stalham

{{Short description|Market town in Norfolk, England}}

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

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

{{Infobox UK place

|country = England

|official_name= Stalham

|region= East of England

|coordinates = {{coord|52.770|1.511|display=inline,title}}

|shire_district= North Norfolk

|shire_county = Norfolk

|population= 3,149

|population_ref= (2011)

|area_total_sq_mi= 2.82

|constituency_westminster=North Norfolk

|post_town= NORWICH

|postcode_district = NR12

|postcode_area= NR

|dial_code= 01692

|os_grid_reference= TG3725

|civil_parish= Stalham

|static_image_name = Stalham Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 781295.jpg

|static_image_caption= Stalham Town Hall

}}

Stalham is a market town and civil parish on the River Ant in the English county of Norfolk, in East Anglia. It covers an area of {{convert|2.82|mi2|abbr=on}} and had a population of 2,951 in 1,333 households at the 2001 census,[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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211032229/http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls |date=2017-02-11 }}. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009. the population increasing to 3,149 at the 2011 Census.{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128939&c=Stalham&d=16&e=62&g=6449766&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1441216099590&enc=1|title=Parish population 2011|access-date=2 September 2015}} It lies within the Norfolk Broads, about {{convert|15|mi}} north-east of Norwich on the A149 road.

For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk. The parts of the parish lying adjacent to the river fall into the executive area of the Broads Authority.

The town's name probably means, "fish pool homestead/village" but perhaps, "hemmed-in land with a fish pool".

Stalham was served by a railway station until it was closed in 1959. The nearest railway station is now Worstead.

Through the 1960s Stalham's economy sank from a reduction of the agricultural labour force as a result of improvements in agricultural technology. Beginning in the 1970s, though, housing developments attracted people who took up residence in Stalham but worked elsewhere.

The Museum of the Broads moved to Stalham in 2000 and is situated on Stalham Staithe. It "aims to bring the history of the Broads alive for locals and visitors to Norfolk" and is open to the public throughout the summer.{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofthebroads.org.uk|title=Home page of the Museum of the Broads|work=The Museum of the Broads}}

In 2002 Tesco built a supermarket in Stalham, with considerable controversy, with many residents fearing that it would "kill the high street".[http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/tesco_every_little_hurts.pdf Tesco every little hurts] Foe.co.uk Despite this, the High Street contains a wide range of independent traders.