Generally, you should have a reasonable level of fitness and be able to manage 7 or 8 miles at about 3 miles per hour. She is thought to be the ancestor of every pure greyhound alive today. . I walk you around the trail in 10 minutes! (See below)Line immediately south-east of Swaffham Junction is an overgrown cutting so small that it would be hard to believe it were a railway were it not for the overbridges.E. Crossing the line of the railway from Swaffham to Dereham Now officially only a bridleway, but hardly any worse than the road. Turn left to continue along this road, past a few cottages until it turns into a track straight ahead. You occasionally have to keep an eye out for way markers, but Norfolk Trails have upgraded the posts, so you shouldn't have a problem. Rose (NAU), 22 September 1986. And let's not forgetNorwich, the region's only city. [29] The highest and lowest temperatures reported in the past decade are 34.6C (94.3F) during August 2003,[30] and 10.3C (13.5F) during January 2010.[31]. . The view from the hide overlooking Thompson Water. These two busy routes provide Swaffham with a large volume of passing trade and travellers, especially at weekends and during the summer months. The church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is one of only a few churches that have angels carved in wood instead of stone around the top of the walls. [26], In June 2018 it was announced that the centre had closed for financial reasons and that Ecotricity intended to hand the building back to Breckland District Council (BDC). Under the proposal, the former Watton-Swaffham railway line would be repurposed to become a walking and cycling link. The walk begins in the centre of Swaffham, near the Market Cross. It took me about 2 hours, with a slightly niggly back, but it is definitely a walk I would do again. By 20 September of that year the Eastern Region had published proposals to close the Thetford to Watton Branch, allowing two months for consultation and objections. . Probably the last steam train to be seen at Swaffham was on 31 March 1962 when the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society ran a final steam excursion along several East Anglian lines. Some integration had happened and one train ran through from Lynn to Thetford, going forward to Bury, except on Mondays. Browse the best walks around Swaffham and see interactive maps of the top 8 hiking trails and routes. When you reach the A47, cross it (very carefully) and aim for the lane opposite and slightly to the right, passing beneath the wind turbine on your left. Its quite a long walk, but I would highly recommend it. Occasionally, our area groups organise long weekends or even entire weeks of walks, so that members can enjoy a railway walking holiday in different parts of the country. Freight services commenced in January 1869, with passenger services in October 1869. (Tim Chant). See full article, Ralph Rawlinson Gazetteer of Disused Lines, Apr 2023 Landmark 5m bridge to cross valley between Oldham and Tameside approved, Apr 2023 Watton-Swaffham railway line could become 15km walking link. The North Norfolk Railway (NNR) - also known as the "Poppy Line" - is a heritage steam railway in Norfolk, England, running between the coastal towns of Sheringham and Holt. Located in the centre of historic Swaffham and originally a coaching inn in the 16th century, the hotel offers a range of bedroom styles and sizes. The nearest Met Office weather station to provide local climate data is RAF Marham, about .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}5+12 miles (9km) west of the town centre. The 15km trail would create a new link between . contact the editor here. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Rose (NAU), 18 May 1983.Roudham Junction to Stow Bedon - trackbed removed but greybrick overbridges remain.Underbridges mostly removed.Overgrown despite section Cranberry Roughs - Stow Bedon being marked as road on Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map. This Castle Acre circular walk is a dog friendly 6 mile stroll along the picturesque River Nar, open countryside and woodland passing Castle Acre Priory, Walsingham Circular Walk is a perfect excuse to visit Walsingham Priory, walk through the historic village and follow in the footsteps of the famous pilgrims, Foxley Norfolk, home to one of the most spectacular bluebell woods in UK run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Steam locomotives worked out of Swaffham engine shed, a sub-shed of Norwich Thorpe (shed code 32A in BR days). The Sharp locomotives being scrapped in 1891 and the tank engines in the late 1880s.