Hindringham

Hindringham's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the settlement of the people living behind the hills.^[1]

In the Domesday Book, Hindringham is listed as a settlement of 49 households in the hundred of North Greenhoe. In 1086, the village was divided between the East Anglian estates of William de Beaufeu, King William I, Osbern FitzOsbern and Drogo de la Beuvrière.^[2]

The Duke's Head pub was open in the village from 1784 to 1954 and was the scene of regular cockfights.^[3]

Lower Green tower mill was built in the 19th century and closed in 1900, being converted into a private dwelling.^[4]

According to the 2021 census, Hindringham had a population of 465 people, an increase from the 457 people recorded in the 2011 census.^[5]

Hindringham's parish church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours and dates from the 14th century. The church is within the village on 'The Street', and has been Grade I listed since 1959.^[6] The church is no longer open for Sunday services, but is part of the Waymarker Benefice and is in the care of the National Churches Trust.^[7][8]

St. Martin's was heavily restored in the Victorian era and still holds a 15th century font and a stained-glass window designed by Ward and Hughes depicting the martyrdom of St. Martin. The church also holds a remarkable 12th century chest, which is generally considered to be one of the oldest in England.^[9]

Hindringham Hall is a 16th-century moated brick and flint house located roughly quarter of a mile to the north-west of the village centre. It was built by Martin Hastings, a courtier in the service of Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII by his mistress Elizabeth Blount.^[10] A lease written in 1562 refers to the house "now being builded and edified". It had fallen into decline until restored in 1900 by Gerald Gosselin from Bengeo Hall, Hertfordshire. The interior was completely refurbished, the exterior largely being retained.

The moat and associated fish ponds date from the 12th century. The raised ground within the moat originally provided a secure and dry location for farm buildings and storage.

The extensive gardens are the work of the current owners, and include a significant rose collection. They were shortlisted for the Historic Houses 2020 Garden of the Year award. They are open to the public on certain days during the summer months.

Hindringham Fish Ponds and Moat

^[11] The medieval fish ponds on the Hindringham Estate cover 3 acres (1.2 hectares). Although somewhat silted up, they remain amongst the best preserved in East Anglia. The ponds and the moat are fed from the River Stiffkey, a chalk stream running through the grounds.

They were built, along with the moat, in around 1150 and their construction would have required moving around 50,000 m³ of soil, an enterprise likely occupying 100 men for 3 years.

The ponds were managed by the monks of Norwich Priory, and comprised an important food source for the priory, as well as for the Benedictines at Binham Priory and the Augustinians and Friars at Walsingham (about 5 km or 3 miles to the west), as well as for the thousands of pilgrims who came to Walsingham from all over Europe. Eel, perch and pike were farmed, with European carp introduced later.

It is likely that the ponds were abandoned following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1534, but even if not, it is almost certain that they were finally abandoned in the Little Ice Age of the 17th century. However the shortage of labour following the Plague of 1349 may have resulted in their earlier decline.

Hindringham Church of England Primary School caters to local children and is part of The Pilgrim Federation. The headmaster is Mr. T. Snowdon.^[12]

Hindringham has a popular sports and social club and this acts as the clubhouse for Hindringham FC on matchdays.

Hindringham is part of the electoral ward of Priory for local elections and is part of the district of North Norfolk.

The village's national constituency is North Norfolk, which has been represented by the Liberal Democrat Steff Aquarone MP since 2024.

Hindringham War Memorial is a stone cross with an emblazoned sword of sacrifice in St. Martin's Churchyard.^[13] The memorial lists the following names for the First World War:^[14][15]

The following name was added after the Second World War:

• Hindringham Lower Green tower windmill