Holt, Norfolk

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Town of Holt
The Market Cross at Holt, Norfolk.
In North Norfolk
Shown within Norfolk
In the United Kingdom

Geography
Status:	Town
Government Region:	East of England
Administrative County:	Norfolk
Local Administration:	North Norfolk District Council
Admin. HQ:	NNDC Cromer
Grid reference:	TG 08 39
ONS code:	33UF048
N.C.C. Code:	1049
Area (Hectares):	1,219
Demographics
Population:	3,550(2001 census)
Ethnicity:	No Figures
Politics
MP elected in the UK general election, 2005:	Norman Lamb
Party:	Liberal Democrat
Post Office and Telephone
Postcode:	NR 25
Dialling Code:	01263
Communications
Railway:	North Norfolk Railway, Holt-Weybourne-Sheringham
Bus:	Sanders, First, Holt Flyer (Between town and railway staion, summer only)
Road:	Situated on the A148 King's Lynn-Cromer road.

Holt is a market town in the county of Norfolk, England. The town has a population of 3,550.^[1] It lies on high ground some 3 miles south of the North Sea coast at Cley and is 21 north-north-west of the city of Norwich. Holt is within the area covered by North Norfolk District Council.

1 Overview
2 Railways
3 Sport and recreation
4 The Doctor Who Midsummer Invasion
- 4.1 2006
- 4.2 2007
5 See also
6 Location
7 External links
8 References

[edit] Overview

Holt is best known in the rest of England for being the seat of Gresham's School, a long-established public school founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham, originally for boys only but co-educational since 1971. The school's alumni include Benjamin Britten, Wystan Hugh Auden, Lord Reith, Sir Alan Hodgkin, Sir Christopher Cockerell, Sir Lennox Berkeley, Sir Stephen Spender, Sir James Dyson, Stephen Fry and Sienna Guillory.

Holt is noted for an abundance of Georgian buildings, many of its medieval buildings having been destroyed in a disastrous fire in the year 1708.Holt was therefore rebuilt in the style of that time, which was Georgian. However, it retains its Norman parish church, which is dedicated to St Andrew.

The name Holt means a wood.

[edit] Railways

One mile to the east of the town centre is a terminus for the North Norfolk Railway, the other end of the line being at the sea-side resort of Sheringham. The former Holt town centre railway station was served by the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, which closed in 1963. Until a few years ago, a horse-bus service, the "Holt Flyer" ran between the Railway Tavern in the town centre and the new railway station, timed to connect with trains. Sadly, the horse bus has now been replaced by a modern Routemaster bus.

[edit] Sport and recreation

Holt has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V.

[edit] The Doctor Who Midsummer Invasion

[edit] 2006

On Sunday 25 June 2006, Holt was "invaded" by Daleks. The event was a celebration of BBC Television's classic science fiction series Doctor Who. The Doctor Who Midsummer Invasion attracted many fans of the ever-popular show to the town as well as some of its previous stars. Organised by Planet Skaro, a local sci-fi store, the highlight of the day was a Dalek parade through the town centre.

Colin Baker, the Sixth Doctor, officially starts the Invasion.

Several former Doctor Who actors came to see Holt be invaded. The visiting celebrities included the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker plus Terry Molloy, best known for playing Davros, the creator and leader of the Daleks. Deborah Watling, who played Victoria Waterfield alongside the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, also attended as did Barbara Loft, who was a child when she featured in the classic story The Mind Robber. All the stars were a real hit with the public when they signed autographs, photos and memorabilia in the High Street.

Some Cybermen were also in town as part of the Invasion.

Ken Wallis, who flew Little Nellie in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, was also in Holt meeting fans by his famous biplane.

The Dalek Invasion parade through Holt town centre.

At The Feathers Hotel on Saturday 24 June, there was a meet-and-greet buffet which gave some fans a chance to mingle with the stars before the Invasion took place the following day. Sadly, Colin Baker was unable to attend this exclusive event as he was starring in a play that evening.

The Doctor Who themed events proved very popular, the Sunday especially so, with over 10,000 people visiting the town.