Reepham, Norfolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reepham |
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 The town sign |
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 Reepham
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| Area | 19.09 km2 (7.37 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,709 (2011 census) |
| • Density | 142/km2 (370/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TG100228 |
| • London | 118 miles (190 km) |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORWICH |
| Postcode district | NR10 |
| Dialling code | 01603 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Reepham is a small market town in Norfolk, England. It is part of the Broadland district. The town sits between the Bure and Wensum valleys. It is about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Norwich. In 2011, about 2,709 people lived in Reepham.
Contents
Discovering Reepham's Past
Reepham is mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. Its name, Refham, means "the bailiff's or reeve's manor". This comes from old English words. Reepham has been a market town since 1277. A special sign now marks this important history. The town has grown a lot over time. You can see many different types of houses from various periods.
The Reepham Town Hall was built in 1860. It was first used as a school.
Amazing Discoveries: Old Coins
In June 2021, archaeologists found some old gold coins near Reepham. They think these coins were lost during the time of the Black Death. The coins date back to the rule of King Edward III.
One of the rare coins was a 23-carat gold coin called a "leopard." Another was called a "noble." Experts believe these coins would be worth about £12,000 today. They were likely owned by a very important person.
Reepham Today
New houses in Reepham are mostly built on land that was used before. This means the town's size has not changed much.
Reepham has both a high school and a primary school. Reepham High School and College received the highest rating in its 2008 inspection.
The Reepham Society is a group that started in 1976. It helps people learn about Reepham and nearby villages. Reepham was also a place where the TV show Agatha Christie's Poirot filmed an episode.
Exploring Reepham's Churches
Three Churches in One Place
Reepham is one of only two places in Europe with three churches on the same site. Reepham's St. Mary's Church is connected to St. Michael's Church, Whitwell. The third church, All Saints', belonged to Hackford. It burned down in 1543. Today, only a small part of its tower wall remains. These three churches were built right on the edges of their different parishes.
Reepham church has a beautiful tomb of Sir Roger de Kerdiston from 1337. Whitwell church has a special pulpit from the Jacobean period.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Reepham
In medieval times, Reepham Church was a very important place. Many people went there on pilgrimage. It was not as famous as the shrine at Walsingham. But people came to Reepham to see the image of Our Lady of Reepham. Many miracles were said to happen there.
We do not know what this image looked like. It might have been a statue or a wood carving. We know it was important because it is mentioned in an old will from the 1400s. A woman named Alice Cook wrote that after she died, someone should "Have a man goo a pilgrimage to our Lady of Reifham." This was to help her journey to the next world.
Reepham's Town Sign
The town sign was designed by students at the local high school. It was put up in 1992. A teacher carved it, and a student painted it. The sign shows three of each of these things: churches, villagers, farm workers, sheep, lambs, and "sisters."
The sign refers to an old story. The myth says that three sisters each built a church. However, the three churches were actually built over many generations.
Getting Around Reepham
Roads and Buses
The B1145 road goes through Reepham. This road connects King's Lynn with Mundesley.
Sanders Coaches provides bus services in and out of the town. The most common bus routes are 43/A/B. These go to Aylsham and Norwich.
Railway History and Cycling Paths
Reepham no longer has a train station. The closest station is in Norwich, about 14 miles (22 km) away.
In 1882, Reepham had two train stations. They were on different tracks and run by different companies. Whitwell station was on one line. Reepham station was on another. In 1960, the tracks were connected. This made it easier to move concrete products from Lenwade.
Today, the old railway tracks are a long walking and cycling path. It is called the Marriott's Way. This path goes between Norwich and Aylsham. Both former stations are interesting stops along the path.
Cycling Routes
National Cycle Route 1 also passes through the town. This is a long-distance cycling path across the country.
Sports in Reepham
The Reepham and Salle Cricket Club plays its home games in Salle. Salle is a village about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Reepham.
Famous People from Reepham
- George Goodwin Kilburne (1839–1924), a well-known artist.
- Keith Simpson, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Conservative Party. He represented the Broadland area.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids
