Lenwade
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Lenwade
| country = England
| region = East of England
| shire_district = Broadland
| shire_county = Norfolk
| civil_parish = Great Witchingham
| static_image = Lenwade1.JPG
| static_image_width = 250px
| static_image_caption = St Faith's Church
| population =
| population_ref =
| population_density =
| os_grid_reference = TG1002718303
| coordinates = {{coord|52.7212|1.1103|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = Norwich
| postcode_area = NR
| postcode_district = NR9
| dial_code = 01603
| constituency_westminster = Broadland and Fakenham
| london_distance =
| hide_services = Yes
}}
Lenwade is a village in the civil parish of Great Witchingham in the English county of Norfolk.
Lenwade is located {{convert|14|mi}} south-east of Fakenham and {{convert|11|mi}} north-west of Norwich, at the confluence of the River Ainse and River Wensum.
History
Lenwade's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the ford across the slow moving river.{{Cite web |title=Parish-Summary-Great-Witchingham-(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}}
In the Domesday Book, Lenwade is not listed.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=opendomesday.org}}
In the mid-Eighteenth Century, a triple-arched bridge was built across the River Wensum in Lenwade which was later demolished in 1954. A further bridge was built in 1920s, on which anti-tank defences were built during the Second World War.{{Cite web |title=MNF13765 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}
Lenwade Watermill was first recorded in 1782 and burned down in 1888. The mill was rebuilt in 1890 and worked until it was closed in 1984. Today, the watermill is a residential building.{{Cite web |title=MNF7747 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Mills - Lenwade watermill |url=https://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/Watermills/lenwade.html |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.norfolkmills.co.uk}}
In 1882, Lenwade Railway Station opened on the Norwich Branch of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, operating services between Cromer and Norwich City. The station was used to transport goods from Lenwade's quarrying and manufacturing trades but eventually closed to passengers in 1959 and to freight in 1983.
Geography
There are numerous flooded gravel pits in the area. Today, these now mature lakes are popular with anglers, naturalists and bird watchers.
Local tourist attractions include Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure theme park and the Lenwade country house hotel features in its grounds the only licensed zoological garden in the UK.[http://www.lenwadecountryhousehotel.co.uk/index.html Lenwade country house hotel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724163605/http://www.lenwadecountryhousehotel.co.uk/index.html |date=24 July 2008 }}. Retrieved 10 November 2008
St. Faith's Church
Lenwade's former parish church is dedicated to Saint Faith and dates from the Nineteenth Century. St. Faith's is located on the A1067 and was built as a mission church to service the then expanding population of Lenwade.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/lenwade/lenwade.htm |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}
Amenities
Amenities in the village include a village hall, primary school, doctor's surgery, general stores, garage, tea-rooms, butchers, bakers and a fish and chip shop.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
Located close to A1067 and the River Wensum is the late 18th century Bridge Inn public house.{{Cite web |title=BRIDGE INN - LENWADE |url=https://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkl/lenwade/lenwbi.htm |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.norfolkpubs.co.uk}}
Governance
Lenwade is part of the electoral ward of Great Witchingham for local elections and is part of the district of Broadland.
The village's national constituency is Broadland and Fakenham which has been represented by the Conservative Party's Jerome Mayhew MP since 2019.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Lenwade}}
External links
- [http://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkl/lenwade/lenwind.htm Norfolk pubs-Lenwade]
- [http://www.gwvh.org.uk/ Great Witchingham & Lenwade Village Hall]
{{Watermills of Norfolk}}
{{authority control}}