Paston, Norfolk

Infobox UK place
official_name= Paston
country= England
region= East of England
shire_district= North Norfolk
shire_county= Norfolk
civil_parish= Paston
static_

static_image_caption =The Parish Church of Saint Margaret.
population= 265 (parish, 2001 census)
population_density=
os_grid_reference= TG275387
latitude= 52.85781
longitude= 01.44985
post_town= NORTH WALSHAM
postcode_area= NR
postcode_district= NR28
constituency_westminster= North Norfolk
london_distance= convert|139|mi|km

Paston is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk [”OS Explorer Map” 25, Norfolk Coast East, ISBN 0 319 21727 2] . The village is convert|4|mi|km north-east of North Walsham and convert|9.1|mi|km south-east of Cromer. It is convert|19.2|mi|km north-east of the city of Norwich. The village sits astride the coast road between Mundesley and Bacton. The nearest railway station is at North Walsham for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International.

History

Paston is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 [The Domesday Book, Englands Heritage, Then and Now, Editor: Thomas Hinde,Norfolk page 192 ISBN 1858334403] . In the survey Paston is known by the name ‘Pastuna’ with the main tenent landowner being William de Warenne. It also mentions the church and a mill in the parish.

The parish church of Saint Margaret

The church dates from the 14th century and is constructed from flint [The King’s England, Norfolk, by Arthur Mee, Page 250 ISBN 0 340 15061 0] . It has an embattled tower which looks down on a thatched roof. The porch is on the south elevation and opens to a plain nave and chancel which is divided by a 15th century screen. The church was restored in 1844 at a cost of £500 and again in 1869. In 1922 wall paintings were uncovered, one of Saint Christopher, another depicts the legend of the three kings hunting in the forest. There are some stained glass windows that are in the memory of members of the Mack family alongside memorial plaques within the nave. Also to be seen are the Paston Monuments at the eastern end of the building.

The Paston Family

The village is probably best known for its association with the Paston Mack family, who made their home at Paston Hall, now demolished. The family is most noted for the Paston Letters, a collection of letters and papers, consisting of the correspondence of members of the family, and others connected with them, between 1422 and 1509, and including some state papers and other important documents. Most of the Paston letters and associated documents are now in the British Museum, but a few are in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, at Magdalen College, Oxford, and at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Paston Great Tithe Barn

The tithe barn was built by Sir William Paston in 1581 and was used to store and thresh corn. The barn is constructed of flint and brick with an alternate tie and hammerbeam roof, which is thatched. The barn is convert|160|ft|m long and convert|24|ft|m wide; to the apex the height is convert|60|ft|m.

References