Woodrising is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Cranworth, in the Breckland district, in the county of Norfolk, England. The village of Woodrising is south of Dereham. In 1931 the parish had a population of 103.[1]

Woodrising
Woodrising is located in Norfolk
Woodrising
Woodrising
Location within Norfolk
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°35′27″N 0°56′01″E / 52.59083°N 0.93361°E / 52.59083; 0.93361

The parish church of St Nicholas dates mainly to the 14th century, its tower collapsing in the early 18th century.[2] The bell frame (bell-cot or bell-cote), with a thatched roof, is preserved nearby, although the bell within it may be of 19th century origin.[3]

St Nicholas, Woodrising
Thatched bell-cote
19th century bell in the bell-cote

History edit

The villages name means 'Risa's people' or perhaps, 'Brushwood place' or 'people of the brushwood'. 'Wood' was a 13th century addition.[4]

The lords of the manor were the De Rising family, followed by the Southwell family, owners of Woodrising Hall, including Sir Richard Southwell (d. 1563) whose tomb is within the church, Sir Robert Southwell (d. 1598), and Thomas Southwell who sold the family estates to Francis Crane.

The old Hall was demolished in the 18th-century leaving a moated site. Queen Elizabeth stayed at the Hall for four days in 1578. She travelled from Kimberley and went on to Thetford.[5]

It was formerly in the Mitford Hundred. On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Cranworth.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population statistics Woodrising AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. ^ "St Nicholas' Church Woodrising Cranworth". Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Norfolk Churches-woodrising". norfolkchurches.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Key to English Place-names".
  5. ^ Woodrising Hall: Norfolk Heritage Explorer.
  6. ^ "Relationships and changes Woodrising AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 28 January 2023.