Topcroft

{{Infobox UK place

| official_name= Topcroft

| country= England

| region= East of England

| shire_district= South Norfolk

| shire_county= Norfolk

| civil_parish= Topcroft CP

| static_image = Topcroft-g3.jpg

| static_image_width = 240px

| static_image_caption = The parish church of Saint Margaret, Topcroft, Norfolk

| population= 268

| population_ref = (parish, 2001 census)

| area_total_km2 = 7.76

| population_density=

| os_grid_reference= TM260920

| coordinates = {{coord|52.48884|1.3354|display=inline,title}}

| post_town= BUNGAY

| postcode_area= NR

| postcode_district= NR35

| dial_code= 01508

| constituency_westminster=

| london_distance= {{convert|119|mi|km}}

}}

Topcroft is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.OS Explorer Map 230 – Diss & Harleston {{ISBN|0-319-23804-0}} The village is around {{convert|7|mi|km}} north-west of Bungay and {{convert|14|mi|km}} south of Norwich in the South Norfolk district. The village lies close to the B1527 road.County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, {{ISBN|978-1-84348-614-5}}

The villages name means 'Topi's small enclosed field'.{{cite web |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Topcroft |title = Key to English Place-names}}

The parish had a population of 265 at the 2011 census.[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11129783&c=NR35+2BA&d=16&e=62&g=6450408&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1441622316085&enc=1 Parish population 2011], Census 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-16. A notable resident of Topcroft is the artist Hannah Giffard, creator of Pablo the Little Red Fox, an animated television series for children.

History

Topcroft has an entry in the Domesday Book of 1085.The Domesday Book, Englands Heritage, Then and Now, Editor: Thomas Hinde,Norfolk, Topcroft entry, page 195 {{ISBN|1-85833-440-3}} In the great book Topcroft is recorded by the name Topercroft and Topercropt and was part of the holdings of Eudo FitzSpirwic, Berenger from Saint Edmund's.

The population peaked in the 1851 census at 477 people, falling to a low of 257 in 1931 and staying stable at this level since then.[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10123290/cube/TOT_POP Topcroft Parish - Population], Vision of Britain. Retrieved 2016-02-28

During World War II RAF Hardwick was built just to the south-west of the parish boundary. The airfield was operated by Bombardment groups of the US Eighth Air Force during the war and closed in 1945.

The church of Saint Margaret

The parish church is dedicated to Saint Margaret. It is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk.[https://www.roundtowerchurches.net/norfolk/norfolk-s-y/topcroft-2/ St Margaret's on the European Round Tower Churches website]

Culture and community

Topcroft Cricket Club is based in the village with the First XI playing in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division Two.{{Cite web |title=Topcroft CC |url=https://topcroft.play-cricket.com/home |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=topcroft.play-cricket.com}}

Notable people

Margery Brews, 15th-century gentlewoman and Valentine writer

References

Category:Villages in Norfolk

Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk