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Home , Dereham, East Lexham, Fransham, Godwick, Great Dunham, Gressenhall

16 CYCLING DISCOVERY MAP Starting point: (nr. ), Distance: 23 miles/37 km (or with short cut 19 miles/31 km) Type of route: Day ride - moderate, circular; on roads THE LOST VILLAGES OF BRECKLAND This cycle ride starts from the village of Gressenhall, where a former 18th C. workhouse depicts rural life through the ages. From here the route heads north through attractive countryside and villages to the untouched valley of the , representing old Norfolk at its best. In between lie the abandoned medieval hamlets of Little Bittering and , where the church ruins stand as a timely reminder. Along this route you can stroll amongst the earthworks of a lost village, explore a Saxon church’s round tower and discover a memorial to a champion boxer.

Godwick

Key to Symbols & Abbreviations Essential information B Cycle Parking Starting point: Gressenhall - village green; or Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse 3 Places of Interest (Museum of Norfolk Life) (located 3/4 mile east of village Z Refreshments towards B1146). ; Children Welcome 4 Alternative Common Local Nature Reserve. Located 1/4 mile south Picnic Site starting point: of B1145 at Litcham. Join the route by leaving the car park and P Shop turning L onto the road. Then at the T-j, turn L again, w Toilets SP ‘ 2, 8’. Pass through the village centre, y Tourist Information and then take the next L onto Front Street. At the T-j with the E Caution/Take care B1145, turn L (NS). Start from ‘direction no. 14’. L Left Turn R Right Turn Car parking: Gressenhall - village green (free). The lay-by opposite the pub T-j T-junction can accommodate up to four vehicles. Gressenhall Farm and SA Straight Across/Ahead Workhouse (Museum of Norfolk Life) (free). Litcham Common X-roads Cross roads Local Nature Reserve (free). SP Sign-posted Nearest (18 miles east of Gressenhall). NS Not Sign-posted railway station: Type of route: Day ride - moderate, circular; on roads. Summary Gressenhall - Bittering - Stanfield - - Godwick - of route: Tittleshall - Litcham - East - - Beeston - - Gressenhall. Distance: 23 miles/37 km. Short cut: From Litcham, south along unclassified road to Beeston, 2 miles (3 km). Total route with short cut, 19 miles (31 km). Terrain: Mostly flat. One or two easy climbs in the Nar Valley. Lowest point - 102 feet (31 metres) at Gressenhall. Highest point - 240 feet (73 metres) at Great Dunham. Cycle repair: None available on this route. Nearest are 2 miles south at Dereham - Paul’s Cycles, Unit A, Road (01362) 696276. Ordnance Survey Landranger 132 - North West Norfolk. map area: . This ride follows the NCN for a small stretch leading Network links: from and to the village of Gressenhall. Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse (Museum of Norfolk Life) (listed as you would find them along the route) Points of Interest Please note: within this map there is only room to list basic details regarding opening times. In this respect, if you are planning to visit any of the places of interest 3 on this route, we advise you to telephone in advance to confirm exact opening days and times. Refreshment establishments Z listed on this map are just a small selection of those available. For further information, please contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre.

Gressenhall - large village, with several attractive Tittleshall - neat and compact village surrounding A buildings set around a tree-lined green and pond. G the church. The sign depicts a plough indicating its agricultural links. P 3 St. Mary’s Church - 14th C. with remarkable collection of 3 Nature Reserve (1 mile east of village beside monuments to the Coke (Earls of Leicester) family, B1146) - heathland, meadows and ponds. Rich flora and including Sir Edward. fauna. Open all year. Admission free. (01603) 625540. Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse (Museum of Norfolk Litcham - handsome village set on the banks of the Life) (3/4 mile east of village) - former 18th C. workhouse H River Nar. 18th C. town houses and a farmhouse built housing a museum of life on the land. Traditional farm on the site of a priory used by pilgrims making their way with rare breed animals. Gardens and riverside walk. to Walsingham. P Open Mar-Oct. Admission charge. (01362) 860563. Z 4 3 All Saints Church - 15th C. with fine rood screen (c.1436). Z The Swan (01362) 860340. ; The tower was a gift from a wealthy local tanner in 1669. Litcham Common Local Nature Reserve - woodland and Bittering - tiny hamlet with just two houses and a grassy heathland. Wildflowers and butterflies. Open all year. B 12th C. flint church. The remains of a moated manor Admission free. (01603) 598400. house can be seen. It was later replaced by a hall (demolished Litcham Village Museum - local artefacts from Roman times in the 1980’s), once home of William Wilberforce, famed for to present day. Photograph collection and underground his role in the abolition of the slave trade. lime kiln. Open Apr-Oct (Sat/Sun only). Admission free. 3 Little Bittering - to the R of the road is the site of a (01328) 701383. 4 deserted medieval village. Since the Industrial Revolution Z The Bull Inn (01328) 701340. ; more than 200 Norfolk villages have died, mainly due to a decrease in population, especially during the plague or - one of two quiet hamlets (the other is West with changes in farming practices. I Lexham, 1 mile to the west) set on the wooded slopes of the Upper Nar Valley. Badly damaged by wartime activities, the Just off the route - (3/4 mile west of B1145 estate was bought in 1946 by William Foster. He restored the C junction at Stanfield). The manor of this village hall with its parklands and built the little butter market. belonged to the Cokes of Hall for many years. 3 Lexham Hall - built 1630-1680 on the site of an earlier house. The fortune of this great Norfolk family was established by The canals and lakes date from the early 19th C. Gardens Sir , who was born here in 1552. He became and park open occasionally to public. Chief Justice and Attorney General to Elizabeth I in the 16th St. Andrew’s Church - the round tower is Saxon (9th C.) in and early 17th C. origin. It is the oldest in the country. 3 Church of St. John the Baptist - dates from late 12th C. St. Nicholas Church () - rebuilt late 19th C. with Fine medieval coffin lids and 14th C. stained glass. short round Saxon tower. Mileham Castle - remains of Norman motte and bailey castle (built around 1100). Recently discovered after being J Great Dunham - a Saxon settlement set amongst open lost in undergrowth for decades. fields and farms. 3 St. Andrew’s Church - one of the most complete Saxon Stanfield - little village, overlooked by its hilltop churches in Norfolk. Used continuously for worship for more D flint church. than 1000 years.

