Spixworth
Encyclopedia
Spixworth is a civil parish
in the English county of Norfolk
. The village lies close to the B1150 road
and is 5 miles (8 km) north of Norwich
and some 10 miles (16.1 km) south of North Walsham
.
It covers an area of 4.8 km² (1.9 sq mi) and had a population of 3,769 in 1,508 households as of the 2001 census
.
For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district
of Broadland
.
times and is derived from either; the River Spikes (now Spixworth Beck) or Spic meaning
swine pasture. The suffix worth is from the Anglo-Saxon
yrth meaning land sloping from water or marsh. Alternatively the name is possibly derived from the OE spics (bacon farm) and worth (enclosure).
of 1066 much of the land was held by a Saxon freeman– known as Suart. After the conquest, Spixworth and other surrounding villages were given to the Roger of Poictiers
. In 1199, Peter Bardoph became Lord of the Manor
, a position the family held to 1485. The estate was eventually sold to William Peck in 1602. Peck, Sheriff of Norwich in 1561 and Mayor of the city in 1573 and 1586 built Spixworth Hall in 1607. The house and estate subsequently passed into the hands of the Longe family. By the 20th century the hall had fallen into disrepair and was demolished in 1950. Much of the surrounding estate had already been absorbed by neighbouring farms.
, the Longe Arms public house
and a wide selection of essential retail outlets and services.
font
. Also, of note is the 17th century memorial depicting two life–sized corpses and the church bells some of which date from 1350.
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 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 lies close to the B1150 road
B roads in Zone 1 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
B roads are numbered routes in Great Britain of lesser importance than A roads. See the article Great Britain road numbering scheme for the rationale behind the numbers allocated.-Zone 1 :-Zone 1 :...
and is 5 miles (8 km) north 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...
and some 10 miles (16.1 km) south 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...
.
It covers an area of 4.8 km² (1.9 sq mi) and had a population of 3,769 in 1,508 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....
.
For the purposes of local government, it 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 Broadland
Broadland
Broadland is a local government district in Norfolk, England, named after the Norfolk Broads. Its council is based in Thorpe St Andrew, which is a suburb of the City of Norwich.-History:The district was formed on April 1, 1974 by the merger of St...
.
Etymology
The village was known as Spikeswurda in NormanNorman dynasty
Norman dynasty is the usual designation for the family that were the Dukes of Normandy and the English monarchs which immediately followed the Norman conquest and lasted until the Plantagenet dynasty came to power in 1154. It included Rollo and his descendants, and from William the Conqueror and...
times and is derived from either; the River Spikes (now Spixworth Beck) or Spic meaning
swine pasture. The suffix worth is from the Anglo-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...
yrth meaning land sloping from water or marsh. Alternatively the name is possibly derived from the OE spics (bacon farm) and worth (enclosure).
History
From Saxon times the village has been part of the Taverham Hundred. Prior to the Norman conquestNorman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
of 1066 much of the land was held by a Saxon freeman– known as Suart. After the conquest, Spixworth and other surrounding villages were given to the Roger of Poictiers
Roger the Poitevin
Roger the Poitevin was born in Normandy in the mid-1060s and died before 1140 . He was an Anglo-Norman aristocrat, who possessed large holdings in both England and through his marriage in France....
. In 1199, Peter Bardoph became Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
, a position the family held to 1485. The estate was eventually sold to William Peck in 1602. Peck, Sheriff of Norwich in 1561 and Mayor of the city in 1573 and 1586 built Spixworth Hall in 1607. The house and estate subsequently passed into the hands of the Longe family. By the 20th century the hall had fallen into disrepair and was demolished in 1950. Much of the surrounding estate had already been absorbed by neighbouring farms.
The village today
Due to its close proximity to Norwich the village is a popular residential area. Amenities in the village include an infant school, dental practise, doctor's surgery, village hall, motelMotel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
, the Longe Arms 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...
and a wide selection of essential retail outlets and services.
The Church of St Peter
A church has stood on the same site for 900 years. The present day church dates from 1160 and is built in the Early English style. The narrow pencil shaped tower is the oldest part of the church. Inside the building is a NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
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:...
. Also, of note is the 17th century memorial depicting two life–sized corpses and the church bells some of which date from 1350.