Ludham | |
---|---|
Ludham village sign | |
Location within Norfolk | |
Area | 12.18 km2 (4.70 sq mi) |
Population | 1,278 (2011) |
• Density | 105/km2 (270/sq mi) |
OS grid reference | TG389183 |
Civil parish |
|
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | GREAT YARMOUTH |
Postcode district | NR29 |
Police | Norfolk |
Fire | Norfolk |
Ambulance | East of England |
Ludham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, in the Norfolk Broads, at the end of a dyke leading to Womack Water and flowing into the River Thurne. It lies 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the East of Ludham Bridge, which is on the River Ant. It covers an area of 12.18 km2 (4.70 sq mi) and had a population of 1,301 in 582 households at the 2001 census,[1] the population reducing to 1,278 at the 2011 census.[2] For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk.
The villages name origin is unsure possibly, 'Luda's homestead/village' but perhaps, 'homestead/village on the Hlude (= noisy one)', an old name for Womack Water.
Ludham Hall was the former bishop's palace with a chapel now used as a barn. A palace of Bishops of Norwich it burnt down in 1611, and was rebuilt by Bishop Samuel Harsnett, with the chapel added 1627. The house of flint with ashlar quoins and some brick was refaced in the late 18th century in brick.[3][4]
It is part of the Ludham - Potter Heigham NNR, a national nature reserve.
The village gave its name to a Ham-class minesweeper, HMS Ludham and also, in geology, to an age/stage (the Ludhamian) in the British regional subdivision of the Pleistocene Series/Epoch. It also effectively gives its name to the preceding age/underlying stage known as the Pre-Ludhamian.[5]