Methwold

Methwold ("Middle forest"[1]) is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, on the edge of the Norfolk Fens and Breckland. With an area of 49.12 km2 (18.97 sq mi) it is the second largest parish in Norfolk. It had a population of 1,476 in 591 households at the 2001 census,[2] increasing to 1,502 at the 2011 Census.[3] For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

This article is about the Norfolk village. For the seventeenth-century English merchant, see William Methwold.

Methwold

St George, Methwold
Methwold
Location within Norfolk
Area49.12 km2 (18.97 sq mi)
Population1,502 (29011)
• Density31/km2 (80/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTL731940
Civil parish
  • Methwold
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTHETFORD
Postcode districtIP26
Dialling code01366
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England

The parish also includes the hamlets of Methwold Hythe, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the town and on the edge of the fens, and Brookville to the north west.[4]

Its economy is based on agriculture with a little light industry. The village is situated about 20 miles (32 km) from King's Lynn and 15 miles (24 km) north west of Thetford (its postal town).

The Duchy of Lancaster Methwold CofE Primary School is located in the parish. The secondary and sixth form departments of Iceni Academy are also located in Methwold, previously being known as Methwold High School.

Methwold parish is the second largest parish in Norfolk in terms of land. The parish currently has approximately 20 farms ranging from about 60 acres (243,000 m2) up to 1,000 acres (4.0 km2). Farming in Methwold and the surrounding areas accounts for a vast majority of jobs in the fens. Even if people don't farm, much of the work is connected with the land.

Methwold became famous for its abundance and excellence of its rabbits which were sold by poulterers as "Muel Rabbits". According to John Marius Wilson, Methwold was formerly a market town given its market charter granted by King James I in 1718 during a brief visit.[4] A meal of Muel Rabbits was reputed to have pleased the king to such an extent that he granted the village a charter for the market to be held.

The village was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.[5]

Notable residents
  • William Thorold M.Inst.C.E., millwright, architect and civil engineer was born in Methwold on 9 October 1798.
  • Richard Maurice Bucke, M.D., psychiatrist, author and philosopher was born in Methwold 18 March 1837.
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References
  1. "Methwold". English Place-Name Society database. University of Nottingham. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  2. Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  3. "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  4. Wilson, John Marius (1872). Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales. (quoted online at: "Methwold Norfolk". A Vision of Britain Through Time. 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2010.)
  5. http://www.eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi

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