Welcome to the

Flitcham Village Web Site

www.flitcham.com

Flitcham is a small west Norfolk village situated 7 miles north east of King's Lynn and straddles the B1153, just to the north of the A148 Fakenham Road at Hillington. Along with the villages of Anmer, West Newton, Wolferton and Shernborne, it forms part of the Royal Sandringham Estate and the original carved village sign was a gift of King George V in 1912.

Like most of Norfolk, the land is not flat but is gently undulating, and to the north, the land rises quite steeply towards Anmer.

Just to the south, the little Babingley River flows east to west. This small stream has waters so cold and clear sometimes, that legend has it that the waters flow underground direct from glaciers in the Alps and across the continent to re-emerge in springs that source the river. St Felix, whom the village is believed to be named after, is said to have sailed up this river.

Abbey Farm is situated at the eastern end of the village and extends across the river to the south. The proprietors have provided a popular nature reserve and hide for bird watching as well as growing and selling organic produce.

The village has a strong community with a football team (Flitcham & Hillington), a cricket club (Hillington & Flitcham), bowls club, and a thriving community centre housed in the old Bell public house which is also home for various clubs including Good Companions and Keep Fit as well as a Mother & Toddler Group and the village darts and dominoes teams.

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At the 2001 Census there were 96 households in the village, with 236 residents split equally between the sexes. A popular and successful school and a popular pre-school play group both flourish.

The Church of St Mary at the far western end of the village is unusual because its tower is at its eastern end. The original cruciform church has largely disappeared - there is no north transept and the south is in ruins while an area of raised ground to the east indicates where the chancel once stood.

There is distinctive blank arcading to the eastern elevation of the Norman tower, directly beneath which is the modern chancel. The royal family undertook restoration in the early 20th century from which time the pews date.

The school and many of the cottages are built in the very attractive local "carrstone". This distinctive brown stone is seen over a relatively small area of west Norfolk only. It does not work easily and the irregular shaped pieces are traditionally laid flat, rather like a dry stone wall.