[11]. Last walked on 5 January 2019. We have developed resources to help our walk leaders design and plan railway walks ranging from straightforward events over official railway paths to walks which require negotiation with landowners. Via Airport sky train to Airport railway Station. It was formed of the Watton and Swaffham Railway, founded in 1866 as an independent venture by the Thetford and Watton Railway Company. Railway Station to Swaffham, Kings Arms. [22] It was also built with an observation deck just below the nacelle which was open for the public to climb during the 2000s and 2010s, the only wind turbine in the world to have such a facility. He took up office around the turn of the 20th Century and stayed in post until after Grouping in 1923. The cheapest way to get from Swaffham to Wells-next-the-Sea costs only 8, and the quickest way takes just 32 mins. Almost immediately you pass the entrance to the parish Church of St Peter and St Paul's, which dates mostly from the 15th century and whose distinctive spire can be seen for miles around. All of our walks are also published quarterly in advance in our magazine, Railway Ramblings. Turn right here and head back in the direction of Swaffham. Time for a picnic lunch at Killamarsh station, Derbyshire, on the former Great Central Railway during one of the clubs 40th anniversary walks in September 2018. I had a lovely treat watching this fox run in front of me, and then had the pleasure of seeing it again as I neared the end of the walk. Under the proposal, the former Watton-Swaffham railway line would be repurposed to become a walking and cycling link. early on as you walk through the woods and the first stretch of Thompson Walk from the gracious town of Swaffham to the ancient Peddars Way. By 1882 the station was a much busier place. Luckily they didnt seem to be bothered with me which was a great relief, as I do have a slight fear of walking through fields with cows! There was no Sunday service. 1974-1988. Indeed, on weekdays, a traveller might reach Swaffham only as late as 9.44 pm, whilst on Sunday evening it was midnight exactly when the second train reached the town! We also have a useful Walk Template (see links below). Most of the Pingos that were in the Brecks area have now disappeared due to the land being ploughed up for farming, so the ones remaining are historically, ecologically and internationally important for the wildlife. It would be quite fun to take a little boat and row your way around here! To help you find the best hikes and walks around Swaffham, we've reviewed our full collection of trails and routes in the region. As the glaciers retreated, they left hard masses of ice which eventually had soil over them. A short way beyond that a steel girder carrying the line over Low Road survives. The cheapest way to get from Swaffham to Sheringham costs only 11, and the quickest way takes just 46 mins. Turn right along the lane to head back into town. Carry on along the track, passing more Pingos, and more open common land. As you drive along the main road, about 3 miles south of Watton youll see a largish lay-by. Now closed.Roudham Junction - Wretham and Hockham - Stow Bedon (siding) - Watton (with siding) - Holme Hale (siding) - Swaffham Junction.Section each side of Stow Bedon station taken up, part of trackbed covered by farm buildings at Griston where there remains a crossing keepers cottage and shed.Stow Bedon station has been totally removed.E. On the west side of Swaffham Market Place are several old buildings which for many years housed the historic Hamond's Grammar School, as a plaque on the wall of the main building explains. The walks are dotted all around Norfolk depending on where there is something fascinating to visit, be it a priory ruin or castle ruin, a stately home, windpumps or lighthouses and more. Swaffham (/swfm/) is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland District and English county of Norfolk. In addition there was an 8.00 am Watton to Swaffham service. In the past, our civil liability cover has been an important factor in persuading some official bodies, such as the Army, to let us walk old trackbeds which they now own. Powered by HBSMR-web and the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd, and mojoPortal CMS The line north of Watton closed finally on 19 April 1965. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust has therefore worked closely with Natural England and the Environment Agency to work out the best option for this plant. Until 1968 the town was served by Swaffham railway station on the Great Eastern Railway line from King's Lynn. Its a fantastic sight full of water violets and trees in swamps. One of the places they met was the handsome Assembly Rooms built between 1776 and 1778. Several distinct ticket types were issued: all were standard Edmondson size. There's electric heating throughout and an open fire with coal and logs provided. [27] In 2021 the building was sold to manufacturer Flexion Global for use as their headquarters. Thirteen down trains stopped: one came from Thetford via Watton. Timetables from Alan Young . Some steam turns continued on goods trains on the remaining lines to Kings Lynn and Dereham until Norwich Thorpe shed closed to steam on 2 April 1962. [23] The centre hosted the 2008 British BASE jumping championships; contestants jumped from the roof of the observation deck. The new walk and cycle path would include a connection to the Peddars Way, which would enable walkers to branch off towards the north Norfolk coast. A little bit further on I another found a sign as well as some interesting long horned cattle. Roudham Junction to Watton was closed completely at this time, and the remainder was closed to freight on 19 April 1965, after transporting the final sugar beet and coal traffic. (Jeff Vinter). Travelling south from Swaffham there were stations at Holme Hale, Watton, Stow Bedon, Wretham& Hockham and Roudham Junction. Photographs from the 1950s show passenger work in the hands of D16 4-4-0s and goods trains hauled by various former Great Eastern 0-6-0 types. There are various exhibitions on display throughout the year and children's activities in all A castle mound was raised here by the Earls of Surrey in about ad 1080, and the first stone castle was added around the 11th century. Drive. People who join our taster events must intend to join the club. Kent to Swaffham by train, walk and bus 157 Weekly . [2] The extension to Swaffham cost 72,000,[3], On 21 July 1879 the line was leased to the Great Eastern Railway for 999 years, commencing 1 March 1880. Here youll find a string of quaint villages and small towns Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cley next the Sea are 21st-century favourites, whileSheringham and Cromer are classic examples of a good old-fashioned seaside resort where grand Victorian hotels look out to sea. Sometimes, our own walk leaders were there to take some archive photographs. There were no bay platforms: the line to the rear of the down platform formed a loop used for goods traffic. A little further north a brick overbridge is intact crossing Hale Road. Coal and other produce not locally available arrived by train. The area was named "Loch Neaton" in honour of the Scottish navvies who built the line, with Neaton being the local hamlet. Five trains left for Dereham, one more on each of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For Swaffham Bulbeck in Cambridgeshire, see. The idea has been suggested as part of Breckland Councils Future Breckland project, for which a plan covering each of the districts five market towns has been produced. (Image: Ian Burt). If you know of a railway line near you that is accessible to horse traffic and/or carriage driving, please let us have the information. 58 - 92. We tend to be a bit slower than a typical Ramblers group because we stop to examine structures and artefacts along the way. Overview. There was no Sunday service. It was a further six years before completion of the nine and a half-mile extension northwards to Swaffham: it is said that the extension cost 72,000 to build. Swaffham railway station was located in Swaffham, Norfolk. Follow the lane over a bridge over a disused railway line and past Grange Farm, to eventually reach the A47 once more. Place. Although not a large town, Watton has a long-established market having received its Charter in 1204 allowing a market to be held on Wednesdays. I skirted the pond and quickly found a well-trodden track which I followed. [23] The council subsequently put it up for rent or sale and discussed exchanging it with Swaffham Town Council in return for 5 acres (2.0ha) of building land. A former Norfolk railway line could become a new walking and cycling route between two of the county's towns, according to newly-published documents. Experience a V shaped wood, an ancient ice house, an extraordinary church interior and a beautiful lake. Oxburgh Hall is a glorious place to visit. Legend has it that the fabulous Tudor windows of the north aisle of the Church of St Peter and St Paul were paid for by Chapman. See other stations on the Lynn - Dereham line: Middleton Towers, East Winch, Pentney & Bilney, Narborough & Pentney, Sporle, Dunham, Fransham, Wendling, Scarning & Dereham (EAR Station), To see the other [25] A proposal to convert the building into a leisure centre was considered by BDC but ultimately abandoned. A Gannett Company. In 1876 two larger Sharpe, Stewart & Co 0-4-2 tender engines joined the fleet, presumably because of the motive power needs of the new Swaffham extension. By 1960 no steam locomotives plied the line on passenger trains and the Sunday service had disappeared. Several of our members do the same, and part of the fun on these walks is comparing present day scenes with historic photographs. Norfolk prides itself on its wealth of historic houses, the most famous beingSandringham, where Her Majesty the Queen and her family spend Christmas. ', 'The UK's specialist club for exploring old railways: it organises walks throughout the country for varying ages and abilities, usually on disused railways but occasionally on an old canal or even Roman road. This route ran from the Roudham Junction of the Norfolk Line (NHER 13571), and had stations at Wretham and Hockham, Stow Bedon, Watton, and Holme Hale, as well as sidings at Stow Bedon, Watton and Holme Hale. 1st Class singles were white, 2nd rose, 3rd green and parliamentary buff coloured. Here can still be seen the crossing-keepers hut and, beside it, a gatepost and the remnants of the personnel gate that was part of the level crossing. The railway also secured a rebuilt 3 ft 6 in saddle tank. Near the road the large goods shed, extended to cover the route of the railway between station and level crossing, now houses a motor company. ", "Eco Tech Centre (United-Kingdom) - Wind farms - Online access - The Wind Power", "Businesses and schools left in the lurch as Swaffham's Green Britain Centre closes suddenly", "Swap deal could breathe new life into vacant visitor attraction", "What does the future hold for Swaffham's Green Britain Centre? Here you need to go through the gate and follow the path through more woodland. People gathered in Swaffham for 'the season', and so many clergymen ranked among their numbers that the Bishop of Norwich was reported as being concerned that they were neglecting their parishioners. The up platform was linked to the down side platform by a footbridge at the east end of the station. Swaffham Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Swaffham, Norfolk, England. Tickets for travel from intermediate stations, except at Watton, were issued by the guard. 