Irstead

{{Infobox UK place

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52.72949|1.50123|display=inline,title}}

| os_grid_reference = TG365204

| official_name = Irstead

| population =

| population_ref =

| area_total_km2 =

| static_image_name = Irstead.jpg

| static_image_caption = St. Michael's Church

| shire_district = North Norfolk

| shire_county = Norfolk

| region = East of England

| civil_parish = Barton Turf

| constituency_westminster = North Norfolk

| postcode_district = NR12

| postcode_area = NR

| post_town = Norwich

| dial_code = 01692

| london_distance =

| hide_services = true

}}

Irstead is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Barton Turf, in the English county of Norfolk.

Irstead is located {{Convert|6.3|mi|km}} north of Acle and {{Convert|11|mi|km}} north-east of Norwich, along the River Ant.

History

Irstead's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for mud place.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Irstead |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}

Irstead is not listed in the Domesday Book.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=opendomesday.org}}

On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Barton Turf.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10198926|title=Relationships and changes Irstead AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=5 February 2023}}

Geography

In 1931 the parish had a population of 113,{{cite web |title=Population statistics Irstead AP/CP through time |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10198926/cube/TOT_POP |accessdate=5 February 2023 |publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time}} this was the last time that separate population statistics were collected for Irstead as in 1935 the parish was merged.

St. Michael's Church

Irstead's church is dedicated to Saint Michael and dates from the Fourteenth Century. St. Michael's is located on Irstead Road and has been Grade II listed since 1955.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, Barton Turf - 1049932 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1049932 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The church is open sporadically for Sunday service.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-15 |title=Irstead: St Michael's |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4739/service-and-events/events-all/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |language=en}}

St. Michael's features a carved font and a painted rood screen, which are both medieval survivals. The church also holds a wall painting of Saint Christopher and a stone memorial dating from 1811 to Midshipman Charles Hornor who died aboard the Rose off the coast of Madras.{{Cite web |title=The Norfolk Churches Site |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/irstead/irstead.htm |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}

Governance

Irstead is part of the electoral ward of Hoveton & Tunstead for local elections and is part of the district of North Norfolk.

The village's national constituency is North Norfolk, which has been represented by the Liberal Democrat Steff Aquarone MP since 2024.

War Memorial

Irstead's war memorials are two marble plaques inside St. Michael's Church which list the following names for the First World War:{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Ickburgh to Knapton :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/11#ickburgh-to-knapton |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}

class="wikitable"

!Rank

!Name

!Unit

!Date of Death

!Burial/Commemoration

Pte.

|Frederick A. London

|8th Bn., Border Regiment

|5 Jul. 1916

|Thiepval Memorial

Pte.