Bergh Apton

Bergh Apton is a village and civil parish in the South Norfolk district of Norfolk, England, 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Norwich just south of the A146 between Yelverton and Thurton. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 428 in 186 households. [ [http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/democracy/berghapton_parish.asp Bergh Apton parish information [South Norfolk Council ] ]

History

Originally Bergh Apton was two separate villages; Apton to the north-west and Bergh to the south-east, each with its own church. Apton was served by the church of St. Martin which lay near the present day Church Farm on Dodgers Lane, its last recorded use being in 1555 and the remains being finally cleared in 1834. Bergh was served by the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul which stands on a low hill overlooking the River Chet which marks the southern boundary of the now combined parish. The church appears to have been reconstructed in the 14th century, with local flint with ashlar and brick details.. ["The Book of Bergh Apton" (2005) by Geoffrey I Kelly ISBN 1 84114 418 5] .

Today

Although no longer possessing a school (closed 1981) the village does have a combined post office and shop and a village hall, opened on the day of Queen Elizabeth's coronation on 2nd June 1953; a kitchen was added in 1985. The hall is regularly used by the Bowls club, Bergh Apton and District Society, Youth club and Baby and Toddler group.

Bergh Apton is served by bus route 570 operated by [http://www.angliancoaches.co.uk/company_profile.html Anglian Coaches] providing five services a day into Norwich and out to Seething and Loddon: [http://www.angliancoaches.co.uk/timetables/data/570.pdf Timetable] ["Anglian Coaches Timetable" [http://www.angliancoaches.co.uk/timetables/data/570.pdf Timetable] ] .

culpture Trail

Since 1997 the village has hosted (and become rather renowned for) a sculpture trail, held every three years (May and June 2008 the next dates), with works from some 30 plus artists both local to Norfolk and from across the UK, displayed in a number of gardens and public places. It has become a victim of its own success however, with visitor numbers reaching over ten thousand at the 2005 show, swamping the village.

External links

* [http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TG31100055 Ordnance Survey Pathfinder (1:25000) map of Bergh Apton]
* [http://www.berghapton.org.uk/ Bergh Apton website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/sets/72157594344672536 2002/5 Sculpture Trail] on Flickr

References