Stratton Strawless

History

The village was first recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Stratuna ('tun') meaning house or farm in Anglo-Saxon. Strawless is an appellative from the poorness of the soil, producing little grain and less straw, but favourable to the production of timber.

The Marsham family

From the 14th century to the end of the 19th century Stratton Strawless hall was the home of the Marsham family which included Robert Marsham (1707–97), the phenologist. Marsham is believed to have planted two million trees on the estate. Most of the plantings were cleared for much-needed timber for the First and Second World War.

The current hall (then three storeys) was completed c. 1800; in c.1960 the top storey was removed. During the Second World War the hall housed an operations room for RAF Coltishall. The Grade II listed hall has been converted into residential flats and part of the grounds have been turned into a caravan park.

St Margaret's Church

The Grade I listed Church of St Margaret dates to the 13th century with a broad tower from 1422. The oldest feature is a Norman doorway leading to the chancel. The church is full of artefacts which include 17th-century alabaster monuments dedicated to the Marsham family.

Also, of note is the early 18th-century great brass chandelier which holds 25 candles and is lit every fourth Sunday for Evensong. The life-sized Black Abbess was found walled up in the tower during the 19th-century renovation. She is believed to depict a crusader's widow dating from the late 13th century.

Leisure and recreation

The village hall is located in Parish Road. Adjacent to the building is the village sign which depicts Marsham's Great Cedar, woodlands and the lily ponds that are located close by.

In May of each year at Brook House, the bluebell woods are opened to the public.

Much of the area can be explored by bicycle and foot via the network of quiet lanes and footpaths.

Public transport

Bus

• Sanders Coaches 44/44a https://sanderscoaches.com/timetables/44-44a-x44-1 43 https://sanderscoaches.com/timetables/43

Rail

Both stations are approximately 5 mi from the village.

• Wroxham railway station
• Worstead railway station

Notable residents

• Robert Marsham, founding father of phenology

Gallery

File:Marsham memorial.JPG|The Marsham family memorial File:Stratton Strawless village sign - geograph.org.uk - 6705282.jpg|The village sign File:The Great Cedar.JPG|The Great Cedar File:Lily ponds.JPG| Lily ponds File:St Margaret's Church.JPG| The great brass chandelier File:The Black Abbess.JPG|The Black Abbess

References

References

1. "Civil Parish population 2011". Office for National Statistics.
2. "Archived copy".
3. [http://www.broadland.gov.uk/leisure_and_tourism/1190.asp Villages of Broadland] Retrieved 16 October
4. Sparks,T & Lines, J ''Chapters in the life of Robert Marsham (1708-1797)'' Published 2008; pp56.65
5. A few ancient trees remain, and in particular the Great Cedar (planted in 1747). The ''[[Cedrus atlantica]]'' tree, which is located in Reed-house grove to the east of the hall, was measured in 2000, at which time it had attained a height of {{convert. 31. m. feet and a circumference of {{convert. 7. m. feet.Sparks,T & Lines, J ''Chapters in the life of Robert Marsham (1708-1797)'' Published 2008; pp35,61
6. [https://archive.today/20120723170853/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/45/a3130345.shtml People's war] Retrieved 16 October 2008
7. {{National Heritage List for England
8. {{National Heritage List for England
9. [http://www.strattonstrawless.churchnorfolk.com/ St Margaret's Church] Retrieved 16 October 2008
10. [http://www.norwich.anglican.org/calendar/e2786 Brook House] Retrieved 1 May 2012