Methwold

{{Short description|Village in Norfolk, England}}

{{about|the Norfolk village|the seventeenth-century English merchant|William Methwold}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52.5167|0.55|display=inline,title}}

| os_grid_reference = TL731940

| official_name = Methwold

| population = 1,502

| population_ref = (2011)

| area_total_km2 = 49.12

| shire_district = King's Lynn and West Norfolk

| shire_county = Norfolk

| region = East of England

| civil_parish = Methwold

| constituency_westminster = South West Norfolk

| postcode_district = IP26

| postcode_area = IP

| post_town = THETFORD

| dial_code = 01366

| london_distance =

|static_image = St George, Methwold, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 312475.jpg

|static_image_width = 240px

|static_image_caption= St George, Methwold

}}

Methwold ("Middle forest"{{cite web |url=http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~aezins//kepn/detailpop.php?placeno=9431 |title=Methwold |work=English Place-Name Society database |publisher=University of Nottingham |access-date=14 October 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}) is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, on the edge of the Norfolk Fens and Breckland.

With an area of {{convert|49|km2|abbr=on}} it is the second largest parish in Norfolk. It had a population of 1,502 in 591 households at the 2011 Census,{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126321&c=PE33+9HT&d=16&e=62&g=6449030&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1440772833444&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=28 August 2015}} up by less than 2% from 1,476 at the 2001 census,[https://web.archive.org/web/20160809072353/https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes]. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

The parish also includes the hamlets of Methwold Hythe, approximately {{Convert|1|mi|km}} east of the village and on the edge of the fens, and Brookville to the north west.{{cite book |first=John Marius |last=Wilson |title=Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales|year=1872}} (quoted online at: {{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=1706&st=METHWOLD |work=A Vision of Britain Through Time |title=Methwold Norfolk |access-date=12 August 2010 |year=2009}})

Its economy is based on agriculture with a little light industry,{{cite web |title=Meat-free food giant Quorn investing in Norfolk factory |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/business/20800770.meat-free-food-giant-quorn-investing-norfolk-factory/ |website=Eastern Daily Press edp24.co.uk |access-date=31 August 2024}} some of which now occupies the former WWII bomber base, RAF Methwold, located just to the south of the village.{{cite web |title=Methwold Farm - IP26 4DU, Warren Energy Limited: environmental permit issued - EPR/ZP3436AU/V002 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ip26-4du-warren-energy-limited-environmental-permit-issued-eprzp3436auv002 |website=.gov.uk |access-date=31 August 2024}} The village is situated about {{convert|20|mi|km}} from King's Lynn and {{Convert|15|mi|km}} north west of Thetford (its postal town).

The Duchy of Lancaster Methwold CofE Primary School is in the parish, as are the secondary and sixth form departments of Iceni Academy, previously known as Methwold High School.

Methwold parish is the second largest parish in Norfolk in terms of land. The parish currently has approximately 20 farms ranging from about {{convert|60|acre|m2|sigfig=3}} up to {{convert|1000|acre|km2|1}}. Farming in Methwold and the surrounding areas accounts for a vast majority of jobs in the fens. Even if people don't farm, much of the work is connected with the land.

Methwold became famous for its abundance and excellence of its rabbits which were sold by poulterers as "Muel Rabbits". According to John Marius Wilson, Methwold was formerly a market town. A meal of Muel Rabbits was reputed to have pleased the king to such an extent that he granted the village a charter for the market to be held.

The village was struck by an F1/ T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, during the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi|title = European Severe Weather Database}}