Billingford, South Norfolk
| Billingford | |
|---|---|
Billingford Location within Norfolk | |
| OS grid reference | TM166786 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Diss |
| Postcode district | IP21 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Billingford or Pirleston[1] is a village in the civil parish of Scole, in the South Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. It is 19.4 miles (31.2 km) south-west of Norwich and 2.9 miles (4.7 km) south-east of Diss.
History
The origin of the name 'Billingford' is uncertain, although it is certainly of Anglo-Saxon origin.[2] The village is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as consisting of 21 households in the hundred of Earsham. At the time, Billingford was divided between the estates of the Abbey of St. Etheldreda, Ely and Roger of Rames.[3]
Within the village is Billingford Windmill, which dates from the 18th-century and is in working order. This structure is Grade II listed.[4]
Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew, who was born in the village, was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Flowerdew was killed directing a cavalry charge of C Squadron of Lord Strathcona's Horse on the Western Front of the First World War on 31 March 1918.
Geography
Billingford village is located on the A143 road from Great Yarmouth to Haverhill and is close to the banks of the River Waveney. Amenities within the village include a public house. In 1931, the parish had a population of 150.[5] On 1 April 1935, Billingford parish was merged with Scole.[6]
Church
Billingford's parish church is dedicated to Saint Leonard and lays on a small hill to the north of the village. The church was constructed in early Sixteenth Century, with its construction being interrupted and changed during the English Reformation. The church contains a Medieval font and poppyhead with further additions to the church being made in the Seventeenth and Nineteenth Centuries.[7]
Governance
Billingford is part of the electoral ward of Beck Vale, Dickleburgh and Scole for local elections and is part of the district of South Norfolk. It is part of the Waveney Valley parliamentary constituency.
References
- ^ "History of Billingford in South Norfolk Place names". A Vision of Britain. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Key to English Place-names". kepn.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "Billingford | Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "BILLINGFORD WINDMILL, Scole - 1303800 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "Population Statistics Billingford CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Relationships and Changes Billingford CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Norfolk Churches". www.norfolkchurches.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2024.