Geldeston
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|52.46827|1.51842|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference = TM390914
| official_name = Geldeston
| population = 407
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| static_image = Geldeston-g3.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Michael's Church
| shire_district = South Norfolk
| shire_county = Norfolk
| region = East of England
| civil_parish = Geldeston
| constituency_westminster = Waveney Valley
| postcode_district = NR34
| postcode_area = NR
| post_town = BECCLES
| dial_code = 01508
| london_distance = {{convert|96|mi}}
| area_total_sq_mi = 1.31
}}
Geldeston is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.
Geldeston is located {{convert|2.5|mi}} north-west of Beccles and {{convert|14|mi}} south-east of Norwich, on the north bank of the River Waveney.
History
Geldeston's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for Gyldi's farmstead or settlement.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Geldeston |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}
Geldeston is not listed in the Domesday Book.{{Cite web |title=Map {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/map/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=opendomesday.org}}
Geldeston is home to a crinkle crankle wall (located close to the village green), which are found most commonly in Suffolk.{{Cite web|title=The Crinkle-Crankle Walls of Suffolk|url=https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019/10/the-crinkle-crankle-walls-of-suffolk.html|access-date=2020-10-24|website=www.amusingplanet.com}}
In 1777, Geldeston Hall was built as the home of the Kerrich family and it remained in the same family until 1930. Today, the hall is divided into several separate dwellings.{{Cite web |title=MNF10666 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF10666 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}
Geography
According to the 2021 census, Geldeston has a total population of 407 people which demonstrates an increase from the 397 people listed in the 2011 census.{{Cite web |title=Geldeston (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/south_norfolk/E04006548__geldeston/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}
Geldeston is located along the course of the River Waveney.
St. Michael's Church
Geldeston's parish church is dedicated to Saint Michael and is one of Norfolk's 124 remaining round-tower churches, dating from the Twelfth Century. St. Michael's is located outside of the village on Yarmouth Road and has been Grade II listed since 1960.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, Geldeston - 1153255 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1153255?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} St. Michael's holds monthly Sunday services and is part of the Waveney Marshlands Benefice.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-30 |title=Geldeston: St Michael & All Angels |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/10149/service-and-events/events-all/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |language=en}}
St. Michael's was significantly remodelled in the mid-Nineteenth Century based on the designs of Thomas Penrice and J. L. Clemence, with stained-glass depicting the Risen Christ installed by Leonard Walker in the mid-Twentieth Century.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/geldeston/geldeston.htm |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}
Amenities
The village hall was originally opened in 1924. It underwent significant renovation from 2016 onwards and is now a registered charity.{{Cite web |title=Geldeston Village Hall history page {{!}} Opened 1924 {{!}} 95 years old |url=https://geldestonvillagehall.co.uk/history-at-geldeston-village-hall.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=geldestonvillagehall.co.uk}}
Notable Residents
Governance
Geldeston is part of the electoral ward of Ditchingham & Earsham for local elections and is part of the district of South Norfolk.
The village's national constituency is Waveney Valley which has been represented by the Green Party's Adrian Ramsay since 2024.
War Memorial
Geldeston War Memorial is an elaborate octagonal cross with a large plinth emblazoned with various regimental crests.{{Cite web |title=Geldeston War Memorial, Geldeston - 1441360 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1441360?section=official-list-entry# |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The memorial lists the following names for the First World War:{{Cite web |title=Roll of Honour - Norfolk - Geldeston |url=https://roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Geldeston.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=roll-of-honour.com}}{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Garboldisham to Gunton :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/9#garboldisham-to-gunton |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Name !Unit !Date of Death !Burial/Commemoration |
| LtCdr.
|Henry Gartside-Tipping |HMY Sandra |25 Sep. 1915 |
| Capt.
|Henry L. Kerrich |3rd Bn., Sherwood Foresters |27 Sep. 1917 |
| FLt.
|Robert C. Packe{{Efn|FLt. Packe was killed when his Sopwith Camel ditched into the North Sea after taking off from Great Yarmouth. Packe had split his childhood between Geldeston Hall and Sulivan House, Port Stanley, Falklands Islands.}} |21 Jun. 1918 |
| CfEn.
|William Plummer |H.M. Drifter County of Nairn |4 Dec. 1918 |St. Michael's Churchyard |
| Sgt.
|Victor J. Bellward |8th Bn., Suffolk Regiment |10 Aug. 1917 |St. Michael's Churchyard |
| Pte.
|Albert Thrower |33rd Coy., Machine Gun Corps |8 Nov. 1916 |
| Pte.
|Albert J. Kemp |4th Bn., Norfolk Regiment |27 Mar. 1917 |
| Rfn.
|Alfred Hilling |1st Bn., Royal Irish Rifles |2 Oct. 1918 |
| Spr.
|John Gaff |206 Coy., Royal Engineers |27 Aug. 1916 |
The following names were added after the Second World War:
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Name !Unit !Date of Death !Burial/Commemoration |
| FLt.
|Anthony G. Clark |No. 137 (Fighter) Squadron RAF |30 Oct. 1941 |St. Michael's Churchyard |
| LSgt.
|Stanley Cook |1st Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment |14 Oct. 1944 |
| LCpl.
|Ernest A. Blaza |8th Bn., Manchester Regiment |7 Jul. 1944 |
| Pte.
|George Somerville |2nd Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment |30 May 1940 |St. Michael's Churchyard |
| Smn.
|Frank Gower |H.M. Trawler Myrtle |14 Jun. 1940 |
Footnotes
= References =
{{Reflist}}
= Notes =
{{Noteslist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Geldeston}}
- [http://www.geldestonvillagehall.co.uk/ Geldeston Village Hall website]
- [http://www.geldeston.org Geldeston Village, Norfolk] village website
- [https://www.roundtowerchurches.net/norfolk/norfolk-c-g/geldeston-2/ St Michael's on the European Round Tower Churches Website]
- [https://tidings-norfolk.org Tidings: Parish News for Ellingham, Gillingham, Geldeston, Kirby Cane and Stockton] print and online editions.
{{Civil Parishes of South Norfolk}}
{{authority control}}