East Lexham

East Lexham's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for 'leech homestead', likely in the sense of a physician.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/East%20Lexham |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}

In the Domesday Book, East and West Lexham are listed together as a settlement of 45 households in the hundred of Launditch. In 1086, the village was divided between the East Anglian estates of William de Warenne and Ralph de Beaufour.{{Cite web |title=[East and West] Lexham {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/XX0000/east-and-west-lexham/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=opendomesday.org}}

Lexham Hall was built in 1660 and was re-modelled twice in the Eighteenth Century. The building was used by the Royal Army Service Corps during the Second World War but burnt down in 1950, being restored again in 1972.{{Cite web |title=mnf4089 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf4089 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}} The modern gardens were designed by Dame Sylvia Crowe{{Cite web |title=Parish-Summary-Lexham-(Parish-Summary) - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?TNF288-Parish-Summary-Lexham-(Parish-Summary) |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}} which are open for charity events.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} The Lexham Estate |url=https://lexhamestate.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=lexhamestate.co.uk}}

On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and to form Lexham.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10123872|title=Relationships and changes East Lexham CP/AP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=2 October 2022}}

In 1931, the parish had a population of 160.{{cite web |title=Population statistics East Lexham CP/AP through time |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10123872/cube/TOT_POP |accessdate=2 October 2022 |publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time}} This was the last time separate population statistics were collected for the village as in 1935, the parish was merged with West Lexham.

East Lexham stands on the course of the River Nar

East Lexham's parish church is dedicated to Saint Andrew and is one of Norfolk's 124 remaining Anglo-Saxon round-tower churches. St. Andrew's has been dated to the Eleventh Century with a significant restoration effort made in the late-Nineteenth Century. The church possesses good examples of Nineteenth Century stained glass including one depiction of Saint Michael and the dragon installed by James Powell and Sons. Furthermore, the church features examples of artwork by Richard Foster depicting the Nativity, Saint Andrew as a fisherman and the Day of Judgement.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/eastlexham/eastlexham.htm |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}

Furthermore, St. Andrew's is thought to be one of the oldest churches in England. Pevsner dates the building easily to the time of the Anglo-Saxons with mound the church stands on providing evidence of the site of earlier Pagan worship, with the church being taken over by the Christians in the Seventh Century. The original church may well have been built of wood or wattle and daub. The most recent research has also suggested, like Pevsner, that the current church was built by Saxons but with a Norman influence. This conclusion has been made due to the style and design of the three belfry openings which have all been constructed differently. The east opening has a unique stone frame cut out to form a maltese cross. Within the belfry is one bell which has a Latin inscription which translates to I am called the bell of Virgin exalted Mary, the bell is thought to have been cast by Brasyers of Norwich in the 15th century.Pevsner, N. (Rev. Wilson, B.). (1962; 1999). Norfolk II: South & West. {{ISBN|978-0-300-09657-6}}.

The village lies about {{convert|1.5|mi}} east of the A1065 Mildenhall to Fakenham road. The nearest railway station is at King's Lynn for the Fen Line which runs between King's Lynn and Cambridge. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport.County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, {{ISBN|978-1-84348-614-5}}

• Richard Foster (b. 1945), painter, born in East Lexham

East Lexham is part of the electoral ward of Launditch for local elections and is part of the district of Breckland.

The village's national constituency is Mid Norfolk which has been represented by the Conservative's George Freeman MP since 2010.

East Lexham's war memorial takes the form of an ornate plaque depicting Saint Michael and the Dragon, located inside St. Andrew's Church. The memorial lists the following names for the First World War:{{Cite web |title=Roll of Honour - Norfolk - East Lexham |url=https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/EastLexham.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.roll-of-honour.com}}{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Earlham to Erpingham :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/7#earlham-to-erpingham |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|East Lexham}}

• [https://www.roundtowerchurches.net/norfolk/norfolk-h-l/east-lexham/ St Andrew's on the European Round Tower Churches website]
• [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/eastlexham/eastlexham.htm The Norfolk Churches Site: St Andrew, East Lexham]
• [http://www.maplandia.com/united-kingdom/england/east-anglia/norfolk-county/east-lexham/ Maplandia - East Lexham]
• [http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/l/lexham_east/ Genuki - East Lexham]

Category:Villages in Norfolk

Category:Former civil parishes in Norfolk

Category:Breckland District