West Raynham
Encyclopedia
West Raynham is a village in the county of Norfolk
. Located close to the A1065 road
, some 5 miles SW of Fakenham
and is the largest village on the Raynham estate. The river Wensum flows nearby. The village can trace its origins back and before the Domesday survey of 1086 when it was known as Reinham.
and South Raynham
, a large area of farmland known as Raynham Park, which the Raynham villages and the 17th century Raynham Hall border.
Raynham Hall
is a rectangular mansion built of brick and stone dressings. Work commenced in 1619 and was completed in 1630. It is the seat of the Townshend family, and is owned today by the 7th Marquis Townshend.
, is located 2 miles west of the village. It opened in 1939 and closed in 1994, when it was sold to a property developer. Most of the properties are empty and in need of restoration, but people do currently live on the site and all houses are available to rent. There is also a small shop on site.
In 2010 the paranormal television series Most Haunted
filmed 5 episodes on the base.
, water meadows, arable land
and historic buildings, almost entirely on the Raynham estate.
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...
. Located close to the A1065 road
A1065 road
The A1065 is a main road in the English region of East Anglia. It provides the principal road connection to parts of the west and north of the county of Norfolk from Newmarket and points south of there, including London...
, some 5 miles SW of Fakenham
Fakenham
Fakenham is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, some north east of King's Lynn, south west of Cromer, and north west of Norwich....
and is the largest village on the Raynham estate. The river Wensum flows nearby. The village can trace its origins back and before the Domesday survey of 1086 when it was known as Reinham.
The Raynhams
Today, The Raynhams would cover West, EastEast Raynham
East Raynham is a village in the county of Norfolk. It is located on the A1065 some south-west of from Fakenham. The River Wensum flows close to the village...
and South Raynham
South Raynham, Norfolk
South Raynham is a village in the county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A1065 road some SW of Fakenham. The River Wensum flows nearby. The village can trace its origins back and before the Domesday survey of 1086 when the village was known as Reinham....
, a large area of farmland known as Raynham Park, which the Raynham villages and the 17th century Raynham Hall border.
Raynham Hall
Raynham Hall
Raynham Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England. For 300 years it has been the seat of the Townshend family. The hall gave its name to the area, known as The Raynhams, and is reported to be haunted, providing the scene for possibly the most famous ghost photo of all time, the famous Brown Lady...
is a rectangular mansion built of brick and stone dressings. Work commenced in 1619 and was completed in 1630. It is the seat of the Townshend family, and is owned today by the 7th Marquis Townshend.
The Church of St Margaret
The church was first built in the 11th century. It fell into ruins from the 1720s, when the lead roof was removed to help pay for the restoration of St Marys at East Raynham. The ruin has now been consolidated and the church is now back in occasional use.RAF West Raynham
The former Royal Air Force station, RAF West RaynhamRAF West Raynham
RAF West Raynham was a Royal Air Force station located west of the village of West Raynham in Norfolk, England. It opened in the 1930s and closed in 1994. During the Second World War, RAF Bomber Command operations from RAF West Raynham claimed 86 aircraft. The site was sold by the Ministry of...
, is located 2 miles west of the village. It opened in 1939 and closed in 1994, when it was sold to a property developer. Most of the properties are empty and in need of restoration, but people do currently live on the site and all houses are available to rent. There is also a small shop on site.
In 2010 the paranormal television series Most Haunted
Most Haunted
Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity...
filmed 5 episodes on the base.
Recreation
Much of the area can be visited by a circular walk which takes in mixed woodlandWoodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
, water meadows, arable land
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
and historic buildings, almost entirely on the Raynham estate.