Overstrand
{{Short description|Village in Norfolk, England}}
{{about|the village in Norfolk|the aircraft|Boulton Paul Overstrand|the municipality in South Africa|Overstrand Local Municipality}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Overstrand
| country = England
| region = East of England
| shire_district = North Norfolk
| shire_county = Norfolk
| civil_parish = Overstrand
| static_image_name = Overstrand Village Sign 23rd Oct 2007 (2).JPG
| static_image_caption = The Village sign
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.714
| population = 1030
| area_total_km2 = 1.849
| population_ref = (parish, 2011 census){{Cite web |title=Parish population 2011 |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?=7&b=11127346&c=Overstrand&d=16&e=62&g=6449693&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1441122065932&enc=1 |access-date=1 September 2015}}
| population_density =
| os_grid_reference = TG2441
| coordinates = {{coord|52.91|1.36|display=inline,title}}
| label_position = top
| london_distance_mi = 116
| post_town = CROMER
| postcode_area = NR
| postcode_district = NR27
| dial_code = 01263
| constituency_westminster = North Norfolk
| website = {{URL|https://overstrandparishcouncil.org.uk}}
}}
Overstrand is a village (population 1,030) on the north coast of Norfolk in England, two miles east of Cromer. It was once a modest fishing station, with all or part of the fishing station being known as Beck Hythe. In the latter part of the 19th century it was catapulted into prominence, and became known as “the village of millionaires”.
History
The village's name means 'ridge shore', or perhaps 'narrow shore' to contrast with nearby Sidestrand.
Image:Overstrand Church 23rd Oct 2007 (4).JPG
The London journalist and travel writer Clement Scott came to Overstrand in 1883, christened the area ‘’Poppyland’’, and wrote about the church tower on the cliff edge and its “Garden of Sleep”. While in Overstrand he stayed at the Mill House with miller Alfred Jermy and his daughter Louie, who became “the Maid of the Mill” in his articles about ‘’Poppyland’’.
Scott had many London contacts in the theatrical world, and his writings led a number of them and others from London society to come to Overstrand. Some bought land in the village and had houses built there, and for a while the village was the place to visit. A large hotel was built on the cliff edge, though this slid into the sea in the 1950s.
The Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens worked at Overstrand, designing Overstrand Hall for Charles William Mills, 2nd Baron Hillingdon, The Pleasaunce for Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea and the Methodist Church.Pevsner Architectural Guides - Norfolk 1: Norwich and the North-East, pages 632-3 The large houses of the gentry have largely passed from private ownership to other uses.
Overstrand railway station was on the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway between Cromer and North Walsham. It is now closed.
The Overstrand biplane bomber was named after the village, having been made at the Boulton & Paul aircraft factory in Norwich in the early 1930s.{{Cite web |title=Boulton Paul |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/planes/boultonPaul.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414232104/http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/planes/boultonPaul.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2012 |publisher=Local History}}
In popular culture
Season 1, episode 2 of the BBC TV series Screen Two was titled "Poppyland" (1985). Directed by John Madden, it took place in Overstrand and tells the story of Clement Scott in his travels there.
Coastal erosion
As with much of the Norfolk coast, erosion was and continues to be a major problem. Clifton Way is an experimental site; its sea defences include riprap (at £1,300 a boulder, predominantly shipped from Norway), wooden groynes, revetments, gabions and Offshore Reefs. The cliffs of soft boulder clay slump because of the water running through the clay, and the resulting material on the beach is removed by the succeeding high tides. In the neighbouring village of Sidestrand, the church was moved back from the cliff edge in the 19th century, though the tower of the church was left standing on the cliff top.
Sport and leisure
File:Thatched cricket clubhouse, Overstrand (geograph 4037731).jpg
Overstrand Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club. The club was established in 1946 and is based on Overstrand Sports Ground.{{Cite web |title=Overstrand CC |url=https://overstrand.play-cricket.com/Aboutus |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=overstrand.play-cricket.com |publisher=Overstrand Cricket Club}}
Overstrand CC have 2 Saturday senior XI teams{{Cite web |title=Overstrand CC Teams |url=https://overstrand.play-cricket.com/Teams |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=overstrand.play-cricket.com |publisher=Overstrand Cricket Club}} that compete in the Norfolk Cricket League,{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Cricket League |url=https://norfolkcl.play-cricket.com/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=norfolkcl.play-cricket.com |publisher=Norfolk Cricket League}} and a Sunday 1st XI side.
File:-2018-11-17 Bowling club, Overstrand (2).JPG
Overstrand Bowls Club is also situated on Overstrand Sports Ground, but its origins predate the current site to at least the 1920s.{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=History of Overstrand Bowls Club |url=http://overstrandbowlsclub.org.uk/about-us |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=overstrandbowlsclub.org.uk |publisher=Overstrand Bowls Club}} The club participates in two leagues: The Norfolk Federation County League{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Federation County League Tables |url=http://www.norfolkfedbowls.org.uk/countyleagues.html |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=norfolkfedbowls.org.uk |publisher=The Norfolk County Bowls Association}} and the Norfolk Afternoon League.
Media
Poppyland Radio, a digital community radio station for North Norfolk, broadcasts from the town.{{Cite web |title=New radio station to launch in north Norfolk |url=https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/22788019.new-radio-station-launch-north-norfolk/ |website=North Norfolk News}} Launched in February 2022, it claimed a silver medal at the 2022 Community Radio Awards.{{Cite web |last=UK |first=RadioToday |date=22 November 2022 |title=All the winners from the 2022 Community Radio Awards |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/11/all-the-winners-from-the-2022-community-radio-awards/}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{note|population}} Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council, 2001" [https://web.archive.org/web/20170211032229/http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes]."
- [http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Overstrand English place names, Overstrand]
Further reading
- Poppyland – Strands of Norfolk History, Stibbons and Cleveland, Pub: Poppyland Publishing, Fourth ed. 2001, {{ISBN|0-946148-56-2}}
- Poppyland – in Pictures
External links
{{Commons category|Overstrand}}
- [http://www.overstrandonline.org Overstrand village website] History of village in photographs and text.
- [http://casaf.co.uk/category/news/ Overstrand in the Great War]
- [https://www.crabpotcottages.co.uk/overstrand-village-of-millionaires/ Overstrand village of millionaires]
{{Civil Parishes of North Norfolk}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Populated coastal places in Norfolk