Please note that the postcard from series
ended in 2004 and that descriptions of shops and services were correct at
time of going to press
Where is it:
Surrounded by farmland, New Buckenham is about a mile from Old
Buckenham on the B1113 Norwich road. It is 15 miles from Norwich,
four from Attleborough and eight from Diss.
History:
William d’Albini, a follower of William the Conqueror,
moved a mile up the road from Old Buckenham and built a second castle
for the area to the west of New Buckenham in 1145. Only the motte,
bailey and ruined keep remain.
To service the castle and garrison, the settlement was built up
around it to provide services and labour, and probably covered much
the same area and grid layout as is seen today.
Market Cross with the NBSB playing underneath
What is there to see?
The ancient market cross, an open shelter with wooden pillars
supporting an upper room, was built in 1718. It is listed for its
historic and archaeological interest. The central pillar is the
old whipping post. New
Buckenham High Bailiffs Trust recently commissioned a replica of
one of three decorative panels that once adorned the Market Cross,
showing Buckenham Castle in its heyday, flanked by two harts.
Apart from the castle, known as Buckenham Castle, the earliest existing
buildings are St Mary’s Chapel (early 13th century), and St
Martin’s parish church, which dates from 1246. Among the earliest
existing houses are those on the west side of the Market Place which
have their origins in the 15th century.
Also of interest is the common, to the east of the village, which
has been grazed for at least 800 years and is largely unchanged
in that time. It is designated as a conservation area.
Any other interesting facts?
Villagers in New Buckenham are taking part in a tree ring survey of the buildings. The project, the first of its kind in the region, is being organised by the Norfolk Historic Buildings Group with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The New Buckenham Silver Band (see photo above of the NBSB playing under the Market Cross) will have been playing for 120 years in 2007, one of the few village bands that have survived the many music fashions of the last century in Norfolk.
Their practice night is on Thursday between 8-10pm in the Village hall.
Where to eat and drink?
The two pubs, The George and King’s Head, serve home cooked
food lunchtimes and evenings. At nearby Banham, there is a variety
of pubs and an Italian restaurant.
The King's Head
What is there to do?
There is a selection of local shops selling
everything from antiques and collectables to furniture and gifts,
as well as a general store with post office and bakery.
Queen Elizabeth I awarded a Town Charter, allowing markets and fairs
to be held, and the tradition lives on with the May Day Fair and
August Bank Holiday fete held each year.
The key to Buckenham Castle ruins is available from Castle Garage
in New Buckenham during working hours.
Lol’s Tiny Toy Museum in the village is open Saturdays, Sundays
and bank holidays from noon to 4pm, while nearby Old Buckenham windmill
is open on the second Sunday of the month from April to September.
Banham Zoo has many rare and endangered species, including the snow
leopard and Siberian tiger. A large car boot sale is held on Sunday
mornings.
New
Buckenham High Bailiffs Trust recently commissioned a replica of
one of three decorative panels that once adorned the Market Cross,
showing Buckenham Castle in its heyday, flanked by two harts.