Keswick, South Norfolk

Keswick's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the farm specialising in cheese.^[2]

In the Domesday Book, Keswick is listed as a settlement of 38 households in the hundred of Humbleyard. In 1086, the village was divided between the East Anglian estates of Roger Bigod and Godric the Steward.^[3]

A watermill has been recorded in Keswick since the time of the Norman Conquest, along the River Yare. The current building was built in the 19th century and has now been converted into private residences.^[4][5]

Keswick Hall was built in 1817 by William Wilkins in the Regency style using gault brickwork for the Gurney family, and extended in 1839.^[6]

The hall was requisitioned during the Second World War and was later used as a teacher training college, Norwich Training College.^[7] The building was sold during the 1980s and converted into flats. It was Grade II listed in 1987.^[8]

There was also an older building, Keswick Old Hall, dating from the early 17th century.^[9] This was extended around 1800. The building was demolished in the 1960s, but there are still 18th-century cellars.

Keswick's church is one of Norfolk's 124 remaining round-tower churches, dating from the Twelfth Century. All Saints' is located close to Low Road and, like Keswick Hall, has been Grade II listed since 1987.^[10] The church is open once a month for a Sunday service.^[11]

All Saints' holds a stained-glass window designed by William Morris in the 1950s, depicting Saint Hope.^[12]

• General Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt (b.1950), senior British Army officer, Chief of the General Staff (2006–2009).^[13]
• Sir Thomas Gresham (1519–1579), merchant and financier, link to Keswick unknown.
• Hudson Gurney (1775–1864), antiquary and politician, lived in Keswick.
• Anna Gurney (1795–1857), geologist and philanthropist, lived and died in Keswick.
• Darren Huckerby (b.1976), Coventry City and Norwich City footballer, lives in Keswick.
• Jake Humphrey (b.1978), television presenter, grew up in Keswick.

Keswick is part of the electoral ward of Cringleford 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.

On 1 April 1935 the parish of Intwood was merged with Keswick,^[14] on 7 July 2007 the parish was renamed "Keswick and Intwood".^[15] In 1931 the parish of Keswick (prior to the merge) had a population of 127.^[16]

Keswick's war memorial is a marble plaque affixed to the exterior of All Saints' Church which lists the following names for the First World War:^[17]

The following names were added after the Second World War: