Larling
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Larling
| country = England
| region = East of England
| shire_district = Breckland
| shire_county = Norfolk
| civil_parish = Roudham and Larling
| static_image = St Ethelbert's Church, Larling.jpg
| static_image_width = 250px
| static_image_caption = St. Ethelbert's Church
| population =
| population_ref =
| population_density =
| os_grid_reference = TL9889
| coordinates = {{coord|52.4695|0.916897|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = NORWICH
| postcode_area = NR
| postcode_district = NR16
| dial_code = 01953
| constituency_westminster = South West Norfolk
| london_distance = {{convert|94|mi|km}}
}}
Larling is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Roudham and Larling, in the English county of Norfolk.
Larling is located {{Convert|8.5|mi|km}} north-east of Thetford and {{Convert|21.4|mi|km}} south-west of Norwich.
History
Larling's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for Lyrel's people.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Larling |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}
In the Domesday Book, Larling is listed as a settlement of 20 households in the hundred of Shropham. In 1086, the village was divided between the East Anglian estates of William de Warenne and Ulfkil.{{Cite web |title=Larling {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TL9889/larling/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=opendomesday.org}}
On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Roudham.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10180004|title=Relationships and changes Larling AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=28 August 2022}}
During the Second World War, an emergency runway was built on Larling Heath.{{Cite web |title=Roudham-(Parish-Summary) - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}
St. Ethelbert's Church
Larling's former parish church is dedicated to Saint Ethelbert and dates from the Twelfth Century. St. Ethelbert's is located just off Sallow Lane and has been Grade I listed since 1958.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST ETHELBERT, Roudham and Larling - 1076921 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1076921 |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The church holds Sunday service twice a month.{{Cite web |title=Larling: St Ethelbert |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/10220/service-and-events/events-all/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Larling St Ethelbert {{!}} National Churches Trust |url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/larling-st-ethelbert |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.nationalchurchestrust.org |language=en}}
St. Ethelbert's holds an imposing Norman doorframe and was restored in the Victorian era which saw the installation of several stained-glass windows installed by Clayton and Bell.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/larling/larling.htm |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}
Shrubb Family
Shrubb family is one of the longest-running communal communities in England. Founded in 1970 in a 17th-century cottage near the old A11 and the Angel pub, the membership and fortunes of the community have fluctuated over the years, but the ethos of low-impact living and environmental harmony has persisted.{{Cite web |title=Shrubb Family – Diggers and Dreamers |url=https://diggersanddreamers.org.uk/community/shrubb-family |access-date=2025-06-15 |language=en-GB}}
Shrubb is listed on the Diggers and Dreamers online directory, and there is a video of the early days at Shrubb on YouTube titled 'Shrubb Family 1973 part 1 & 2'. Shrubb is featured in "Communes in Britain" by Andrew Rigby, 1974. As of recent years the membership of the group has fluctuated and has been left with around 6 members.{{Cite web|url=http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/communities/existing/shrub-family|title=Diggers and Dreamers|last=Ansell|first=Vera|website=Diggers and Dreamers: the guide to communal living|access-date=24 April 2016}}
Governance
Larling is part of the electoral ward of Harling & Heathlands for local elections and is part of the district of Breckland.
The village's national constituency is South West Norfolk which has been represented by Labour's Terry Jermy MP since 2024.
War Memorial
Larling's war memorial is a brass plaque inside St. Ethelbert's Church which lists the following names for the First World War:{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Lakenham to Lyng :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/12#lakenham-to-lyng |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Name !Unit !Date of Death !Burial/Commemoration |
| Dvr.
|Frederick P. Burlingham |31 Oct. 1918 |
| Pte.
|George C. Harvey |1st Bn., Norfolk Regiment |9 May 1917 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Larling}}
- [https://archive.today/20120303192616/http://www.harlingunitedbenefice.org.uk/larlingchurch.html Larling Church Website]
- [http://diggersanddreamers.org.uk/index.php?one=dat&two=det&sel=shrubfam Shrubb Family]
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