English Heritage sites near Beachamwell Parish
CASTLE ACRE: CASTLE ACRE PRIORY
7 miles from Beachamwell Parish
This important Norfolk visitor attraction is one of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England dating back to 1090.
CASTLE ACRE CASTLE AND BAILEY GATE
7 miles from Beachamwell Parish
The delightful village of Castle Acre boasts an extraordinary wealth of history and is a very rare and complete survival of a Norman planned settlement.
WEETING CASTLE
10 miles from Beachamwell Parish
The ruins of a substantial early medieval moated manor house, built in local flint.
GRIME'S GRAVES - PREHISTORIC FLINT MINE
10 miles from Beachamwell Parish
Grime’s Graves is a unique visitor attraction in Norfolk as the only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain.
CASTLE RISING CASTLE
13 miles from Beachamwell Parish
One of the largest, best preserved and most lavishly decorated keeps in England, surrounded by 20 acres of mighty earthworks.
THETFORD WARREN LODGE
14 miles from Beachamwell Parish
Thetford Warren Lodge was probably built c.1400 by the Prior of Thetford; this defensible lodge protected gamekeepers and hunting parties against armed poachers.
Churches in Beachamwell Parish
St Mary the Virgin
St Mary's Church
The Green
Beachamwell
Swaffham
(01366) 328779
St Mary the Virgin Church, Beachamwell serves Beachamwell and Shingham, and the hamlet of Drymere. It is situated in the centre of Beachamwell village in a picturesque setting next to the village green. The church is over 1,000 years old, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is a Grade 1 listed building. In February 2022 it was devastated by a fire that started when hot lead works were underway on the south aisle roof. The fire destroyed the entire roofs of the church and their collapse into the church destroyed the interior by fire too. The church is currently undergoing complete restoration with the first phase nearing completion. The church is a Saxo-Norman round tower church with a thatched roof. An octagonal top was added to the tower in the late Medieval period, the parallel South aisle was added in the c15 and the Victorians did some extension work on the nave/chancel east gable end. The tower contained two bells, these are currently at a bell foundry under restoration as a result of the fire. They will be returned to the church.
There are two other churches in Beachamwell, both of which are now in ruins, plus the church of St Botolph in nearby Shingham, which is licensed to a local farming family. No services are held at St Botolph's but the churchyard there is used for burials as the churchyard at St Mary's is now full.
There are about 300 people living in Beachamwell and the villagers are very supportive of the church's restoration, and there are many village events held to raise funds for the church, in addition to fund raising activities by the church members themselves.
Pubs in Beachamwell Parish
Great Danes
Old Hall Lane, Beachamwell, PE37 8BG
(01366) 328443
thegreatdanes.co.uk