West Bilney

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

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox UK place

| official_name= West Bilney

| civil_parish = East Winch

| country= England

| region= East of England

|coordinates = {{coord|52.708401|0.53871420|display=inline,title}}

| os_grid_reference=

| post_town= KING'S LYNN

| postcode_area= PE

| postcode_district= PE32

| dial_code= 01553

| constituency_westminster = North West Norfolk

| shire_district= King's Lynn and West Norfolk

| shire_county= Norfolk

| hide_services= Yes

| population =

| population_ref =

| area_total_km2=

|static_image=St Ceclias church West Bilney Norfolk (270532215).jpg

|static_image_caption=St Cecilia’s Church, West Bilney
(now redundant)

|website=

}}

West Bilney is a village and former civil parish on the A47 road,{{cite web|url=https://www.literarynorfolk.co.uk/west_bilney.htm|title=West Bilney|publisher=Literary Norfolk|accessdate=21 September 2020}} {{convert|32|mi|km}} west of Norwich,{{cite web|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/gazetteer/howfar?from=43363&to=44085|title=Distance from West Bilney [52.709155, 0.538328]|publisher=GENUKI|accessdate=21 September 2020}} now in the parish of East Winch, in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk district, in the county of Norfolk, England. In 1931 the parish had a population of 188.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10209821/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics West Bilney AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain|accessdate=21 September 2020}} Its church is dedicated to St Cecilia.{{cite web|url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/westbilney/westbilney.htm|title=St Cecilia, West Bilney|publisher=Norfolk Churches|accessdate=21 September 2020}}

History

The name "Bilney" probably means 'Bil(l)a's island'.{{cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/West%20Bilney|title=West Bilney Key to English Place-names|publisher=The University of Nottingham|accessdate=21 September 2020}} West Bilney was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as variously Benelai/Bilenei/Binelai.{{cite web|url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/norfolk6.html#westbilney|title=Norfolk U-Z|publisher=The Domesday Book Online|accessdate=21 September 2020}} On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with East Winch.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10209821|title=Relationships and changes West Bilney AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=21 September 2020}}

Notable residents

Actor Stephen Fry owns a home in the village.

See also

References

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