Thetford Twinning Association

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Thetford, Norfolk, England

THETFORD HISTORY

Thetford is a town of approximately 20,000 inhabitants, situated in the south-west of Norfolk. It has expanded greatly in the last fifty years or so, due to an overspill programme which brought hundreds of people from London to Thetford, but its history goes back far beyond that. It is one of the most ancient settlement areas in Norfolk, with the Icknield Way passing through it. The flint mines at Grimes Graves are proof of activity and settlements in the Neolithic age, and are a popular tourist attraction today.

Thetford is the birthplace of Thomas Paine, who wrote 'The Rights of Man' and became a leader of reform in the USA and France.

The last Sikh Maharajah of the Punjab, Maharajah Duleep Singh, lived for many years at Elveden Hall, just outside Thetford. He was buried at Elveden church, and one of his sons, Frederick Singh, donated the Ancient House, now a museum, to the town.

Thetford's recent expansion, owing to a town re-development scheme first proposed in 1957, led to the arrival of many new residents, the majority moving from London. This led to considerable growth in the size of the town, and the building of many new houses and large industrial areas, but Thetford has retained it's market town feel and the centre of the ancient town remains largely intact.

Thetford Links

Tour of Thetford A pictorial tour of Thetford sights.

Explore Thetford Thetford's official website

The Brecks The hidden heart of East Anglia

WHAT TO SEE IN AND AROUND THETFORD

The Ancient House Museum

The Ancient House Museum is a 15th century timber framed house with exhibitions on local history and an interactive display on the The Brecks.

The Ancient House Museum, Thetford

Charles Burrell Museum

This is the home of a famous steam traction engine company. There are recreated workshops, steam engines and agricultural machinery, plus documents.

Thetford Priory

The remains of a Cluniac Priory, which was founded in 1103 by Roger Bigod and suffered in the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.

The Heritage Trail

Thetford Art Gallery

Display of artwork by local people in a variety of media. Details

Grimes Graves

Neolithic flint mines. Having viewed the exhibition visitors may then go down into the pits themselves.

More Details

Inside Grimes Graves

Thetford Warren Lodge

Ruins of a two-storey mediaeval Warreners' Lodge. Built around 1400 for the Prior of Thetford's Warreners.

Thetford Forest

The largest lowland pine forest in Britain. Visitor's Centre with cycle hire, adventure playground, maze, forest shop and tea room. Special events organised; Go Ape in the high ropes course in the trees, attend one of a variety of music concerts, or just walk, cycle, orienteer or picnic.

High Lodge Visitor Centre

Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve

Around 200 acres of semi-natural habitat south-east of Thetford, consisting of woodland, Breckland heath, fen and open water. Footpaths and observation hide.