Tottington, Norfolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tottington |
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 St Andrew's Church in Tottington |
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 Tottington
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| Area | 13.12 km2 (5.07 sq mi) |
| Population | 0 (2001 Census) |
| • Density | 0/km2 (0/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TL895955 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | THETFORD |
| Postcode district | IP25 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Tottington is a special place in Norfolk, England. It is known as a "deserted village" because no one lives there anymore. It is also a civil parish, which is a small local area.
Tottington is located about 6.2 miles north of the town of Thetford. It is also about 25 miles south-west of the city of Norwich. In 2011, any people living there were counted with the nearby civil parish of Thompson.
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What Does the Name Tottington Mean?
The name Tottington has an interesting meaning. It means "farm or settlement of Tota's people." It could also mean "farm or settlement connected with Tota." Tota was likely a person's name from a long time ago.
Tottington's Past
Tottington has a long history. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. This was a very important survey ordered by William the Conqueror. In the Domesday Book, Tottington was called Totintuna. This name also meant "the town or settlement of Tota's people."
The main landowner at that time was Ralph FitzHelwin. The survey also noted that there were fifteen mares, which are female horses. Two important religious leaders, Samson of Tottington and Thomas of Tottington, later became the Abbot of Bury St Edmunds. Samson was abbot from 1182 to 1211, and Thomas from 1302 to 1311.
Why the Village Was Evacuated
During the Second World War, something big happened to Tottington. The British Army took over the village. It became part of the Stanford Battle Area. This area was needed to train Allied soldiers. They were preparing for Operation Overlord, which was the invasion of Normandy in 1944.
Some villagers were happy to help the war effort by leaving their homes. However, many others were not pleased. There were many heated meetings in the village. Some people even refused to leave their homes. One person, Lucilla Reeve, wrote a book about this. She used the name A Norfolk Woman and called her book Farming, on a Battle Ground.
Villagers Could Not Return
After the war ended, the villagers were never allowed to go back home. The War Office, which was part of the government, had promised they could return. But they changed their minds. Most people in Tottington rented their homes and farmed land owned by the Walsingham estates.
The government bought the land, even threatening to force Walsingham to sell it. Most villagers did not own their land, so they received very little money as payment. Many lost their jobs and were moved into council housing. They kept trying for many years to return to their homes and farms. But the start of the Cold War meant the army still needed the training area. This took away all their chances of returning.
Since the evacuation, the village and its area have remained part of the Ministry of Defence's Stanford Training Area. You cannot visit Tottington without special permission.
The Parish Church of St Andrew
The church in Tottington is called St Andrew's. It is located at the northern end of the village. The church roof has special blast-proof sheeting. This was put there to protect the church building from military training.
The original roof tiles, called pantiles, are kept safe inside the church. They are ready to be put back if the village is ever returned to the public. A wire fence surrounds the churchyard. This helps protect the church from military activities.
In October 2009, a special event happened. A veteran from World War II who was born in the village was buried in St Andrew's churchyard. The Ministry of Defence gave permission for this burial. It was the first burial in the churchyard in over fifty years.
How Tottington Is Governed
The civil parish of Tottington covers an area of about 5.07 square miles. In the 2001 census, no one was living there. For local government, the parish is part of the district of Breckland.
