South Pickenham

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.603889
longitude=0.741944
official_name =South Pickenham
population = 85
shire_district= Breckland
shire_county= Norfolk
metropolitan_borough=
metropolitan_county =
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= South West Norfolk
post_town= Swaffham
postcode_district = PE37
postcode_area=PE
dial_code=01760
os_grid_reference= TF8504

South Pickenham [ [http://www.geograph.org.uk/browse.php?p=273709 Geograph pictures] ] coord|52|36|14|N|0|44|31|E is a small village in the Breckland district of mid Norfolk, East Anglia, England. It has an area of 758 hectares (2.93 square miles), an estimated population of 85 as of UK census 2001 and a Parish Council Tax (Band D) 1st April 2007 of £28.75 [ [http://www.breckland.gov.uk/yearbook_parish_information Breckland Yearbook] ] . It was once in the Hundred of South Greenhoe. [ [http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/norfolk/gaz-and-dir/white1845/hundreds/greenhoe_south.shtml GenUKI] ] [ [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MacMAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA271&lpg=RA1-PA271&dq=Hundred+of+South+Greenhoe&source=web&ots=ylkwa The Beauties of England and Wales] ] [ [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZS02AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA660&lpg=RA2-PA660&dq=pickenham+history&source=web&ots=UIX0fAD6zQ&sig=X1zvA3eglzuLMtkzXEQEaS_RL_Y&hl=en&sa=X&o A General History of the County of Norfolk] ]

The village is about 4 miles south east of Swaffham and 2 miles from its sister village North Pickenham. The village is centered around Pickenham Hall [ [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/297003 Pickenham Hall] ] , still the landlord for much of the village, which is owned by the Packiri family. The original hall was designed by William Donthorne but between 1902 and 1905 architect Robert Weir Schultz [ [http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200199 Robert Weir Schultz] ] extensively rebuilt and enlarged the hall, incorporating the previous house, in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The military training area Stanta lies to the south of the parish.

The beautiful and historic church, All Saints [ [http://www.nectonallsaints.com/spickenham_profile.htm All Saints] ] [ [http://www.roundtowerchurches.de/Karte/C3/South_Pickenham_All_Saints/south_pickenham_all_saints.html Round Tower Churches pictures of All Saints] ] , is one of only 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk, 185 nationwide and 5 within a 9 mile radius. [ [http://www.roundtowerchurches.de/Karte/C3/c3.html Five towers within a 9 mile radius] ]

The restored church of Saint Mary's at Houghton on the Hill [ [http://www.hoh.org.uk/Find-Us/ Saint Mary's] ] [ [http://www.hoh.org.uk/Docs/Church-of-St-Mary.pdf Comprehensive St. Mary's .pdf file] ] is nearby. Historically part of North Pickenham since 1725, [ [http://www.nectonallsaints.com/houghton_profile.htm Necton All Saints church website] ] a Pastoral Order was raised transferring it to South Pickenham as a Chapel of Ease in 1992.

The 46 mile Peddars Way runs to the east, within the parish boundaries, aside the course of the River Wissey.

South Pickenham Estate Co. Ltd., a large arable and livestock farming company, is based in the village.

Some historical data from 1854. [ [http://apling.freeservers.com/Villages/PickenhamSouth54.htm Francis White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Norfolk 1854] ]

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References and external links

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