Learn how a fire which started in a village cattle yard spread so far and so fast that many buildings in South Walsham, including the medieval church of St Lawrence, were severely damaged. Discover how the fire miraculously missed the parish church of St Mary’s, which shares the same churchyard, and how local people preserved and enhanced the once sad remains of St Lawrence’s, recreating it as a rural centre for the arts.
HERITAGE OPEN DAY 2026
Come and meet the characters involved in the Great Fire of South Walsham, 1827.
Travel back in time to Georgian days when a devastating wild fire engulfed our village, destroying many homes and livelihoods – and causing an inferno at one of our two medieval churches.
St Lawrence’s Church, which was partly thatched, was so badly damaged in the blaze that half the tower and all of the nave were ruined. By some miracle, St Mary’s Church, which shared the same churchyard, escaped the fire.
St Lawrence’s, which was restored in the 1830s as a much smaller building, will celebrate Heritage Open Day on Saturday, 19th September, from 10am to 4pm.
Come and find out how the fire started, who got the blame, who helped to rebuild it and how the 21st century villagers will commemorate the 200th anniversary.
A selection of delicious cakes will be on offer in our Great Fire Café and there will be children’s games and activities too.
Find us at the St Lawrence’s Centre, The Street, South Walsham, NR13 6DQ
Strumpshaw Trosh
Thank you to everyone who visited our Every Heart’s A Winner stall at the Strumpshaw Trosh at the weekend. We raised £156 for our village history project and met some people with interesting stories and memories to share about South Walsham. Our photo shows team members Claire and Caroline on duty at the stall.
A Norwich charity has given its support to our village history project by awarding a grant to help to fund the Great Fire of South Walsham musical drama and school living history day. Norwich Freemen’s Charity, one of three grant-making bodies under the Norwich Charitable Trusts umbrella, supports educational projects and those which bring cultural benefits to local communities.
In June next year The Great Fire of South Walsham history project will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the devastating fire which engulfed the village and destroyed most of St Lawrence’s Church. We’re absolutely thrilled to have the support of the Freemen of Norwich; it means we can be ambitious in how we stage our show at the village hall in 2027 and the experience we can give to the school children in September this year.
If you would like to know more about the project and become involved, please contact Chris Bond, bond.chris.15@gmail.com
Many thanks to everyone who supported our Spuds and Puds Quiz in March – we made a fantastic £1038 for our project funds. Thanks go to Shon Meale, our quiz master.
Every 3rd Monday of the Month (2-4pm) – A Cup of Memories
Framed photos of old South Walsham are on sale via Chris Bond (01603 270210 / 07590 307099). There are five different views of the village including the shop at the turn of the century, the Staithe, two street scenes and a view of the two churches before the tower of St Lawrence collapsed in the 1970s.
Pictures with both frame and mount are £10 each or two for £15, while those with a mount just are £5 each.
If you are unable to get to the craft fair but would like to order some photos please contact Chris Bond on bond.chris.15@gmail.com
We have had some fantastic photographs brought to our Cup of Memories sessions from people who have lived here all their lives and from others who have visited us specially.
Cycle Speedway was popular in the 1950s and 1960s and South Walsham had a track of its own – where the bowling green now stands.
This photo shows local lads being led by cycle speedway guru Mike Parkins (centre) who won the world title in 1962.
L-R: Stephen Bishop, Robert Webb, Mike Parkins, Kelvin (Kipper) Copsey, Chris Starkings and John Debbage
Photo from Jackie Barnes
This photo shows the entries to the children’s fancy dress competition at the village fete in 1963. It was lent to us by Suzanne Aldridge (neé Jermy) who is pictured third from the right, dressed as the Queen of Hearts and wearing the number 3. She remembers that the carnival committee used to invite celebrities from the summer shows at Great Yarmouth to open the event and judge the fancy-dress costumes – we think that the three ladies on the top right with Beehive hairdos are probably singers from one of the shows.
The project now has a Facebook page – check it out here
