Mulbarton, Norfolk

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mulbarton is a village and civil parish located south of Norwich in the English county of Norfolk.

The population at the 2001 census was 2,827. ^[1]

Facilities include an Adnams' public house, The World's End, a social club, a convenience store, a church, and a fish-and-chip shop. There is a regular bus service to Norwich, with buses coming every Half an Hour.^{[citation needed]} In the centre of the village is a large common, and a pond, where many ducks live.

Mulbarton is famous for having more association football teams than any other village in Norfolk.

1 Notable People
2 War
3 Mulbarton Wanderers & Belles FC
4 Church
5 Common
6 Pubs
7 Schools
8 Shops
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Notable People

Maurice Norman (footballer)

[edit] War

Both the First and Second World Wars had a profound effect on Mulbarton, affecting not only those who lost their lives in the wars, but the generation of children who missed out on their education to do agricultural work during World War I. An American Air Base close to Mulbarton is still remembered fondly by the people who played tricks on the Americans, and those who as children went to parties hosted by American Forces.

WORLD WAR I and its aftermath.

A Roll of Honour in the Church porch lists ALL the Mulbarton men who served in the 1914-18 war. The 16 who died are high-lighted in gold. A total of 90 men went to war, which must have been a high proportion of the men of the village, as it was 19% of the total population (481 in the national census of 1911).

WORLD WAR 2 from local records

Although World War 2 is within living memory, something of its local impact can also be gleaned from records of Parish Council discussions and from the school Log Book.

WAR MEMORIAL The Memorial in the church lists 7 names of those who died in the 1939-45 war.

[edit] Mulbarton Wanderers & Belles FC

In 1989 Mulbarton United Youth Formed & 5 years later Harford Belles formed playing at the South Harford School, Norwich. 4 years later Mulbarton Youth FC split and formed Mulbarton Wanderers Youth FC.

In the year 2000 Harford Belles were awarded the Umbro club of the year, shortly after this in 2001 the Belles moved to Mulbarton and joined the Wanderers. They became the Mulbarton Belles and formed one of the largest Football Clubs in Norfolk.

The Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles were awarded the FA National Football Grass Roots award, presented in Mulbarton by Kevin Keegan. This was later shown on national ITV.

The Belles formed their first Ladies senior team.

In 2002, Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles became the first club in Norfolk to be awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award.

The Wanderers formed their first Men’s senior team.

In 2004, Both senior teams achieved the FA Charter Standard Adult Club award. The club were granted the FA Charter Standard Community Club Award.

In 2005, Mulbarton became the Charter Standard Community Club of the Year for Norfolk

In 2007, Mulbarton Wanderers and Belles were recognised as the FA Charter Standard Community Club 2007 . The Senior Men recognised as Charter Standard Adult Club of the year.

[edit] Church

For centuries the church has been at the hub of village life, not just as a religious institution, but as a provider of housing for villagers, administering charity, and overseeing the work of the school. Both the church and the Methodist chapel have traditionally been at the centre of village celebrations such as coronations, social events and social clubs, and village entertainments.

[edit] Common

Today, the Common is a recreation area for the rapidly increasing number of people in the village - and their dogs. Its football pitches are used by all ages.

Even in the 19th century, there were day-trips from Norwich to Mulbarton for games on the Common and liquid refreshment at the World's End. A move to enclose the Common aroused great opposition in 1865, and modern development on the perimeter has been resisted with partial success.

[edit] Pubs

Mulbarton had two pubs: the Tradesman's Arms and the World's End. Both had bowls and other sporting clubs. They also hosted a number of clubs and societies, including an Oddfellows Lodge.

Today there is just one pub - the World's End, which offers food as well as beverages. But there is also a licensed Social Club in the Village Hall. This is the modern successor to the old Parish Hall (often called the Wingfield Hall) that was very near the World's End. For over 60 years it was the venue for many village activities. Many of these continued when the old school became the Village Hall, and their present home is the modern Village Hall and Social Club near the Common.

[edit] Schools

Today, Mulbarton has two thriving schools: Mulbarton First School and Mulbarton Middle School, both of which give loacl pupils an excellent education. The predecessor to the modern buildings housing these school stands across the Common - now a dental surgery, and before that the Village Hall. It was opened in 1865 as a 'National School' (i.e. run by the Church of England). But there was a school in Mulbarton even before that... its haunted

[edit] Shops

Today, Mulbarton has a CO-OP, a small supermarket with Post Office, a farm shop at Paddock Farm and a chemist shop next to the Dental Surgery (both in the old school). There is a huge 24-hour Tesco only 3 miles away, but in the past, the village was well served with shops. Villagers remember that in the past, All the shops sold everything, from sugar to paraffin - and hands were not always washed between articles in those days.