Reedham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk and within The Broads. It is on the north bank of the River Yare, 12 miles (19 km) east of the city of Norwich, 8 mi (13 km) south-west of the town of Great Yarmouth and the same distance north-west of the Suffolk town of Lowestoft. The village's name means 'reedy homestead/village' or 'reedy hemmed-in land'.

History

Before the draining of the marshes towards Great Yarmouth, Reedham was a coastal village which included a Roman lighthouse. Fragments of Roman brick and stone can be found in the local church.

King Edmund of East Anglia is said to have lived here. The Fastolf family, whose most celebrated member was Sir John Fastolf, are recorded here from the 13th century.

Polkey's Mill is a derelict grade II* listed windpump dating from about 1880.

Geography

The civil parish includes a significant area of nearby marshland, together with the famously isolated settlement of Berney Arms. It has an area of 4.81 sq mi (12.5 km) and in the 2001 census had a population of 925 in 406 households, increasing to a population of 1,207 in 505 households at the 2011 census.

For the purposes of local government, the parish lies within the district of Broadland.

Transport

Reedham railway station is a stop on the Wherry Lines. Services provided by Greater Anglia connect the village with Norwich, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth (via Berney Arms). The line to Lowestoft crosses the river on Reedham Swing Bridge.

Reedham Ferry, a chain ferry just outside the village, is the only road crossing point on the River Yare between Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

The village is served by two bus routes, operated by Our Bus and Ambassador Travel; they link the area to Acle, Beighton, Cantley and Gorleston.

See also

• HMS Reedham was a Ham-class minesweeper