Weybourne

The place that is closest to my heart, my home village of Weybourne, North Norfolk. I have lived here my entire 40 years and cannot see me leaving it, but who can tell?? I have lived in two properties within the parish of Weybourne, our current bungalow since 1979, moving all of 150 metres!!

Above is a view of Weybourne 2003 from Telegraph Hill

Known by a variety of spellings - from Wabrunna (1086) and Wabrunne (1254) to Wayborn (1346) and even Waybornthorp (1724). It's origin has been suggested by Ekwall as coming from the Old English "Wearg-Burna", the "Felon Stream" in which felons were drowned. A practice that continued in England till the 15th century. If this is correct, it was probably the felon stream of the old Holt Hundred in which the wrongdoers met their death.

Blomefield however attributes the name to "Wa" and "Bruna", old English for brook or stream. Originally it ran down the side of the Holt Road before being diverted to feed the Mill pond.

The Parish Church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and All Saints, was built during the 11th century. This was incorporated into the Priory Church of the Augustinian Canons when they founded their priory in the village around 1200. Parts of the original parish church - Tower, Vestry and North Aisle - can still be seen, as can parts of the Priory.

The Priory was subordinate to the main house at Westacre and was always under-staffed and short of money. Despite this they must have been a fairly independent lot for early in the 14th century they gained the right to elect their own Prior on a payment of an annual pension of 7s 6d to Westacre. In 1530 the Prior and remaining Canon changed places. In order to remain solvent they took in paying guests "corrodiani" who, in effect, paid a lump sum for continual board and lodging. These 2 enterprising gentlemen also sold off most of the Priory's goods, so when the Dissolution came there was precious little of value to account for. However, this did plunder what was left of the Priory and impoverished the Church, which remained in a state of continual decay and dilapidation until 1866 and 1886 when real efforts were made to restore it.

The importance of Weybourne has always been the presence of very deep water immediately off shore. It was, no doubt, a landing place known to the Angles, Saxons and Danes, although the high ground along the Cromer Ridge offered splendid vantage points to spot attacks. During the last two World Wars it was used for gun emplacements and defensive positions in readiness for any impending invasion.

Although the beach configuration has changed, large vessels can no longer come close inshore. But, there is still sufficient deep water to remind us of the old saying:

"He who would Old England win, must at Weybourne Hope begin"

More local history, pictures etc. please continue to the next page...