great and little plumstead (towns and villages)
The parish is comprised of three villages: Great Plumstead, Little Plumstead and Thorpe End. Both the Plumsteads are long established communities whilst 'Thorpe End Garden Village' was established in the early 1930s then further developed throughout the 70s and 80s.
The Parish has many orchards and rich farming land. The name Plumstead is thought to mean "dwelling site near plums" and was mentioned as 'Plumestede' in the Domesday Book.
The villages' community facilities include playing fields, recreation areas and village halls.
parish churches
The parish contains three churches: St Mary the Virgin in Great Plumstead, St Gervase and St Protase in Little Plumstead and St David in Thorpe End. St Mary the Virgin is mainly constructed of flint but does contain medieval fragments such as the gargoyles around the tower.
thorpe end village sign
Thorpe End, a hamlet north of Thorpe St Andrew, has a triangular village sign of a tree as the area is well wooded. Carved into the trunk of the tree there are two tiny linked hearts in which the sign maker Mr John Chaplin's initials feature together with his wife's.
The sign was presented to the village by the Women's Institute to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the movement.
related pages
broadland's towns and villages
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