Whissonsett - derived from the Saxon “Witchineseta”, Just off the route - (3/4 mile south of Great E the name reflecting the proximity of watery meadows. K Dunham). This village sits in the highest part of Norfolk. Dwellings are nestled along little lanes surrounding the The poet once lived at Dunham Lodge, where a church and green. The village sign depicts local apple obelisk commemorates the end of the Napoleonic War in 1814. growing, the stocks used in past times and Derek and Hugh In the meadow to the west of the 13th C. church are the Seagrim, the only two brothers to win the country’s top two earthwork remains of the former medieval village. awards for bravery (George and Victoria Cross). P Z The Black Swan (01760) 722200. ; 3 St. Mary’s Church - 14th C. set amongst beech and yew trees. Anglo-Saxon cross and Victorian stained glass. Beeston - the magnificent spire of the isolated medieval L church guides the rider to this village. In the Second World Godwick - one of the finest examples of a deserted War, it became a dormitory town for US airmen serving at the F village in Norfolk. First settled in late Saxon times, it was nearby airfield. P inhabited until the 17th C. But following a series of bad Jem Mace - son of the local blacksmith, Jem (1831-1910) is harvests and difficulty in cultivating the poor soil, the known as the father of modern boxing. He became the population began to dwindle. By 1596, there were only 3 or 4 middleweight champion of in 1883, as well as the houses remaining and the church tower had collapsed. In World Champion. 1580, the estate was brought by Sir Edward Coke who 3 392nd Bomb Group Memorial (situated 1/4 mile south of constructed a fine brick manor house (demolished in 1962). village) - obelisk memorial to personnel of US 392nd While most of the 200 or so sites of deserted villages in Bomb Group, who served at former World War II airfield Norfolk have been destroyed by ploughing, the earthworks from Aug 1943-Jun 1945. Most of the site has now reverted here are well preserved because the site is grazed by sheep to agriculture. and has never been disturbed. Banks and ditches, which St. Mary’s Church - 14th C. with hammerbeam roof, painted separated the individual house plots, can be seen. The church rood screen and memorial to Jem Mace. ruins consist of the flint rubble base of the 13th C. tower, which was raised as a brick and flint folly when the church Longham - tiny hamlet set around a green. Nearby are was pulled down in the 17th C. The site is accessed on foot M the hall and church. from the road between Whissonsett and Tittleshall. Open all 3 Nature Reserve (11/4 miles south of the year. Admission free. village) - ancient woodland, managed in traditional way. Wildflowers. Open all year. Admission free. (01603) 625540. Z The White Horse (01362) 687464. ; ROUTE DIRECTIONS STARTING POINT: Gressenhall (village green); or Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse (Museum of Norfolk Life).

A Gressenhall - attractive tree-lined green. 3 Z P

1 From the village green lay-by (with the green on your R and the pub on your L), go SA to the X-roads. Continue SA onto Bittering Street, SP ‘Bilney and Fakenham’. OR From the Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse (Museum of Norfolk Life), turn R out of the entrance gate onto the road into the village. Then at the X-roads (with the green and pub to your L) turn R onto Bittering Street, SP ‘Bilney and Fakenham’.

