The notes below are a summary by Betty Morley of a report by Jenny Jenkins on a talk given by Nick Woods to the DFHG some time ago.
Centuries ago Norfolk was surrounded by rivers and fens and the only safe crossing place in this watery landscape was a ford, a high narrow causeway of dry land situated at a place where the rivers Ouse and Waveney rise.
Roydon could be reached by boat. When the Romans arrived in East Anglia in the 1st Century AD in an attempt to subdue the uncooperative Iceni they found that the knowledge of the crossing place gave their enemy an advantage. There are a couple of theories as to how Lopham got its name. It could be derived from the Anglo Saxon where lop meant to cut or leap, as was necessary to make progress through the boggy land, hence a lopway or pathway. The word Ham in Old English denotes a village. Evidence of a Roman Villa was discovered to the north of Lodge Farm in the 1950’s.
The Domesday Book which William 1st commissioned after the conquest in 1066 records Lopham consisting of two manors, Lopham Magna and Lopham Parva, held by Freemen Alsius and Ofl. William united both manors under the name of Lopham Parva and then generously bestowed the estate upon one of his nobles, Roger Bigod, one of a ruthless and powerful family. When Roger died in 1107 he was buried in Thetford Abbey.
Eventually Lopham passed into the hands of the Crown and was given to Thomas, the brother of Edward 1st who became the first Earl of Norfolk.
When The Rev. Blomefield’s book was published in 1739 it noted that there were three wonders of Lopham, as follows:
The Self Grown Stile, long gone, which had formed by the natural growth of a tree in nearby woodland.
The Oxfoot stone. This was an ancient flat stone bearing a shallow impression which people thought resembled the print of a cow. Legend states that a cow with a constant supply of milk visited this spot.
The Lopham Ford or gate, mentioned above.
By the late 20th Century, according to local lore, Lopham could boast seven wonders. The additional four were:
The Church of St. Andrew with its outstanding Norman Tower, built in 1140. The largest in East Anglia. Originally dedicated to St Nicholas, this church at some time swapped with its neighbour and became St Andrew!
The 1000 year old well behind Fir Cottage. The water level remains constant, whatever the weather.
The Three Gates off one post (technically in Bressingham).
The chimney with a built in door at Grange Farm and its association with the Methodist movement in the 1700’s.
We don’t know anything about those people that compiled the list but due to some diligent and lengthy research more have been discovered more and here they are.
The Letchmere Pond, which was used to rett1 hemp and flax for the linen industry, situated in North Lopham Street. It was also believed that so called witches were ducked there but when it was dredged no grisly remains were found.
The Lopham Linen industry. The linen and damask produced was of such high quality that Lopham Linen received a warrant to supply the royal palaces and households. It was the introduction of the power loom that caused its decline in the 20th century.
The rare barrel organ in North Lopham Church which was built in the 1800s originally for Stanhoe Hall.
