Syderstone

Governance

For the purposes of local government, Syderstone falls within the Norfolk district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Churches

St Mary's, the parish church, is one of 124 round-tower churches in Norfolk, as is the nearby church at Barmer. St Mary's has a service every Sunday at various times.

In its present form the church has its origins in the Norman period, but may date from earlier. It was remodelled and reduced in size in 1785, and underwent major restoration and refurnishing in 1859.

The initials "A. R." on the church gates refer to Amy Robsart, whose family were lords of the manor. She and her husband, Robert Dudley, later Earl of Leicester, lived for a time at Syderstone Hall, which no longer stands. She died young amid rumours that her husband had poisoned her. She provided the basis for a novel, Kenilworth, by Sir Walter Scott. The village hall is named after her.

Wildlife

It is famous for the natterjack toads which have been seen near the popular but overgrown duck pond. Syderstone is also known for its large common, which spans roughly 4 sqmi. Much wildlife can be seen there including snakes, hares, rabbits and foxes.

In a field alongside the road that passes the duck pond there is a World War II Home Guard pill box. On a bright spring day in 1944 or 1945 two P-51 Mustangs collided over Barwick Hall Farm near Stanhoe. One of the Mustangs crashed on Syderstone Common, killing the pilot.

References

References

1. Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes [http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls] {{webarchive. link. (2017-02-11. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009.)
2. "Parish population 2011".
3. [https://www.syderstone.org/ Village site, church. Retrieved 7 June 2020.]
4. [https://www.syderstone.org/brief-history Village history. Retrieved 7 June 2020.]
5. [http://www.syderstone.com/history.htm Village site: village history. Retrieved 7 June 2020.]
6. [http://www.syderstone.com/walks.pdf Retrieved 7 June 2020]
7. [https://www.syderstone.org/brief-history Wartime. Retrieved 7 June 2020.]