Testerton

infobox UK place
static_

static_image_caption =
country=England
official_name=Testerton
latitude=52.80328
longitude=0.87337
population =
map_type=United Kingdom
shire_district=North Norfolk
shire_county =Norfolk
region=East of England
constituency_westminster=North Norfolk
post_towns=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference=TF9366726764

Testerton is a small village in the English county of Norfolk. It is located between the village of Great Ryburgh and the market town of Fakenham.

Testerton is one of a clutch of deserted villages and associated churches within a few kilometres of Fakenham. Testerton currently has only a handful of inhabitants; the civil parish of Testerton was abolished in 1935 and the lands used to enlarge the civil parish of Pudding Norton, another mostly deserted village.

History

Although mentioned in the Domesday Book, Testerton appears to have decayed during the Medieval period, and by the beginning of the 17th century the parish had only 18 communicants. By the end of that century the parish church of Saint Remigius was already very ruined, and at some point after this time the walls were completely removed.

The only surviving remnant of the medieval village is the church, which retains the western part of the west tower, and is believed to have had a rectangular nave and apsidal chancel. The tower dates to the late 14th or 15th centuries, though the rest of the church is likely to have dated to the 11th or 12th centuries.

Apart from the Church of St Remigius, Testerton Hall also presents some architectural interest. The present Grade II Listed house is only the rear service wing of what was once a much larger building, dating to 1802. With two storeys in seven bays, the building is constructed from red brick and has a south facade in the Georgian architecture style.

References

*Morris, J. (General Editor), (1984). "Domesday Book, 33 Norfolk, Part I and Part II", Chichester: Phillimore & Co
*Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. (1999). "The Buildings of England. Norfolk 2: North-West and South", London: Penguin Books.
* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10068253 A Vision of Britain Through Time: Testerton CP] by H. Shouthall, retrieved December 07, 2006
* [http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/t/testerton/ UK & Ireland Genealogy Pages] by Pat Newby, retrieved December 08, 2006
* [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/testerton/testerton.htm Norfolk Churches: St Remigius,Testerton] by Simon Knott, retrieved December 08, 2006