Rockland St. Mary

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Rockland St.Mary
The Street, Rockland St.Mary; looking east from opposite Rockland stores and the Post Office
Rockland St.Mary shown within Norfolk
Population	824
OS grid reference	TL9919966
Parish	Rockland
District	South Norfolk
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Norwich
Postcode district	NR14
Dialling code	01508
Police	Norfolk
Fire	Norfolk
Ambulance	East of England
European Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	South Norfolk
List of places: UK • England • Norfolk

Coordinates: 52°35′07″N 1°24′42″E / 52.58514, 1.41177

Rockland St. Mary is a village in South Norfolk which lies about 6 miles (9½ km) southeast of Norwich between Surlingham, Bramerton, Claxton and Hellington. In the 2001 census it contained 325 households and a population of 824. ^[1] The Street (pictured) runs east to west through the centre of the village.

In medieval times Norwich was noted for its black-glazed roofing tiles which were made in Rockland and transported by river from the

Rockland staithe with remnants of a Norfolk wherry in foreground

staithe. ^[2] Although all trace of the tile-making industry has gone Rockland Staithe still exists, providing mooring for pleasure craft opposite The New Inn at the east end of the village. It leads to Rockland Broad which is itself linked to the River Yare by two dykes: the Short Dyke and the Fleet Dyke.

The New Inn

As well as the New Inn, the village also boasts Rockland Stores and Post Office, a hairdressers, and a doctors surgery. Rockland St. Mary Primary School provides education for around 90 children. There has been a school on the site since the 1840s, the current buildings date from the 1880s and were built using bricks baked in the village. During World War 2 an A4 Rocket hit a field near the school. This caused several minor injuries and one major injury.^[3] A new extension was opened in September 2004 by MP Richard Bacon, but it was built from Suffolk bricks!. ^[4]

The Church of St.Mary

The village also has two halls, the Margaret Mac, and the Parish hall which was recently renovated by Tim Crabb.^[5]

Rockland St. Mary Church has a noticeably tapered tower, Tudor windows and a Victorian interior. It also contains a bronze memorial to those who both died and served in World War I (See Rockland St. Mary War Memorial for details). The churchyard supposedly contains the overgrown remains of Rockland St. Margaret. Established in 1973, David Potter Ltd has its premises in the village manufacturing easels, artists furniture and accessories.

Rockland St. Mary is served by bus route 001 operated by Anglian Coaches providing six services a day into Norwich via Bramerton and Kirby Bedon. Timetable

National Cycle Route 1 passes through the east of the village on its route from Norwich via Whitlingham and Surlingham, and out to Loddon and Beccles via Claxton.

Long distance footpath, Wherryman's Way lies close to the village