Surlingham

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Surlingham St Mary
Surlingham St Mary

Surlingham is a village and civil parish in South Norfolk situated on the Broads. It lies approximately 6½ miles (10½ km) south-east of Norwich on the south bank of the River Yare between Bramerton and Rockland St Mary. In the 2001 census it contained 266 households and a population of 637.[1]

Contents

[edit] The Churches

The church of Surlingham St Mary is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. The adjacent Church Marsh nature reserve is owned by the RSPB and is overlooked by the ruins of St Saviours church (less than half a mile north-east of St Mary's). Dating from the 12th century, the church was in regular use until 1705. A campaign has been launched by local villagers to save the site from further deterioration and to make it safe for visitors, see here. Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis is buried here.

[edit] The Village

Surlingham Community Primary School complete with maypole currently caters for 83 children in four classrooms, two in the original Victorian building and two more built in a similar style completed in 2006. It is situated on Walnut Hill in the centre of Surlingham and opposite the village pond; nearby are the village shop and post office as well as a garage. Surlingham is also home to Padmaloka, one of the biggest Buddhist retreats in the UK, as well as the Ted Ellis Nature Reserveat Wheatfen Broad.

[edit] The Pubs

The village also has two pubs although they lie to the north of the village on the bank of the river: Coldham Hall Tavern and The Surlingham Ferry. The latter marks the site of a ferry which crossed the river to Postwick; it ceased here c1939 following a collision with a coaster.[2] Coldham Hall Sailing Club which was founded in 1951 is situated in the grounds of Coldham Hall Tavern. It opened its new clubhouse on 26 April 2003.

[edit] Surlingham Broad

Lying between Surlingham Ferry and Coldham Hall Tavern is Surlingham Broad, a maze of waterways and swamp over 1 sq km in area owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. One of the central lakes, Bargate, is connected to the Yare by two dykes; the area is known as the 'wherry graveyard' as 13 wherry hulls have been sunk here.[3]

[edit] Transport links

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

National Cycle Route 1 passes through Surlingham on its way from Norwich to Beccles via Loddon.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Surlingham parish information [South Norfolk Council]
  2. ^ Surlingham - Ferry House
  3. ^ www.turnershut.co.uk The Home of Turners Hut