Surlingham

Surlingham is a village and civil parish in South Norfolk situated on the Broads. It lies approximately 6½ miles (10½ km) south-east of Norwich on the south bank of the River Yare between Bramerton and Rockland St Mary. In the 2001 census it contained 266 households and a population of 637. [ [http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/democracy/surlingham_parish.asp Surlingham parish information [South Norfolk Council ] ]

The Churches

The church of Surlingham St Mary is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. The adjacent Church Marsh nature reserve is owned by the RSPB and is overlooked by the ruins of St Saviours church (less than half a mile north-east of St Mary's). Dating from the 12th century, the church was in regular use until 1705. A campaign has been launched by local villagers to save the site from further deterioration and to make it safe for visitors, see [http://www.eastspace.net/surlingham/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=4059 here] . Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis is buried here.

The Village

[http://www.surlinghamschool.co.uk Surlingham Community Primary School] complete with maypole currently caters for 83 children in four classrooms, two in the original Victorian building and two more built in a similar style completed in 2006. It is situated on Walnut Hill in the centre of Surlingham and opposite the village pond; nearby are the village shop and post office as well as a garage. Surlingham is also home to Padmaloka, one of the biggest Buddhist retreats in the UK, as well as the [http://www.wheatfen.org/ Ted Ellis Nature Reserve] at Wheatfen Broad.

The Pubs

The village also has two pubs although they lie to the north of the village on the bank of the river: "Coldham Hall Tavern" and "The Surlingham Ferry". The latter marks the site of a ferry which crossed the river to Postwick; it ceased here c1939 following a collision with a coaster. [ [http://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolks/surlingham/surlifh.htm Surlingham - Ferry House ] ] [http://www.coldhamhallsailingclub.co.uk Coldham Hall Sailing Club] which was founded in 1951 is situated in the grounds of Coldham Hall Tavern. It opened its new clubhouse on 26 April 2003.

urlingham Broad

Lying between Surlingham Ferry and Coldham Hall Tavern is Surlingham Broad, a maze of waterways and swamp over 1 km² in area owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. One of the central lakes, Bargate, is connected to the Yare by two dykes; the area is known as the 'wherry graveyard' as 13 wherry hulls have been sunk here. [ [http://www.turnershut.co.uk/history.htm www.turnershut.co.uk The Home of Turners Hut ] ]

Transport links

Surlingham is served by bus route 001 operated by [http://www.angliancoaches.co.uk/company_profile.html Anglian Coaches] providing six services a day into Norwich via Rockland St Mary, Bramerton and Kirby Bedon — [http://www.angliancoaches.co.uk/timetables/data/001.pdf timetable]

National Cycle Route 1 passes through Surlingham on its way from Norwich to Beccles via Loddon.

External links

* [http://www.surlingham.org.uk Surlingham Village Website]
* [http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TG314067 Ordnance Survey Pathfinder (1:25000) map of Surlingham]
* [http://www.enterprise-link.co.uk/surlingham/home.asp Surlingham Parish Council]
* [http://www.roundtowerchurches.de/Karte/C5/Surlingham_St_Mary/surlingham_st_mary.html Website with photos of Surlingham St Mary]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/TG3106 Surlingham] on Geograph
* [http://norfolk-guide.co.uk/2006/surlingham-st-marys-church-and-st-saviours-ruin Norfolk Guide - Surlingham]
* [http://www.berghapton.org.uk/download/Bramerton%20and%20Surlingham.pdf A stroll around Bramerton and Surlingham]
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/surlingham/index.asp The RSPB: Surlingham Church Marsh]
* [http://www.waterscape.com/River_Yare/walking/Surlingham_Church_Marsh Surlingham Church Marsh walk]
* [http://www.padmaloka.org.uk/ Padmaloka]

References