Wroxham

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Wroxham
population = 1532
shire_district= Broadland
region = East of England
shire_county = Norfolk
civil_parish= Wroxham
os_grid_reference= TG3017
latitude= 52.706
longitude= 1.412
post_town= NORWICH
postcode_district = NR12
postcode_area= NR

dial_code= 01603
constituency_westminster= Broadland

Wroxham is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It situated on the south side of the River Bure, within the Norfolk Broads, and some eight miles north-east of Norwich. Wroxham Broad lies about one mile downstream to the southeast. [Ordnance Survey (2005). "OS Explorer Map OL40 - The Broads". ISBN 0-319-23769-9.] On the northern side of the Bure is Hoveton.

The civil parish has an area of 6.21 square kilometres and in 2001 had a population of 1532 in 666 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of Broadland. [Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). " [http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes] ". Retrieved December 2, 2005.]

Wroxham regards itself as the "Capital of the Broads". Wroxham bridge is considered to be the second most difficult on the Broads to navigate (after Potter Heigham) and a pilot station sits on the Hoveton side of the river to assist boaters for a fee. £6 per boat.

Wroxham has almost merged with Hoveton – with each village growing on one bank of the river. The combined Wroxham/Hoveton area is a local shopping centre, mainly due to the presence of "Roys of Wroxham" – the self-named "world's biggest village store". Roys owns much of the commercial property in the town. In fact, Roys of Wroxham is entirely situated on the Hoveton side of the river. Hoveton itself contains only a few local shops and pubs. Both Wroxham and Hoveton have several boat building and pleasure craft hire yards. Other local industries include the canning of soft fruits.

Wroxham is served by Hoveton and Wroxham railway station, which is on the Bittern Line from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham, and which is the terminus of the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway to Aylsham. The station is actually located in Hoveton.

The Church of St Mary has a famous north doorway with seven orders and three shafts. In the churchyard, is the medieval-appearing Trafford Mausoleum, which was built in 1831. A manor house is southeast of the church which has a panel dating to 1623 – its stepped gables show Dutch influence.

George Formby, the early twentieth-century entertainer, once lived in Wroxham in "Heronby". Nearby is Charles Close on the site of the former Wroxham Hall.

References

External links

* [http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/w/wroxham/ Information from Genuki Norfolk] on Wroxham.
* [http://www.wroxhamfc.com Wroxham Football Club]
* [http://www.visitaylsham.co.uk/ Visit Aylsham] Guide to Aylsham and the local area including Wroxham