West_Raynham
West Raynham
Human settlement in England
West Raynham is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Raynham, in the North Norfolk district, in the county of Norfolk, England. It is located close to the A1065 road, some five miles southwest of Fakenham and is the largest village on the Raynham estate. The river Wensum flows nearby. In 1931, the parish had a population of 241.[1]
| West Raynham | |
|---|---|
The ruins of St Margaret's church | |
Location within Norfolk | |
| OS grid reference | TF871253 |
| • London | 110 miles |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Fakenham |
| Postcode district | NR21 |
| Dialling code | 01328 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| 52.79334°N 0.77447°E / 52.79334; 0.77447 | |
The village can trace its origins back and before the Domesday survey of 1086 when it was known as Reinham.[2]
The villages name means 'Regna's homestead/village' or 'Regna's hemmed-in land'.[3]
On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished to form Raynham.[4]
Today, The Raynhams would cover West, East and South Raynham, a large area of farmland known as Raynham Park, which the Raynham villages and the 17th-century Raynham Hall border.[2]
Raynham Hall is a rectangular mansion built of brick and stone dressings. Work commenced in 1619, and was completed in 1630. It is the seat of the Townshend family, and is owned today by the 7th Marquis Townshend.[2]
The church was first built in the 11th century. It fell into ruins from the 1720s, when the lead roof was removed to help pay for the restoration of St Marys at East Raynham. The ruin has now been consolidated and the church is now back in occasional use.[5][6]
The former Royal Air Force station, RAF West Raynham, is located 2 miles west of the village. It opened in 1939 and closed in 1994, when it was sold to a property developer. Most of the properties are empty and in need of restoration, but people do currently live on the site and all houses are available to rent. There is also a small shop on site. In 2010, the paranormal television series Most Haunted filmed 5 episodes on the base.[7]
Much of the area can be visited by a circular walk which takes in mixed woodland, water meadows, arable land and historic buildings, almost entirely on the Raynham estate.[8]
- "Population statistics West Raynham AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- "The Raynham". raynham.org. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
- "Key to English Place-names". Key to English Place-names. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- "Relationships and changes West Raynham AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- Church history Retrieved February 12, 2008 [dead link]
- "Norfolk Churches". THE NORFOLK CHURCHES SITE. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- "Spook Search at West Raynham". lynnnews.co.uk.[dead link]
- "Norfolk Circular Walks". Archived from the original on 25 July 2009.
