Hilgay: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 52°33′32″N 0°23′24″E / 52.559°N 0.390°E / 52.559; 0.390
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
→‎Ameneties: New section: churches and schools
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{infobox UK place
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| country = England
| latitude = 52.55839
| coordinates = {{coord|52.559|0.390|type:city(1000)_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| longitude = 0.38978
| os_grid_reference = TL621983
| os_grid_reference = TL621983
| official_name = Hilgay
| official_name = Hilgay
| population = 1174
| population = 1341
| population_ref = (2011)
| area_total_km2 = 33.38
| area_total_km2 = 33.38
| static_image =
| shire_district = [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]]
| static_image_caption =
| shire_district = [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]]
| shire_county = [[Norfolk]]
⚫
| region = East of England
| shire_county = [[Norfolk]]
⚫
| civil_parish = Hilgay
⚫
| region = East of England
⚫
| constituency_westminster =
⚫
| civil_parish = Hilgay
⚫
| postcode_district = PE38
⚫
| constituency_westminster =
⚫
| postcode_area = PE
⚫
| postcode_district = PE38
⚫
| post_town = DOWNHAM MARKET
⚫
| postcode_area = PE
| dial_code =
⚫
| post_town = DOWNHAM MARKET
| dial_code =
| london_distance =
⚫
| static_image = All Saints Church, Hilgay, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 886240.jpg
| london_distance =
| static_image_width =
⚫
|static_image = [[File:All Saints Church, Hilgay, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 886240.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption= <small>All Saints Church, Hilgay</small>
| static_image_caption = All Saints' Church, Hilgay
}}
}}


'''Hilgay''' is a village and [[civil parish]] in [[Norfolk]], England, {{convert|4|mi|4=0}} south of [[Downham Market]]. The parish covers an area of {{convert|33.38|km2|abbr=on}} and had a population of 1,341 at the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11124595&c=Hilgay&d=16&e=62&g=6449229&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1440757237421&enc=1|title=Parish population 2011|access-date=28 August 2011}}</ref> For local government purposes, it falls within the [[Non-metropolitan district|district]] of [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]].
'''Hilgay''' is a [[civil parish]] in the [[English county]] of [[Norfolk]], {{convert|4|mi}} outside of [[Downham Market]].
It covers an area of {{convert|33.38|km2|abbr=on}} and had a population of 1,174 in 500 households as of the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]].<ref>[http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes]. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009.</ref>
For the purposes of local government, it falls within the [[Non-metropolitan district|district]] of [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]].


== Geography ==
Other places nearby are [[Fordham, Norfolk|Fordham]], [[Ryston]], [[Southery]] and [[Denver, Norfolk|Denver]].
The parish boundary north of Hilgay village follows the [[River Wissey]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Maps: Great Britain |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |access-date=17 February 2024 |website= |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref> The only other settlement in the parish is the hamlet of '''Ten Mile Bank''', alongside and near the [[River Great Ouse|Great Ouse]], which crosses the parish from south to north.


⚫
== History==
Hilgay village sits on a raised isle, some {{convert|66|ft}} above the surrounding [[fen]]land. Its elevation has become more pronounced as the draining of the fenland has caused the ground to shrink. It was notable in Saxon and early Norman times for the large numbers of fish and eels found there. Hilgay Old Bridge still crosses the river, but the newer [[A10 road (England)|A10 road]] bypass crosses just below it.


The name Hilgay is derived from the [[Old English]] to mean 'island or dry ground in a marsh', of the followers of a man called Hytha or Hydla during [[Anglo Saxon]] times. Modney Priory, built here by the monks of [[Ramsey Abbey]], was a [[Benedictine]] cell.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/reports/norfolk/hilgay|title= Hilgay|website= www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk|access-date= 15 March 2021}}</ref>
⚫
;History
A journalist describes Hilgay like this:
{{blockquote|
⚫
"Hilgay, a village and a parish in Downham district, Norfolk. The village stands on the [[river Wissey]], {{convert|2|mi|km}} from the [[River Great Ouse|Ouse]], 3 NE of Hilgay [[fen]] . station, and Market-Downham and has a post office under Downham Market. The parish comprises {{convert|7860|acre|km2}} of which 5,908 are in the Fens. Real property, £13,492. Pop., 1,624. Houses, 365. The property is much subdivided. The hall about ½ a mile from the village, belonged to the [[Ramsey Abbey|abbots of Ramsey]], went at the dissolussion to James Howe, belonged now to the Jones family and was rebuilt in the [[Tudor architecture|Tudor style]] in 1840."{{cn|date=April 2012}}}}


⚫
Hilgay village sits on a raised isle, some {{convert|66|ft}} above the surrounding [[fen]]land. Its elevation has become more pronounced as the draining of the fenland has caused the ground to shrink. It was notable in [[Saxon]] and early [[Normans|Norman]] times for the large numbers of fish and eels found there. Hilgay Old Bridge still crosses the River Wissey, but the newer [[A10 road (England)|A10 road]] bypass crosses just below it.<ref>"Hilgay, a village and a parish in Downham district, Norfolk. The village stands on the [[river Wissey]], {{convert|2|mi|km}} from the [[River Great Ouse|Ouse]], 3 NE of Hilgay [[fen]] station, and Market-Downham and has a post office under Downham Market. The parish comprises {{convert|7860|acre|km2}} of which 5,908 are in the Fens. Real property, £13,492. Pop., 1,624. Houses, 365. The property is much subdivided. The hall about ½ a mile from the village, belonged to the [[Ramsey Abbey|abbots of Ramsey]], at the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution]] went to James Howe, belonged now to the Jones family and was rebuilt in the [[Tudor architecture|Tudor style]] in 1840."{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}</ref>
⚫
The scholar and poet [[Phineas Fletcher]] (1580 -1650) became chaplain to Sir Henry Willoughby, who presented him in 1621 to the rectory of Hilgay, Norfolk, where he married and spent the rest of his life.


⚫
The scholar and poet [[Phineas Fletcher]] (1580–1650) became chaplain to Sir Henry Willoughby, who presented him in 1621 to the rectory of Hilgay, where he married and spent the rest of his life.


[[George William Manby]], who lived for much of his life in Hilgay, is buried in the churchyard, and his memorial celebrates his invention of a rocket to send a line to ships in distress. Prototypes were tested from the roof of the church tower, and he was awarded £2,000 by Parliament, as use of the device had saved 230 lives by 1823.<ref name=blair>Blair (2006)</ref>
Captain [[George William Manby]], who lived for much of his life in Hilgay, is buried in the churchyard, and his memorial celebrates his invention of the [[Manby mortar]] to send a line to ships in distress.<ref>{{cite journal|title= George Manby|last= Monger|first= Garry|year= 2021|journal= The Fens|volume= April|page= 20}}</ref> He was awarded £2,000 by Parliament, as use of the device had saved 230 lives by 1823.<ref name="blair">Blair (2006)</ref>


A Hilgay [[village sign]] was erected in 1987. The musical instruments on it are displayed in honour of Hilgay Silver Band, which was still going strong over 100 years after its formation around 1896. Its original members were agricultural workers from the local area. A Manby mortar is also represented. The bridge depicted between the two instruments is Hilgay Old Bridge. The bridge was built in 1899 to transport traffic from the centre of the village over the River Wissey to the north. A small plaque attached to the bottom of the supporting post states the village sign was 'Erected by Hilgay Parish Council 1987'.<ref>{{cite web|title= Hilgay|url= https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/norfolk-on-a-stick-hilgay-village-sign-1439526|website= www.edp24.co.uk|access-date= 15 March 2021}}</ref>
There was once a [[Hilgay railway station]] on the [[Fen Line]].

In 2018, nine one-metre square test pits were dug as part of an archaeological investigation. The report was published in 2019. <ref>{{cite web|title= Hilgay|url= https://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/reports/norfolk/hilgay/Hilgay.pdf|website= www.access.arch.cam.ac|access-date= 15 March 2021}}</ref>

Hilgay Parish Council are responsible for the local allotments, cemetery and [[defibrillator]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Hilgay Parish Council|url= https://hilgaypc.wixsite.com/hilgaypc|website= hilgaypc.wixsite.com|access-date= 15 March 2021}}</ref> There was once a [[Hilgay railway station]] on the [[Fen Line]].

==Governance==
Hilgay is part of the [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] of Hilgay with Denver. The population of this ward at the 2011 Census was 2,409.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13693592&c=Hilgay&d=14&e=62&g=6449226&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1440757608483&enc=1|title=Hilgay with Denver population 2011|access-date=28 August 2015}}</ref>

== Amenities ==
All Saints, the [[Church of England parish church]], stands south-east of the centre of the village. The [[Grade II* listed]] building has some 13th-century masonry; the south aisle was added in the late 14th century, and the west tower was built in brick in 1794. [[G. E. Street]] rebuilt the nave and chancel in 1869–1870.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1077719|desc=Church of All Saints|access-date=17 February 2024}}</ref> A chapel of ease dedicated to St Mark was built at Ten Mile Bank in 1847 and is described by Historic England as "a virtually unaltered example of a simple place of worship".<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1391351|desc=Church of St Mark|access-date=17 February 2024|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> Today, both churches are part of the Ouse Valley benefice, alongside five other churches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ouse Valley Benefice |url=https://www.ousevalleybenefice.org/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref>

Primary schools at Hilgay and Ten Mile Bank are both run by the Diocese of Ely multi-academy trust.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Riverside Federation |url=https://riversidefederation-norfolk.demat.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=riversidefederation-norfolk.demat.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> In November 2023, plans were put forward to amalgamate the two schools and close the Ten Mile Bank site, owing to low numbers of pupils.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2023 |title=Ten Mile Bank and Hilgay Amalgamation Consultation Response |url=https://www.demat.org.uk/ten-mile-bank-and-hilgay-consultation-response |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 53: Line 62:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category inline|Hilgay}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/h/hilgay/ GENUKI(tm) page]
*[http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/h/hilgay/ GENUKI page]{{oscoor gbx|TL621983}}
*{{oscoor gbx|TL621983}}


{{Civil Parishes of King's Lynn and West Norfolk}}
{{Civil Parishes of King's Lynn and West Norfolk}}


{{authority control}}


[[Category:Villages in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Villages in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk]]
[[Category:King's Lynn and West Norfolk]]




{{Norfolk-geo-stub}}
{{Norfolk-geo-stub}}

[[nl:Hilgay]]
[[pl:Hilgay]]

Latest revision as of 18:48, 17 February 2024

Hilgay
All Saints' Church, Hilgay
Hilgay is located in Norfolk
Hilgay
Hilgay
Location within Norfolk
Area33.38 km2 (12.89 sq mi)
Population1,341 (2011)
• Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTL621983
Civil parish
  • Hilgay
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDOWNHAM MARKET
Postcode districtPE38
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°33′32″N 0°23′24″E / 52.559°N 0.390°E / 52.559; 0.390

Hilgay is a village and civil parish in Norfolk, England, 4 miles (6 km) south of Downham Market. The parish covers an area of 33.38 km2 (12.89 sq mi) and had a population of 1,341 at the 2011 Census.[1] For local government purposes, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Geography[edit]

The parish boundary north of Hilgay village follows the River Wissey.[2] The only other settlement in the parish is the hamlet of Ten Mile Bank, alongside and near the Great Ouse, which crosses the parish from south to north.

History[edit]

The name Hilgay is derived from the Old English to mean 'island or dry ground in a marsh', of the followers of a man called Hytha or Hydla during Anglo Saxon times. Modney Priory, built here by the monks of Ramsey Abbey, was a Benedictine cell.[3]

Hilgay village sits on a raised isle, some 66 feet (20 m) above the surrounding fenland. Its elevation has become more pronounced as the draining of the fenland has caused the ground to shrink. It was notable in Saxon and early Norman times for the large numbers of fish and eels found there. Hilgay Old Bridge still crosses the River Wissey, but the newer A10 road bypass crosses just below it.[4]

The scholar and poet Phineas Fletcher (1580–1650) became chaplain to Sir Henry Willoughby, who presented him in 1621 to the rectory of Hilgay, where he married and spent the rest of his life.

Captain George William Manby, who lived for much of his life in Hilgay, is buried in the churchyard, and his memorial celebrates his invention of the Manby mortar to send a line to ships in distress.[5] He was awarded £2,000 by Parliament, as use of the device had saved 230 lives by 1823.[6]

A Hilgay village sign was erected in 1987. The musical instruments on it are displayed in honour of Hilgay Silver Band, which was still going strong over 100 years after its formation around 1896. Its original members were agricultural workers from the local area. A Manby mortar is also represented. The bridge depicted between the two instruments is Hilgay Old Bridge. The bridge was built in 1899 to transport traffic from the centre of the village over the River Wissey to the north. A small plaque attached to the bottom of the supporting post states the village sign was 'Erected by Hilgay Parish Council 1987'.[7]

In 2018, nine one-metre square test pits were dug as part of an archaeological investigation. The report was published in 2019. [8]

Hilgay Parish Council are responsible for the local allotments, cemetery and defibrillator.[9] There was once a Hilgay railway station on the Fen Line.

Governance[edit]

Hilgay is part of the electoral ward of Hilgay with Denver. The population of this ward at the 2011 Census was 2,409.[10]

Amenities[edit]

All Saints, the Church of England parish church, stands south-east of the centre of the village. The Grade II* listed building has some 13th-century masonry; the south aisle was added in the late 14th century, and the west tower was built in brick in 1794. G. E. Street rebuilt the nave and chancel in 1869–1870.[11] A chapel of ease dedicated to St Mark was built at Ten Mile Bank in 1847 and is described by Historic England as "a virtually unaltered example of a simple place of worship".[12] Today, both churches are part of the Ouse Valley benefice, alongside five other churches.[13]

Primary schools at Hilgay and Ten Mile Bank are both run by the Diocese of Ely multi-academy trust.[14] In November 2023, plans were put forward to amalgamate the two schools and close the Ten Mile Bank site, owing to low numbers of pupils.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Election Maps: Great Britain". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Hilgay". www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Hilgay, a village and a parish in Downham district, Norfolk. The village stands on the river Wissey, 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Ouse, 3 NE of Hilgay fen station, and Market-Downham and has a post office under Downham Market. The parish comprises 7,860 acres (31.8 km2) of which 5,908 are in the Fens. Real property, £13,492. Pop., 1,624. Houses, 365. The property is much subdivided. The hall about ½ a mile from the village, belonged to the abbots of Ramsey, at the dissolution went to James Howe, belonged now to the Jones family and was rebuilt in the Tudor style in 1840."[citation needed]
  5. ^ Monger, Garry (2021). "George Manby". The Fens. April: 20.
  6. ^ Blair (2006)
  7. ^ "Hilgay". www.edp24.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Hilgay" (PDF). www.access.arch.cam.ac. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Hilgay Parish Council". hilgaypc.wixsite.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Hilgay with Denver population 2011". Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  11. ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (1077719)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  12. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Mark (1391351)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  13. ^ "The Ouse Valley Benefice". Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  14. ^ "The Riverside Federation". riversidefederation-norfolk.demat.org.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Ten Mile Bank and Hilgay Amalgamation Consultation Response". Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust. November 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Andrew Hunter Blair (2006). The River Great Ouse and tributaries. Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson. ISBN 978-0-85288-943-5.

External links[edit]

Media related to Hilgay at Wikimedia Commons


Stub icon

This Norfolk location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hilgay&oldid=1208488353"