Easton, Norfolk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Easton | |
|---|---|
 St. Peter's Church | |
  Easton Location within Norfolk | |
| Area | 2.41 sq mi (6.2 km2) |
| Population | 1,436 (2021 census) |
| • Density | 596/sq mi (230/km2) |
| OS grid reference | TG135108 |
| • London | 95 miles (153 km) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORWICH |
| Postcode district | NR9 |
| Dialling code | 01603 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Easton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.
Easton is located 6.2 miles (10.0 km) north-west of Norwich and 9 miles (14 km) east of Dereham, along the A47.
Easton's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the eastern farmstead or settlement.[1]
In the Nineteenth Century, archaeologists discovered a fourth century Roman hoard consisting of 4,000 coins, yet there is little evidence of any Roman settlement in the vicinity of Easton.[2]
In the Domesday Book, Easton is listed as a settlement of 17 households in the hundred of Forehoe. In 1086, the village formed part of the East Anglian estates of Alan of Brittany.[3]
Geography
According to the 2021 census, Easton has a total population of 1,436 people which demonstrates a decrease from the 1,514 people listed in the 2011 census.[4]
The A47, between Birmingham and Lowestoft, runs through the parish.
St. Peter's Church
Easton's parish church is dedicated to Saint Peter and dates from the Fourteenth Century. St. Peter's is located within the village on Dereham Road and has been Grade I listed since 1959. St. Peter's was left towerless after a collapse in the Eighteenth Century, which was subsequently replaced by a bellcote which also does not survive.[5]
St. Peter's was heavily restored in the Nineteenth Century by Richard Phipson with the large crucifix that hangs above the chancel arch originally hanging in St Gregory's Church, Norwich. The church font is a relic of the Thirteenth Century and is made out of Purbeck Marble.[6]
Royal Norfolk Showground
The Royal Norfolk Showground is located within the parish and has acted as the venue for the Royal Norfolk Show since the 1950s, when the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association purchased the ground. Today, the showground features a 0.6 square kilometres (0.23 sq mi) open site with a 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft) indoor Showground Arena. The showground continues to host events throughout the year.[7]
Easton College
The parish is the site of Easton College, a large agricultural college offering courses in agriculture, horticulture and arboriculture. The college is centred around Easton Hall, an Eighteenth Century manor house with Grade II listed status.[8]
Amenities
The majority of local children attend Easton Primary School on Marlingford Road which is part of the East Anglian Schools Trust.[9] In 2024, the school was awarded a Good rating by Ofsted.[10]
Easton F.C. play home games at Easton College and play in the Anglian Combination League.[11]
Notable residents
- Cardinal Adam Easton- (1328–1397) Benedictine clergyman, born in Easton.
Governance
Easton is an electoral ward for local elections and is part of the district of South Norfolk.
The village's national constituency is South Norfolk which has been represented by the Labour's Ben Goldsborough MP since 2024.
