Lessingham
{{Short description|Village in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Lessingham
| country = England
| region = East of England
| shire_district = North Norfolk
| shire_county = Norfolk
| civil_parish = Lessingham
| static_image = File:Lessingham and Hempstead with Eccles village sign - geograph.org.uk - 6674265.jpg
| static_image_width = 240px
| static_image_caption = Lessingham Village Sign
| population = 505
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| population_density =
| os_grid_reference = TG3928
| coordinates = {{coord|52.799|1.543|display=inline,title}}
| label_position = bottom
| post_town = NORWICH
| postcode_area = NR
| postcode_district = NR12
| dial_code = 01692
| constituency_westminster = North Norfolk
| london_distance = {{convert|136|mi}}
| area_total_sq_mi = 2.88
| hide_services = Yes
}}
Lessingham is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The civil parish also includes the village of Eccles on Sea and the hamlet of Hempstead.
Lessingham is located {{Convert|16.3|mi|km}} south-east of Cromer and {{Convert|17.6|mi|km}} north-east of Norwich.
History
Lessingham's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the homestead of Leofsige's people.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Lessingham |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}
In the Domesday Book, Lessingham is listed as a settlement of 45 households in the hundred of Happing. In 1086, the village was part of the East Anglian estates of King William I.{{Cite web |title=Lessingham {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TG3928/lessingham/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=opendomesday.org}}
During the Second World War, several structures were built in Lessingham to defend against a possible German invasion, including pillboxes, mortar emplacements and anti-tank obstacles.{{Cite web |title=Parish-Summary-Lessingham-(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}}
Geography
According to the 2021 census, Lessingham has a population of 505 people which shows a decrease from the 566 people recorded in the 2011 census.{{Cite web |title=Lessingham (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/north_norfolk/E04006443__lessingham/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}
All Saints' Church
Lessingham's parish church dates from the Thirteenth Century. All Saints' is located on Star Hill and has been Grade II listed since 1955.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, Lessingham - 1172410 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1172410 |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The church is no longer open for Sunday service.{{Cite web |title=All Saints, Lessingham |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/10087/service-and-events/events-all/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |language=en}}
All Saints' was re-built and restored by Herbert John Green in the 1890s and a set of stained-glass windows designed by James Powell and Sons depicting Saint Andrew, Saint George and King Richard I.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/lessingham/lessingham.htm |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}
Governance
Lessingham is part of the electoral ward of Happisburgh 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
Lessingham's war memorial is a framed paper roll of honour in All Saints' 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 |
| Lt.
|Locke F. W. Kendall |9th Bn., Norfolk Regiment |22 Nov. 1917 |
| P1C
|John E. Dyball |20 Oct. 1918 |Unknown |
| Pte.
|James Platford |9th Bn., Durham Light Infantry |13 Apr. 1917 |
| Pte.
|John R. Wilkins |25th Bn., Middlesex Regiment |30 Jul. 1919 |
| Pte.
|Walter J. Cutting |5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment |19 Apr. 1917 |
| Pte.
|Alec C. Clements |8th Bn., Norfolk Regt. |31 Jul. 1917 |
| Dhd.
|Ernest Wilkins |H.M. Trawler Dane |28 Aug. 1915 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Lessingham}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208075237/http://www.wilcox53.freeserve.co.uk/LESSINGHAM%20CHRONOLOGY.htm A Chronology of Medieval Lessingham]
- [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/lessingham/lessingham.htm All Saints Church]
{{Civil Parishes of North Norfolk}}{{authority control}}