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Castle Acre

Coordinates: 52°42′11″N 0°41′11″E / 52.70310°N 0.68633°E / 52.70310; 0.68633
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Castle Acre
Castle Acre is located in Norfolk
Castle Acre
Castle Acre
Location within Norfolk
Area13.18 km2 (5.09 sq mi)
Population848 (2011)
• Density64/km2 (170/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTF816151
• London103 miles (166 km)
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townKING'S LYNN
Postcode districtPE32
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°42′11″N 0°41′11″E / 52.70310°N 0.68633°E / 52.70310; 0.68633

Castle Acre is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated on the River Nar some 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the town of Swaffham. It is 15 miles (24 km) east of the town of King's Lynn, 33 miles (53 km) west of the city of Norwich, and 103 miles (166 km) from London.[1][2]

History

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Castle Acre's name is of Anglo-Saxon and Norman origin and derives from the Old English and Norman French for a castle close to cultivated land.[3]

The village is most famous for being the location of Castle Acre Castle which was built in 1085 by William de Warenne in order to enforce his control over his East Anglian lands. By the 12th century, the castle passed into the ownership of Hamelin Plantagenet who hosted both King Henry II and King Edward I in Castle Acre. By the 16th century, the castle lay mainly derelict yet had a procession of illustrious owners including Thomas Howard, Thomas Cecil and Sir Edward Coke. Today, the castle is maintained by English Heritage.[4]

Furthermore, Castle Acre is home to the ruins of Castle Acre Priory which was established in 1090 by William de Warenne for an order of Cluniac monks. The monastery fell into disrepair after Dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. The priory is maintained by English Heritage.[5]

Geography

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In the 2011 census, Castle Acre was reported as having a population of 848 residents in 463 households.[6]

Castle Acre is located in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk District and is part of the North West Norfolk constituency and is thus represented by James Wild MP in Parliament.

St James' Church

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Castle Acre's Church of England parish church is of Norman origin and is dedicated to Saint James. The church was heavily restored in the 14th century with further work being completed in the 19th century by Ewan Christian.[7]

Notable residents

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Village sign in Castle Acre

References

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  1. ^ Ordnance Survey (1999). OS Explorer Map 236 - King's Lynn, Downham Market & Swaffham. ISBN 0-319-21867-8.
  2. ^ Distances are "by road" and derived using "Google Maps". Retrieved on 2009-01-14.
  3. ^ "Key to English Place-names". kepn.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  4. ^ "History of Castle Acre Castle and Bailey Gate". English Heritage. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Castle Acre: Castle Acre Priory". English Heritage. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Custom report - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Norfolk Churches". www.norfolkchurches.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
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