's End. A move to enclose the common aroused great opposition in 1865, and modern development on the perimeter has been resisted with partial success.
Pubs
Mulbarton had two pubs: the Tradesman's Arms and the World's End. Both had bowls and other sporting clubs. They also hosted a number of clubs and societies, including an Oddfellows Lodge.Today there is just one pub - the World's End, which offers food as well as beverages. But there is also a licensed social club in the Village Hall. This is the modern successor to the old Parish Hall (often called the Wingfield Hall) that was very near the World's End. For over 60 years, it was the venue for many village activities. Many of these continued when the old school became the Village Hall, and their present home is the modern Village Hall and Social Club near the common.
Schools
Today, Mulbarton has two thriving schools: Mulbarton Infant School and Mulbarton Junior School, both of which give local pupils an excellent education. The predecessor to the modern buildings housing these school stands across the common - now a dental surgery, and before that the Village Hall. It was opened in 1865 as a 'National School' (i.e. run by the Church of England).Shops
Today, Mulbarton has a Co-oP, a small supermarket with post office, a farm shop at Paddock Farm with a small butchers, bakers, and a chemist shop next to the dental surgery (both in the old school). There is a 24-hour Tesco only 3 miles away, but in the past, the village was well served with shops. Villagers remember that in the past all the shops sold everything, from sugar to paraffin and even crack cocaine was available directly off the shelf.It also has a mediocre fish and chip shop just behind the chemist and dentist, famous for never handing out bags even if you spend £20.