Burnham Market
Encyclopedia
Burnham Market is a village
with and civil parish
near the north coast of Norfolk
, England
. Burnham Market is one of the Burnhams
, a group of adjacent villages in North Norfolk. It is the result of the merger of three of the original Burnham villages, namely Burnham Sutton, Burnham Ulph and Burnham Westgate.
Burnham Market lies approximately 1 mile (2 km) inland, some 5 miles (8 km) west of Wells-next-the-Sea
, 12 miles (19 km) east of Hunstanton
and 10 miles (16 km) north of Fakenham
. The smaller villages of Burnham Deepdale and Burnham Norton
are within 2 miles (3 km) to the west and north of Burnham Market, whilst Burnham Overy
and Burnham Thorpe
are a similar distance to the east. North Creake
is some 4 miles (6 km) to the south. The larger town of King's Lynn
is 20 miles (30 km) to the south-west, whilst the city of Norwich
is 30 miles (50 km) to the south-east.
The civil parish has an area of 18.43 km2 and in the 2001 census
had a population of 948 in 496 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
.
Burnham Market is close to the mouth of the River Burn
and the name Burnham probably derives from this. However another theory is that the town was a centre for the amber
trade. As the name implies, historically Burnham had a market and was therefore considered a town, however that market was discontinued several years before 1854. Today Burnham Market is more normally considered a village, albeit one slightly larger and considerably busier than its immediate neighbours.
In recent times Burnham Market has attracted a significant number of second-home owners, mostly affluent residents of London
, and in consequence acquired a somewhat metropolitan atmosphere. Long term local residents often refer to the village as Chelsea-on-sea, after the up-market London district of Chelsea
. One of the factors driving this movement is the presence of the up-market pub and restaurant, the Hoste Arms, named after Captain William Hoste
or his family.
The village was served by a railway
until 1952, connected to the east with Wells-next-the-Sea
and
Holkham
, and to the west with Hunstanton
.
There are three other places of worship in the village: the Roman Catholic church, St Henry Walpole, a Methodist church and a Gospel Hall.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
with and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
near the north coast of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Burnham Market is one of the Burnhams
The Norfolk Burnhams
The Norfolk Burnhams are a group of adjacent villages on the north coast of Norfolk, England. The villages are located at the sea near a large natural bay named Brancaster Bay and the Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve....
, a group of adjacent villages in North Norfolk. It is the result of the merger of three of the original Burnham villages, namely Burnham Sutton, Burnham Ulph and Burnham Westgate.
Burnham Market lies approximately 1 mile (2 km) inland, some 5 miles (8 km) west of Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea, known locally simply as Wells, is a town, civil parish and seaport situated on the North Norfolk coast in England.The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,451 in 1,205 households...
, 12 miles (19 km) east of Hunstanton
Hunstanton
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
and 10 miles (16 km) north of Fakenham
Fakenham
Fakenham is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, some north east of King's Lynn, south west of Cromer, and north west of Norwich....
. The smaller villages of Burnham Deepdale and Burnham Norton
Burnham Norton
Burnham Norton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Burnham Norton is one of the Burnhams, a group of adjacent villages in North Norfolk...
are within 2 miles (3 km) to the west and north of Burnham Market, whilst Burnham Overy
Burnham Overy
Burnham Overy is a civil parish on the north coast of Norfolk, England. In modern times a distinction is often made between the two settlements of Burnham Overy Town, the original village adjacent to the parish church and now reduced to a handful of houses, and Burnham Overy Staithe, a rather...
and Burnham Thorpe
Burnham Thorpe
Burnham Thorpe is a small village and civil parish on the River Burn and near the coast of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. It is famous for being the birthplace of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, victor at the Battle of Trafalgar and one of Britain's greatest heroes...
are a similar distance to the east. North Creake
North Creake
North Creake is a village and civil parish in the north west of the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 414 in 184 households as of the 2001 census....
is some 4 miles (6 km) to the south. The larger town of King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
is 20 miles (30 km) to the south-west, whilst the city of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
is 30 miles (50 km) to the south-east.
The civil parish has an area of 18.43 km2 and in the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
had a population of 948 in 496 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
King's Lynn and West Norfolk
King's Lynn and West Norfolk is a local government district and borough in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in the town of King's Lynn.-History:...
.
Burnham Market is close to the mouth of the River Burn
River Burn, Norfolk
The River Burn is a river in the northwest of the County of Norfolk. From its source to its mouth on the North Coast of Norfolk it is 9.8 miles long. The river has a fall of 36 metres to the sea. The source is one mile south of the village of South Creake, in a small copse west of a bend in London...
and the name Burnham probably derives from this. However another theory is that the town was a centre for the amber
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
trade. As the name implies, historically Burnham had a market and was therefore considered a town, however that market was discontinued several years before 1854. Today Burnham Market is more normally considered a village, albeit one slightly larger and considerably busier than its immediate neighbours.
In recent times Burnham Market has attracted a significant number of second-home owners, mostly affluent residents of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in consequence acquired a somewhat metropolitan atmosphere. Long term local residents often refer to the village as Chelsea-on-sea, after the up-market London district of Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. One of the factors driving this movement is the presence of the up-market pub and restaurant, the Hoste Arms, named after Captain William Hoste
William Hoste
Captain Sir William Hoste, 1st Baronet KCB RN , Royal Navy captain, was the son of Dixon Hoste, rector of Godwick and Tittleshall in Norfolk...
or his family.
The village was served by a railway
Burnham Market railway station
Burnham Market was a railway station which served the village of Burnham Market in Norfolk, England. Opened by the West Norfolk Junction railway in 1866, it closed with the line in 1952.- History :...
until 1952, connected to the east with Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea, known locally simply as Wells, is a town, civil parish and seaport situated on the North Norfolk coast in England.The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,451 in 1,205 households...
and
Holkham
Holkham
Holkham is a village and civil parish in the north-west of the county of Norfolk, England. Besides the small village, the parish includes the major stately home and estate of Holkham Hall, and an attractive beach at Holkham Gap...
, and to the west with Hunstanton
Hunstanton
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
.
Religious sites
The village has two Anglican parish churches and that of Burnham Norton is on the northern outskirts. The largest is St. Mary's at Burnham Westgate while All Saints' Church at the eastern end of the town is known as Sutton-cum-Ulph because it incorporated the parish and some of the stone of St. Ethelbert's at Burnham Sutton, some four hundred yards to the south, when Horatio Nelson's father Edmund was rector of both churches in the 1760s and 70s. These three parishes, with the parishes of Burnham Overy and Burnham Thorpe (birthplace of Nelson), form the single benefice, the Burnhams Benefice.There are three other places of worship in the village: the Roman Catholic church, St Henry Walpole, a Methodist church and a Gospel Hall.
External links
- Information from Genuki Norfolk on Burnham Market.