10 Minute Walk From Wells Town . Two giant wind turbines dominate the views to your right, and the eight turbines of the wind farm at North Pickenham are visible across the fields to your left. Many of the old railways that we visit present no problem because they now form part of official traffic-free trails, and the structures on them are maintained and inspected regularly. It is now fairly clear. From there easily with the Metro to Heinrich-Heine-Allee (Altstadt) go upstairs and walk to the river rhine Promenade. This was established by Lord Orford, a nephew of the writer Horace Walpole, in 1786. [11], The Swaffham Museum is a small, independent social history museum for Swaffham and the surrounding villages in Norfolk from the Stone Age to the modern. In this vast open landscape, it is easy to appreciate the power of the wind. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Practice varies from one area to another: some produce a large newsletter which covers an entire year in advance, while others issue newsletters more frequently. The lake used to be dominated and almost completely covered with a plant called Water Soldier, and although it provided ideal habitat for a lot of wildlife, it also takes the oxygen out of the water. The cottage has a 27 HD TV and a Blu-Ray DVD player; WiFi is available. [28] Shortly after the sale, Swaffham Town Council gave BCD a parcel of land next to the centre on which BDC intends to build a leisure centre. Walking routes starting in Turbine Way, Swaffham. East of the A1065 another unsightly business park lies over the running lines and northern sidings. The line closed on 15 June 1964. Streetmap Nat.Grid: TF 817 095 GPS: Lat,Long 52.6535,0.6851 what3words: seated.clerk.corded The British Railways Board published Dr Richard Beechings report The Reshaping of Britains Railways on 27 March 1963. There were only 70 passengers on the final stage of the journey. Despite BRs modernisation attempts the end was signalled in Dr. Richard Beechings report The Reshaping of Britains Railways, published in March 1963 and closure of Norfolks branch lines began with some urgency. The equivalent down working called at 7.52pm. Pointwork at each end allowed trains to use any of the three lines whether from Kings Lynn to the west or either the Dereham or Watton lines in the other direction. The railway was taken over by the Great Eastern Railway in 1880, with the locomotives joining the GER stock list. It was the junction for lines to King's Lynn, Dereham, and Thetford. Before I get on to this Great Eastern Pingo Trail walk, let me just quickly explain about Pingos because youll be walking amongst a bit of history here. Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk. Length: just under 8 milesEase of Walk: easy and flatWhat youll see: Pingos, long horned cattle, woodland and common land, wetland and swamps, Thompson Water, water violetsDogs: Dogs are allowed on this walk but they must be under control, especially on Thompson CommonPostcode: NR17 1DP OS Map: No 229 (advisable)For a downloadable pdf of theThe Pingo Trailmap, click here. One strange movement is shown. I just remember thinking water, water everywhere! violets. Also known as kettle ponds, these pingos date back to the ice age, and Pingo is the Eskimo word for hill. The path crosses the dismantled railway and, after about a mile (1.6km) of peaceful traffic-free walking, comes out on the North Pickenham Road. The town is well known for the legend of the so-called Swaffham Pedlar, a local man called John Chapman who had gone to London and met a stranger on London Bridge. Opened in 1875, the Watton and Swaffham Railway was also known as the Crab and Winkle line - and it connected the towns with Thetford in one direction and King's Lynn in the other. Rose (NLA), 29 January 2005. A former Norfolk railway line could become a new walking and cycling route between two of the county's towns, according to newly-published documents. It was given to the town by Lord Orford in 1783. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. North of Watton a nominally independent company, the Watton and Swaffham Railway was incorporated on 12 July 1869. Like many of East Anglias railways it was agriculture that generated much of the goods traffic. Other great bird watching walks can be found here on our coastal and inland walks page. Last walked on 16 May 2015, A circular walk from Turbine Way, Swaffham; heading west from Swaffham along Shouldham Lane, turning south then east from Town Farm along Shoemakers Lane to reach the centre of Swaffham, heading east by the churchyard and continuing north-east on streets, paths and Sporle Road until the route of an old railway line is reached, turning west on this route and continuing on paths and roads back to the start. Market-goers returned on the 5.20pm from the city, changing at Dereham. The pub the Startled Duck in the TV series is better known as the Greyhound Inn, in which the Earl of Orford created the first coursing club open to the public, in 1776. The centre provided a venue for school