Coordinates:
52°25′0.94″N, 0°45′26.79″E
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in
the Breckland area of Norfolk, England. It is located on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish (area of 29.55 km²) has a population
of 21,588 [1]
History
In the Anglo-Saxon period, Thetford was the home of the monarchs of
East Anglia and was seat of a bishopric. Castle Hill is the
highest Norman motte in England though no trace remains of the castle which once surmounted it. The mound (motte) is open to the public,
and provides excellent views of the town from its summit and extensive earthworks. It is situated in a public park, near the
Three Nuns Bridges and close to the town centre overlooking the rivers.
Thetford contains the ruins of a 12th century Cluniac priory. The Priory, open to the public, was closed during the
Reformation. Both the Priory and the Bell Inn, also in Thetford, were featured
for their alleged hauntings on the television series Ghosthunters.
Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk and other early
Tudor Dynasty officials were once buried in Thetford before removal to Framlingham. Thetford was also the birthplace of American Revolutionary Thomas Paine. A statue of Paine stands on King Street, holding a quill and his book Rights of Man, upside down.
Thetford, an important crossing of the Little Ouse River, draws its name from the Anglo-Saxon Theodford or
peoples ford. The nearby River Thet was later named after the town.
Today, the surrounding Breckland has been largely replaced by the Thetford Forest though Thetford Chase remains. Thetford, whose flint stone buildings doubled for Walmington-on-Sea in
the BBC-1 TV series Dad's Army, also has become known
for its Portuguese and East European shops and
cafes.
Events and sports
Thetford hosts an annual Autumn Equinox Festival for astronomy. The festival has featured Patrick Moore
of The Sky at Night. Thetford is also the site for the UK's Star Party, as it is
centrally located in a rural area with dark night skies. An annual concert, STORM, also calls Thetford home.
The Thetford & District Sunday Football League, now known as the Breckland & District Sunday Football League,
encompasses teams from within a 20 mile radius of Thetford.
Transportation
Thetford is on the A11 road between Norwich (28
miles) and London (86 miles). It is served by
Thetford railway station, the 'one'
running services between Norwich and Cambridge, and by Central Trains from Norwich to
Liverpool (via Sheffield and Manchester or via Birmingham and Manchester.
From Cambridge, regular services run to London King's Cross.
National Cycle Route 13 links Thetford to Gately, near Fakenham.
Industry
Thetford has been home to Tulip International the Bacon Production Factory Opened its doors in 1966 and Has been the biggest
Bacon Production Factory in the UK upto the time of its Closure in September 2007.
Sister Towns
References
- ^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council
(2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes.
Retrieved December 2, 2005.
External links
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