Hemsby

Hemsby
Hemsby is located in Norfolk
Hemsby
Hemsby
Location within Norfolk
Area7.14 km2 (2.76 sq mi)
Population3,275 (2011)
• Density459/km2 (1,190/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTG495175
Civil parish
  • Hemsby
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townGREAT YARMOUTH
Postcode districtNR29
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°41′52″N 1°41′28″E / 52.69764°N 1.69115°E / 52.69764; 1.69115

Hemsby is a village, seaside resort and civil parish in the county of Norfolk, England. It is situated some 8 mi (13 km) north of the town of Great Yarmouth.[1] In the 2001 census Hemsby had a population of 2,973 in 1,221 households; by the 2011 census it had increased to 3,275.[2] Hemsby borders the villages of Winterton-on-Sea and Scratby. For the purpose of local government, the parish is in the district of Great Yarmouth.[3]

Coastal erosion is destroying a number of homes[4] and others are threatened. A Norfolk county map dated around 1610 shows a headland, called Winterton Ness, extending into the sea north-east of Hemsby. This headland has now almost entirely disappeared through erosion.

The village's name means 'Hemer's farm/settlement'.

Hemsby, along with much of the Norfolk coast, was targeted by the Vikings, who initially raided the area in search of precious materials and slaves. The village was founded at some point during this time. The settlement grew steadily and is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name of Haimesbei with a description of "a hamlet covering 43 meadow acres with 50 households, 3 slaves, 2 salt pans and 160 sheep".

  1. ^ Ordnance Survey (2005). OS Explorer Map OL40 - The Broads. ISBN 0-319-23769-9.
  2. ^ "Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. ^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Web.archive.org, Retrieved 2 December 2005.
  4. ^ "Norfolk floods: Seven Hemsby homes destroyed by sea". BBC News. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.