Sloley
Encyclopedia
Sloley is a village and a civil parish
in the English
county of Norfolk
. The village is 11.9 miles (19.2 km) north-northeast of Norwich
, 13.6 miles (21.9 km) south- southeast of Cromer
and 128 miles (206 km) north-east of London
. The village lies 4.7 miles (7.6 km) south of the town of North Walsham
.The nearest railway station is at Worstead
for the Bittern Line
which runs between Cromer
and Norwich. The station is about 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) from the centre of the village. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport
. The Village and parish of Sloley had in the 2001 census
, a population of 255. The civil parish of Sloley has an area of 3.04 km² (1.2 sq mi). For the purposes of local government, the village falls within the district
of North Norfolk
.
. The parish is bounded on the south east with the parish of Tunstead
, whilst to the west lies the parish of Scottow
. The northern boundary is with the parishes of Westwick
and Worstead
. The north east corner is crossed north to south by the Bittern railway line
which runs between Cromer
and Norwich. Dissecting the parish east to west is New Barn lane which follows the route of an old Roman road which was an extension to the Fen Causeway
and was thought to be a major East-West route which ran on to Smallburgh
and possibly continued to Caister or an important port since eroded by the sea. The name Sloley comes from the 7th century Old English for "sla" meaning "sloe", plus "leah", a wood or clearing; hence, "leah where sloes grew".
of 1085 where its, its population, land ownership and productive resources were extensively detailed In the survey Sloley is recorded by the name of Slaleia. The main tenants being the abbot of Holme, Ralph de Beaufour and Reynald Fitzlvo. The survey also list that there is a church.
were built in the 15th century, along with a south aisle and new south porch and the top of the tower added. Also during this time the chancel
arch was moved south and it to is now off-centre. The south aisle is larger than the north in order to accommodate an altar tomb to Oliver le Gros who was Lord of the Manor who lived at Sloley Old Hall, and who died in 1439. Other internal features are some 15th century carved bench ends, 17th and 18th century floor tombs, 19th century box pews and a two-decker pulpit
and 18th and 19th century monuments, some in Gothic Revival style. The font
is a fine example and is octagonal carved stone showing the seven sacraments and the Baptism of Christ with four small lions on the corners of the foot.
. At one time the Le Gros family were major holders of land within the county of Norfolk
and Sloley Old Hall was numbered among their manorial establishments. The existing house, which was known as Frankfort Manor, was built by Oliver Le Gros in the 16th century. Harman, who married the last of the Le Gros family, sold to Robert Walpole. The house then passed into the ownership of the Neville family, whose descendants still own the surrounding estate. The house as part of the Sloley Estate. The hall was once lived in by Sylvia Townsend Warner
, a well known author, who lived there with her lover Valentine Ackland
also a poet. Alarmed by the growing threat of fascism, both women were active in the Communist Party of Great Britain
, and visited Spain
during the Civil War
. They lived together from 1930 until Ackland's death in 1969.
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 English
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...
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...
. The village is 11.9 miles (19.2 km) north-northeast 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...
, 13.6 miles (21.9 km) south- southeast 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 128 miles (206 km) north-east of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The village lies 4.7 miles (7.6 km) south of the town of North Walsham
North Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England in the North Norfolk district.-Demographics:The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 11,998. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North...
.The nearest railway station is at Worstead
Worstead railway station
Worstead is a railway station situated about 1 km distant from the villages of Worstead and Sloley in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by local services operated by National Express East Anglia on the Bittern Line from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham.-Train Services:The...
for the Bittern Line
Bittern Line
The Bittern Line is a railway line from Norwich to Cromer then Sheringham in Norfolk, England. It is one of the most scenic in the East of England traversing the Norfolk Broads on its route to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the North Norfolk Coast. The line is part of the Network Rail...
which runs between 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 Norwich. The station is about 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) from the centre of the village. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport
Norwich International Airport
Norwich International Airport , also known as Norwich Airport, is an airport in the City of Norwich within Norfolk, England north of the city centre and on the edge of the city's suburbs....
. The Village and parish of Sloley had 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....
, a population of 255. The civil parish of Sloley has an area of 3.04 km² (1.2 sq mi). For the purposes of local government, the village 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:...
.
Description
The parish of Sloley is situated in the northwest of the county of NorfolkNorfolk
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...
