Taverham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taverham is a village in Norfolk, in the UK. It is approximately 5 miles (8 km) north-west of the City of Norwich. Taverham sits on the River Wensum.

In 1996, Taverham had a population of 9,085. It has seen recent population growth with the building of Thorpe Marriott, a new residential development in Taverham. The patron saint of Taverham is St Walstan.

The successful singer and songwriter Cathy Dennis and the tennis player and BBC commentator Chris Bailey both lived in Taverham.

[edit] Amenities

Taverham has two state run first schools: Ghost Hill First School and Nightingale First School, and a public (privately owned) prep school: Taverham Hall School. Taverham Middle School (formerly St Edmunds Middle School) educates children between the ages of 8 and 12 years. Taverham High School, as well as serving Taverham, has a catchment area that includes the surrounding villages of Felthorpe and Ringland. It has currently been awarded a specialist sports status.

There are a variety of small shops in Taverham, and the Taverham Nursery Centre has a large selection of shops (such as craft, jewellery, paper, kitchenary, pine furniture etc.) attached to it as well as serving any gardening needs.

Taverham also has a village hall, library, recreational ground (park), church, scout and guide hut (which also serves as the home of the local day-care centre), several takeaway shops, and two pubs: The Silver Fox and, in Thorpe Marriott, The Otter.

Taverham Brass Band is based in the village, providing entertainment across Norfolk and beyond.

[edit] History

Taverham St Edmund

The first recorded mention of Taverham is thought to have been made in the time of Edward the Confessor. It also appears in the Domesday Book.

A school existed in Taverham very early on, from at least the thirteenth century.

Parts of St Edmund's church are believed to be pre-Norman - part of the nave, and the slightly later base of the tower, also notable for its round body but octagonal top, where it had to be rebuilt. It is a Grade I listed building. A church was standing in Taverham in 1086 when it was listed in the Domesday Survey.

In the 19th century Taverham was a major producer of paper. Some of the paper which was produced at Taverham Mill was used in producing The Times and the Oxford English Dictionary. It also served the University Press at Cambridge. The paper mill closed in 1899.