Bexwell
Human settlement in England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bexwell is a small village and former civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located within the parish of Ryston and is located 1.24 miles (2 kilometres) from Downham Market.
| Bexwell | |
|---|---|
 Bexwell St Mary | |
  Bexwell Location within Norfolk | |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Peterborough |
| Postcode district | PE38 |
| Dialling code | 01366 |
| UK Parliament | |
The name Bexwell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for Beac's spring or stream.[1]
Bexwell is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as consisting of 18 households in the hundred of Clackclose. At this time, Bexwell was divided into the estates of Roger Bigod, the Abbey of St. Etheldreda, Henry de Ferrers and Reginald, son of Ivo.[2]
St. Mary's Church, Bexwell is one of the 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. It was likely built during the Twelfth Century and contains memorials Henry Bexwell and Francis Bachcroft within.[3] The church was restored in the Nineteenth Century and was further refurbished in the 1980s by local fundraising.[4]
There is also a late Fifteenth Century stone barn which stands adjacent to the A1122, King's Lynn to Colchester. It is likely that this structure was built as a gatehouse to Ryston Hall and was later repurposed as a barn. It was re-roofed in the Twentieth Century. The building has been Grade II listed since 1984.[5]
Bexwell Hall Farmhouse, along Bexwell Lane, originates from the late Sixteenth Century but has been extensively remodelled since. This structure has been Grade II listed since 1989.[6]
In the 1931 Census, Bexwell had a population of 60.[7] On 1 April 1935, the parish was abolished and merged with Ryston.[8]
St. Mary's Church holds a Roll of Honour to the villagers who fought during the First World War which includes the names of seven individuals in total.[9] Included in this is Second-Lieutenant Charles D. Prangley (1897-1916) who fought with the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment and was killed on 25 September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.[10] Prangley occupies Grave V. D. 7 of the Guards' Cemetery, Lesbœufs,[11] and is also commemorated on the Denver War Memorial.
Some parts of Bexwell were part of RAF Downham Market during the Second World War.
Bexwell is part of the electoral ward of Ryston for local elections and is part of the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
Bexwell's national constituency is South West Norfolk, which has been represented by Labour's Terry Jermy MP since 2024.
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