. The parish is bounded on the south east with the parish of Tunstead
Tunstead, Norfolk
Tunstead is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is 10.7 miles north north east of the city of Norwich, 15 miles south south east of Cromer and 129 miles north east of London...
, whilst to the west lies the parish of Scottow
Scottow
Scottow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located some north of Coltishall and south of North Walsham.The civil parish has an area of and in 2001 had a population of 1,774 in 357 households...
. The northern boundary is with the parishes of Westwick
Westwick, Norfolk
Westwick is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, situated to the south of North Walsham.It covers an area of and had a population of 72 in 33 households as of the 2001 census....
and Worstead
Worstead
Worstead is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It lies 5 km south of North Walsham, 9 km north of Wroxham, and 20 km north of Norwich. The village is served by Worstead railway station on the Bittern Line....
. The north east corner is crossed north to south by the Bittern railway line
Bittern Line
The Bittern Line is a railway line from Norwich to Cromer then Sheringham in Norfolk, England. It is one of the most scenic in the East of England traversing the Norfolk Broads on its route to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the North Norfolk Coast. The line is part of the Network Rail...
which runs between 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 Norwich. Dissecting the parish east to west is New Barn lane which follows the route of an old Roman road which was an extension to the Fen Causeway
Fen Causeway
Fen Causeway or the Fen Road is the modern name for a Roman road of England that runs between Denver, Norfolk in the east and Peterborough in the west. Its path covers , passing March and Eldernell before joining the major Roman north-south route Ermine Street west of modern-day Peterborough...
and was thought to be a major East-West route which ran on to Smallburgh
Smallburgh
Smallburgh is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is fourteen miles south-east of Cromer, fourteen miles north-east of Norwich and north-east of London. The village lies five miles south-east of the nearby town of North Walsham...
and possibly continued to Caister or an important port since eroded by the sea. The name Sloley comes from the 7th century Old English for "sla" meaning "sloe", plus "leah", a wood or clearing; hence, "leah where sloes grew".
The Domesday Book
Sloley has an entry 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...
of 1085 where its, its population, land ownership and productive resources were extensively detailed In the survey Sloley is recorded by the name of Slaleia. The main tenants being the abbot of Holme, Ralph de Beaufour and Reynald Fitzlvo. The survey also list that there is a church.
The parish church of Saint Bartholomew
The parish church of Saint Bartholomew is located to the south-east of the village. The church tower is offset to the north of the main body of the church, the result of rebuilding and extensions built on to this church in the 14th and 15th century’s. The north aisle has been constructed on what was the site of the original Norman church in the 15th century. The arcades and clerestoryClerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
were built in the 15th century, along with a south aisle and new south porch and the top of the tower added. Also during this time the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
arch was moved south and it to is now off-centre. The south aisle is larger than the north in order to accommodate an altar tomb to Oliver le Gros who was Lord of the Manor who lived at Sloley Old Hall, and who died in 1439. Other internal features are some 15th century carved bench ends, 17th and 18th century floor tombs, 19th century box pews and a two-decker pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
and 18th and 19th century monuments, some in Gothic Revival style. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is a fine example and is octagonal carved stone showing the seven sacraments and the Baptism of Christ with four small lions on the corners of the foot.
Sloley Old Hall
Sloley Old Hall belonged to the Le Gros family, who were at one time Lords of the manor of Sloley with family records which run back to the reign of King StevenStephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
. At one time the Le Gros family were major holders of land within the 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...
and Sloley Old Hall was numbered among their manorial establishments. The existing house, which was known as Frankfort Manor, was built by Oliver Le Gros in the 16th century. Harman, who married the last of the Le Gros family, sold to Robert Walpole. The house then passed into the ownership of the Neville family, whose descendants still own the surrounding estate. The house as part of the Sloley Estate. The hall was once lived in by Sylvia Townsend Warner
Sylvia Townsend Warner
Sylvia Nora Townsend Warner was an English novelist and poet.-Life:Sylvia Townsend Warner was born at Harrow on the Hill, the only child of George Townsend Warner and his wife Eleanora Hudleston...
, a well known author, who lived there with her lover Valentine Ackland
Valentine Ackland
Valentine Ackland was an English poet, an important figure in the emergence of modernism in twentieth-century British poetry.-Life:...
also a poet. Alarmed by the growing threat of fascism, both women were active in the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
, and visited Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. They lived together from 1930 until Ackland's death in 1969.
External links
.- Information from Genuki Norfolk on Sloley.