Wereham
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|official_name= Wereham
|coordinates = {{coord|52.586|0.480|display=inline,title}}
| population = 660
| population_ref = (2011 census){{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130303&c=Wereham&d=16&e=62&g=6449490&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1440941889326&enc=1|title=Parish population 2011|access-date=30 August 2015}}
| area_total_km2 = 8.59
|shire_district= King's Lynn and West Norfolk
|shire_county = Norfolk
|region= East of England
|post_town = KING'S LYNN
|postcode_district = PE33
|postcode_area= PE
|dial_code= 01366
|os_grid_reference= TF680016
|constituency_westminster= South West Norfolk
}}
Wereham is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.
Location
Wereham lies in the Wissey valley and is on the main A134 road; it is some five miles to the east of the town of Downham Market and thirteen miles from King's Lynn. Neighbouring villages include Boughton, Fincham, Crimplesham, West Dereham, Wretton and Stoke Ferry.
History
The villages name means 'Homestead/village on the River Wigor' or 'hemmed-in land by the River Wigor'. Wigor may be an older name for the River Wissey.{{cite web | url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Wereham | title=Key to English Place-names }}
The former Benedictine alien priory of St Winwaloe is now Winnold House. It lies a mile north of the village.[http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=356138 Pastscape — Detailed Result: ST WINWALOES PRIORY] A large fair was held on St Winnold's Day (3 March); the fair moved to Downham Market in 1798.{{cite web |title=MNF 33628 |url=http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF33628 |publisher=Norfolk Heritage Explorer |access-date=8 January 2019}}
In the centre of the village is the pond - known locally as the pit. Nearby on the village green, the village sign depicts 'Billy the Seal', one of Wereham's most famous residents from the 1920s.
Facilities
Wereham once had four pubs: the George and Dragon, The Crown, The Nags Head and The Chequers; however, only the George and Dragon remains. The village also had a school which closed in the 1980s.
The Parish Church, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, is in the centre of the village.
2018 will see the completion of the 1st UK Passivhaus village hall [http://www.werehamvillagehall.co.uk www.werehamvillagehall.co.uk] Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.{{cite web |title=New community hub |url=http://werehamvillagehall.co.uk/index.php/what-s-on/77-from-the-news/110-new-community-hub-2 |website=Werehamvillagehall.co.uk/ |access-date=8 January 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Wereham}}
- [http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/w/wereham/ GENUKI page]
- The [http://www.group4news.co.uk/wham.html Wereham Category] of the Group 4 News Website.
- The [http://www.stokeferry.com/category/wereham/ Wereham Category] of the Stoke Ferry Website includes Parish Council meeting minutes.
{{Civil Parishes of King's Lynn and West Norfolk}}
{{authority control}}
Category:King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk
{{Norfolk-geo-stub}}