trips and event hire, and had educational displays focussing on sustainability in food, energy and transport. The last train to Thetford left at 7.16pm and arrived back at Swaffham at 10.01pm. [21] The first of the wind turbines to be constructed was an Enercon E66/1500 with 1.5 MW generation capacity, 67 metres nacelle height and 66 metres rotor diameter. Rose (NAU), 1 June 1988This building was demolished in 1993, the foundations being left as seats for walkers.Two very ornate iron columns at White Hall, Carbrooke, in the form of lotus flowers, are said to have come from Watton station.E. Opposite them was a two-road engine shed, opened with the line and entered by way of a locomotive turntable. Meals are served every day in The Green Room restaurant, or in the bar for a more informal dining Nightingale Cottage sleeps up to four people. It was closed to passengers on 15 June 1964 and to freight on 19 April 1965. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. (West Runton beach is also an SSSI). Rose (NLA), 16 June 1995.Overbridge north of North Pickenham village still marked RJS 2409 14 miles 15 chains.The embankment remains in part to the east.E. Manning Wardle of Leeds supplied the companys first locomotives after an offer from Robert Fairlie to test his Fairlie Steam Carriage was rejected. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can stations on the Watton & Swaffham Railway click on the station name: If you start this way first, its Not shown in the tables, a train for Norwich and its market left on Saturdays only at about 8.40am. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. The tale tells of a pedlar from Swaffham who dreamed for several consecutive nights that if he waited on London Bridge he would eventually hear good news. P.S. The start of the Pingo Trail is through a kissing gate and the path is very obvious along here. The timetable for 1866, nine years before the line through Watton opened, shows that Swaffham saw four up and four down trains each weekday and one each way on Sundays. The shed was closed by the GER in 1914. Theres a small bird watching hide overlooking Thompson Water surrounded by lots of bird feeders hanging from the trees, and its definitely worth stopping at, not least to rest your legs! [4] As a result of this prosperity, the town has a large market place. The railways nine-mile route from the main line at Roudham Junction across an agricultural and partly wooded landscape was easy terrain, required no significant earthworks or gradients and the railway was opened through to Watton on 18 October 1869. The path crosses the dismantled railway and, after about a mile (1.6km) of peaceful traffic-free walking, comes out on the North Pickenham Road. For example, since the rail replacement bus service between Maiden Newton and Bridport (Dorset) was withdrawn in 2015, anyone tracing that route which is only partially open to walkers anyway will find no public transport at all between Maiden Newton and the outskirts of Bridport. The final timetable in force before closure of the line to passengers shows five through trains in each direction. is very dog friendly, as I wanted to discover walks that didn't require much road walking or time on leads. BRIDGE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD), HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD), RAILWAY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD), RAILWAY TRANSPORT SITE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD). However, our leaders ability to do this depends on the location of the walk, which in turn governs the level of available public transport. On the main line there were six passenger trains in each direction plus one more on each of Tuesday and Saturday, these being market days in Lynn and Norwich respectively. Swaffham Station signal box was at the east end of the Up platform, alongside the footbridge, controlling the station area with the crossing gates being hand-worked. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. Many of Norfolks towns have a particular charm and a strong sense of community. The Thetford branch closed on 15 June 1964, and the station closed to passengers on 9 September 1968. Our walks are open to all members from any area of the club. This area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the pollen and the plant remains in the peat which is below all this wetland. It was the junction for lines to King's Lynn, Dereham, and . The quiet market towns of Fakenham and Swaffham are prime examples, as well as Thetford, with its popular museum focusing on the TV comedy seriesDads Armywhich wasfilmed in the area. The road bends left and heads into the countryside, with the sails of a giant wind turbine turning up ahead. 'Lists as many accessible disused railways that have been converted to Greenways as we can find. Route map drawn by Alan Young. All of the other services called at all stations if required to do so. This route ran from the Roudham Junction of the Norfolk Line (NHER 13571), and had stations at Wretham and Hockham, Stow Bedon, Watton, and Holme Hale, as well as sidings at Stow Bedon, Watton and. Apr 2023 - Watton-Swaffham railway . If you enjoy walking holidays, then you may like to walk the "Ice Age To Royalty" Norfolk Stately Homes walk.
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