Kelling
{{short description|Village in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Kelling
| country = England
| region = East of England
| shire_district = North Norfolk
| shire_county = Norfolk
| civil_parish = Kelling
| static_image = File:Stmaryskelling.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Mary’s Church
| population = 173
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| population_density =
| os_grid_reference = TG094429
| coordinates = {{coord|52.94|1.11|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = HOLT
| postcode_area = NR
| postcode_district = NR25
| dial_code = 01263
| constituency_westminster = North Norfolk
| london_distance = {{convert|130|mi}}
| area_total_sq_mi = 3.09
}}
Kelling (also known as Low Kelling or Lower Kelling) is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.
Kelling is located {{convert|10.1|mi}} west of Cromer and {{convert|26|mi}} north of Norwich, along the A149 and within the Norfolk Coast AONB.
History
Kelling's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for Cylla's people.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Kelling |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}
In the Domesday Book, Kelling is listed as a settlement of 81 households in the hundred of Holt. In 1086, the village was part of the East Anglian estates of Hugh d'Avranches, Roger, son of Rainard and Ralph, son of Hagni.{{Cite web |title=Kelling {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TG0841/kelling/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=opendomesday.org}}
Between 1903 and 1905, Home Place was built as the residence of the Reverend Percy R. Lloyd by Edward Schroeder Prior in the Arts and Crafts Style.{{Cite web |title=mnf6489 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}
Kelling Hall was built in 1913 by Sir Edward Maufe in the Arts and Crafts style for Henri Deterding KBE, one of the founders of the Royal Dutch Shell.{{Cite web |title=KELLING HALL, Kelling - 1151974 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1151974 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}
During the Second World War, numerous static defences were built in the parish to defend against a possible German invasion.{{Cite web |title=TNF376 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}
Geography
According to the 2021 census, Kelling has a population of 173 people which shows a decrease from the 177 people recorded in the 2011 census.{{Cite web |title=Kelling (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/north_norfolk/E04006439__kelling/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}
Kelling Heath is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The A149, between King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth, passes through the village.
St. Mary's Church
Kelling's parish church is dedicated to Saint Mary and dates from the medieval period. St. Mary's is located on 'The Street' and has been Grade II listed since 1960.{{Cite web |title=Church of St. Mary, Kelling - 1373476 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1373476 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The church is open twice a month for Sunday service.{{Cite web |title=St Mary's, Kelling |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6759/service-and-events/events-all/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |language=en}}
St. Mary's holds a font dating from the Fifteenth Century and holds stained-glass windows from the same period depicting various female saints. There is also a stained-glass window from the 1930s designed by Harry Mileham which depicts Saint Francis and a set of royal arms from the reign of King George III which may be earlier.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/kelling/kelling.htm |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}
Amenities
The village has a reading room, which is now a book shop, gallery and tea-room. There is a small Victorian school house built in 1876 and opened October 1877,{{Cite web|url=http://www.salthousehistory.co.uk/kelling-schoolpic.html|title=kelling school 1900|website=www.salthousehistory.co.uk}} still in use as a primary school today on the coastal side of the A149 just opposite the reading room.
Governance
Kelling is part of the electoral ward of Coastal 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
Kelling War Memorial is a memorial cross located at the junction of the A149 and 'The Street'{{Cite web |title=Kelling War Memorial, Kelling - 1433008 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1433008 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} which lists 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=2025-06-04 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Roll of Honour - Norfolk - Kelling |url=https://roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Kelling.html |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=roll-of-honour.com}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Name !Unit !Date of Death !Burial/Commemoration |
| Sjt.
|William E. Dix |9th Bn., Norfolk Regiment |25 May 1916 |
| Sjt.
|John C. Read |9th Bn., Norfolk Regt. |18 Oct. 1916 |
| Sgt.
|George F. Duffield CdG |3rd Bn., Worcestershire Regt. |14 Aug. 1918 |
| Cpl.
|Robert J. Dewing |4th Bn., Norfolk Regiment |19 Apr. 1917 |
| Dvr.
|William Woodhouse |367th Bty., Royal Field Artillery |28 Apr. 1915 |
| Pnr.
|Benjamin Risborough |254th Coy., Royal Engineers |2 Aug. 1917 |
| Pte.
|John W. Wright |2/4th Bn., Loyal Regiment |26 Oct. 1917 |
| Pte.
|James E. Crane DCM |2nd Bn., Norfolk Regiment |31 Oct. 1916 |
| Pte.
|Arthur Moy |9th Bn., North Staffords Regt. |12 Oct. 1917 |
The following names were added after the Second World War:
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Name !Unit !Date of Death !Burial/Commemoration |
| Maj.
|Charles C. Swainson MC |2nd Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment |13 Jul. 1944 |
| Capt.
|John R. Levitt |113 Regt., Royal Artillery |8 Dec. 1944 |
| FLt.
|Harry L. Furnell |17 Apr. 1945 |
Gallery
Image:Oldkelling.jpg|The street circa 1911
Image:The street kelling.JPG|The Street
Image:Thestreet kelling.JPG |The Street
Image:Old Reading Room.jpg|The Old Reading Room
Image:Kelling village 12th April 2008 (2).JPG|The Old Reading Room
Image:Kelling village 12th April 2008.JPG|Kelling Village School
Image:Kelling War Memorial 12th April 2008.JPG|Kelling War Memorial
Image:poppy2004.JPG|Poppies in field near Kelling June 2002
Image:Pillbox.JPG|World War II Type 22 Pillbox on the shingle beach at Kelling
Image:Norcon Pillbox.jpg|World War II Norcon pillbox on Kelling Hard
{{Commons category|Kelling}}
{{clear}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Neighbouring villages
External links
- {{cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~palmiped/pillboxes/pillboxes.htm |title=WW2 Coastal Defences |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110160256/http://www.btinternet.com/~palmiped/pillboxes/pillboxes.htm |archive-date=January 10, 2010 }}
{{Civil Parishes of North Norfolk}}