2 Turn L at the 2nd X-roads (NS) onto a poorly surfaced road passing through fields. There is a little white ‘gas’ marker at this junction.

3 At the T-j beside the flint house, turn R (NS).

B Bittering - remains of moated manor house. 3 13 At the X-roads (beside The Bull Inn), turn R onto the B1145, 4 Turn L towards the church (NS). On your R is the site of the deserted SP ‘King’s Lynn’. Alternatively continue SA to visit the village centre. E medieval village of Little Bittering. The church can be accessed by a track across the fields to your L. Short cut (2 miles). Total route with short cut - 19 miles. Continue SA at the X-roads into the centre of Litcham (NS). Remain on the 1 5 At the T-j, turn R (NS). road out of the village, and after /2 mile, turn R onto a little country lane beside Byre Cottage (NS). Ahead of you is the tall spire of Beeston Church. 1 6 At the staggered X-roads with the B1145, turn L, SP ‘Mileham, King’s Lynn’. After 1 /4 miles, at the T-j, turn L, SP ‘Longham, Gressenhall’. Then immediately R onto New Road, SP ‘Whissonsett’. E Please now continue from ’L Beeston’.

3 C Just off the route - Mileham (turn L onto the B1145 for 3/4 mile). 14 After /4 mile, turn L off the B1145, SP ‘E. Lexham’. The route passes through Remains of Norman castle. 3 P the woodland and landscaped pasture of Lexham Hall. E

D Stanfield - hilltop flint church. I East Lexham - pretty hamlet set in Upper Nar valley. 3

7 The road bears L around the corner, SP ‘Tittleshall’. After a short distance 15 Turn L, SP ‘Gt. Dunham 11/2’. Alternatively, if you want to visit the village there are lovely views across to the Wensum Valley. of West Lexham, then continue SA for 1 mile, SP ‘W. Lexham’. This little road runs alongside the Nar Valley, and is part of the famous pilgrimage route to 8 At the T-j, turn L (NS) into the village of Whissonsett. Little Walsingham.

E Whissonsett - settlement surrounded by apple orchards. P 16 At the top of the rise, as you enter Great Dunham, bear L onto North Street (NS). 9 Just on the outskirts of the village, turn L along Mill Lane, SP ‘Tittleshall and Litcham’. 17 Turn R, SP ‘Little Dunham, ’.

F Godwick - deserted medieval village. J Great Dunham - Saxon settlement. 3

10 Turn L, SP ‘Tittleshall and Litcham’. 18 Turn L, SP ‘ 2’.

11 Keep R as you enter the village of Tittleshall, onto Fakenham Road, K Just off the route - Little Dunham (continue SA for 3/4 mile). SP ‘Litcham, Swaffham’. Earthworks of medieval village. Z

19 After the entrance to Croft Farm, turn L, SP ‘Beeston 2’.

20 Bear L around the corner, SP ‘Beeston 1, Gressenhall 5’.

L Beeston - former wartime dormitory town. 3 P

21 Keep L at the fork in the road onto Back Lane, SP ‘Gressenhall’.

22 At the T-j turn R, SP ‘Gressenhall, Dereham 6’.

23 At the X-roads by Longham Hall and church, turn R, SP ‘Wendling’.

24 Take the next L, SP ‘Longham’.

M Longham - tiny hamlet. 3 Z

Sheep at East Lexham 25 At the X-roads, go SA onto Dereham Low Road, SP ‘ 4’. G Tittleshall - neat and compact village. 3 26 Turn L at Sparrow Green, SP ‘Gressenhall’. Follow the narrow lanes towards 12 Remain on the road to Litcham. Just as you enter the village the road . bears R around a corner onto Tittleshall Road. E 27 Bear L around the corner to pass Hall Farm and St. Mary’s Church. H Litcham - handsome village. 3 Z P 28 At the T-j, turn L onto Bridge Street, SP ‘’. This brings you back to Gressenhall village green. MAP

The Map shown in this route provides just a general outline - In this respect, we recommend that you purchase the Ordnance Survey Landranger Map which covers the area. Ordnance Survey map area: Landranger 132 - North West Norfolk. 'Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO ©Crown copyright (2006). All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100017282'.

To obtain information on other Cycling Discovery Maps throughout the , please contact:- East of England Tourism, Dettingen Way, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3TU Tel: (0)1284 727470 Fax: (0)1284 706657 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.visiteastofengland.com

The Lost Villages of Breckland - published by East of England Tourism, in association with Council. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, East of England Tourism cannot accept responsibility in respect of any error or omission which may have occurred. The producers of this map have no responsibility for the physical state or maintenance of the route or its suitability for cycling, and therefore give no warranty as to its condition at any time. Any complaints concerning the state or condition of the route should be addressed to the relevant Highways Authority.