Bergh Apton

Bergh Apton

Bergh Apton Village Hall
Bergh Apton
 Bergh Apton shown within Norfolk
Area  8.05 km2 (3.11 sq mi)
Population 428 
   – density  53/km2 (140/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTG232085
Civil parishBergh Apton
DistrictSouth Norfolk
Shire countyNorfolk
RegionEast
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town NORWICH
Postcode district NR15
Dialling code 01508
Police Norfolk
Fire Norfolk
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk

Coordinates: 52°33′38″N 1°24′07″E / 52.56061°N 1.40193°E

Bergh Apton is a village and civil parish in the South Norfolk district of Norfolk, England, 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Norwich just south of the A146 between Yelverton and Thurton. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 428 in 186 households.[1]

History

Originally, Bergh Apton was two separate villages; Apton to the north-west and Bergh to the south-east, each with its own church. Apton was served by the church of St. Martin which lay near the present day Church Farm on Dodgers Lane, its last recorded use being in 1555 and the remains being finally cleared in 1834. Bergh was served by the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul which stands on a low hill overlooking the River Chet which marks the southern boundary of the now combined parish. The church appears to have been reconstructed in the 14th century, with local flint with ashlar and brick details.[2]

Today

The village school was closed in 1981 and the children transferred to Alpington and Bergh Apton CofE voluntary-aided school in Alpington. The village shop and Post Office closed on 31st December 2013. The village hall, opened on the day of Queen Elizabeth's coronation on 2 June 1953 was totally refurbished in 2013 and reopened in November of that year with new facilities and all-ability access. The hall is regularly used by village societies, the Parish Council, and numerous activities that include a microscopy study group, yoga, painting, singing and dog-training.

Bergh Apton is served by bus route 570 operated by Anglian Coaches providing five services a day into Norwich and out to Seething and Loddon.[3]

Sculpture Trail

Beginning in 1997 and repeated in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011, the village hosted six [sculpture trails]] with works from over 60 artists both local to Norfolk and from across the UK, displayed in private gardens and public places. The trails were organised by Bergh Apton Community Arts Trust and became significant South Norfolk tourist attractions. In the years 2005, 2008 and 2011, they drew over 10,000 visitors over three weekends in late May/early June.

Mystery Play Cycle 2014

During the 2011 Sculpture Trail, the village, with a little help from the Bishop of Norwich, performed “A Mighty Water”. This Mystery Play, based on the story of Noah, was commissioned from internationally renowned story teller, Hugh Lupton. On 24 May, 1 June & 8 June 2014, Bergh Apton was joined by inhabitants of 11 neighbouring villages to perform a Cycle of four Mystery Plays based on the Bible stories in the Legend of the Rood, also commissioned from Hugh Lupton. The plays began in the Garden of Eden before moving its audience, led by wandering minstrels, moved to the churchyard and locations in the country around it that represented the scene of The Flood, the crossing of the Red Sea, Jerusalem and, finally, Calvary. Follow The Legend of the Rood on Facebook and see a clip of 2011 "A Mighty Water" on YouTube- see External links.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bergh Apton parish information". South Norfolk Council. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Kelly, Geoffrey (2005). The Book of Bergh Apton. Tiverton: Halsgrove. ISBN 978-1-841-14418-4.
  3. ↑ Anglian Coaches Timetable Timetable

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bergh Apton.