Stow Bedon

Stow Bedon
St Botolph, Stow Bedon
Stow Bedon is located in Norfolk
Stow Bedon
Stow Bedon
Location within Norfolk
Area13.68 km2 (5.28 sq mi)
Population290 (2011 census)[1]
• Density21/km2 (54/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTL955963
Civil parish
  • Stow Bedon and Breckles
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townATTLEBOROUGH
Postcode districtNR17
Dialling code01953
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°31′37″N 0°52′52″E / 52.527°N 0.881°E / 52.527; 0.881

Stow Bedon /ˌstoʊ ˈbɛdən/ is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Stow Bedon and Breckles, in the Breckland district of the English county of Norfolk. Stow Bedon adjoins the hamlet of Lower Stow Bedon, although the two are often considered to be one village. In the south of the parish is the village of Breckles. In 2011 the merged parish had a population of 290.

The village’s name means 'Place'. The village was held by John di Bidun in the 13th century.

The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions both Stow Bedon (together with Caston) and Breckles.[2][3] The Inclosure Act mentions Stow Bedon as a 'Free Village' and mentions how the village "maintained an independent spirit". Further records show that during Queen Victoria's Jubilee, instead of the traditional roasting of an ox, Stow Bedon only roasted a pig.

Kelly's Directory for 1883 records that Stow Bedon had a population of 324 with a total of 35 dwellings. It has been assumed in recent times, however, that the true number of houses during this period would have been greater.

The village church dates from the 14th century and is dedicated to St Botolph; it is a Grade II* listed building.[4] The south and west of the area is a separate ecclesiastical parish,[5] and its church, St Margaret's at Breckles, is Grade I listed.[6]

A station at Stow Bedon, on the Thetford & Watton Railway, opened in October 1869 and closed with the line in June 1964.[7] The Great Eastern Pingo Trail, a 13-kilometre circular walk, starts and finishes in the village. Parking is on the A1075, in the former railway station yard. The village fete is held annually in June, and St Botolph's church holds a flower festival.

Stow Bedon is closely connected to the towns of Watton, Attleborough and Thetford.

  1. ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  2. ^ Stow Bedon in the Domesday Book
  3. ^ Breckles in the Domesday Book
  4. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Botolph (1077585)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Breckles". A Church Near You. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Margaret (1248441)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Station Name:Stow Bedon". Disused Stations. Retrieved 19 December 2017.