Thetford
| Thetford | |||
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| Coordinates | 52 ° 25 ′ N , 0 ° 45 ′ E | ||
| OS National Grid | TL8783 | ||
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| Residents | 21,588 (as of 2001) | ||
| surface | 29.55 km² (11.41 mi² ) | ||
| Population density | 731 inhabitants / km² | ||
| administration | |||
| Post town | THETFORD | ||
| prefix | 01842 | ||
| Part of the country | England | ||
| British Parliament | South West Norfolk | ||
| Website: www.thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk | |||
Thetford is a town and county (parish) in the county of Norfolk in the District of Breckland . It is on the A11 road , a main road between Norwich and London , south of the Thetford Forest. The 2001 census found the town of Thetford to have a population of 21,588.
history
Thetford is traditionally believed to be the residence of Boudicca , Queen of the Iceni . The Iceni were a Celtic tribe who lived in Norfolk and parts of Cambridgeshire . Archaeological excavations have shown that the site was an important tribal center during the late Iron Age and early Roman era. A ceremonial grove was discovered during the excavations. The Icknield Way, a Roman road, ran through Thetford.
Thetford was an important ford through the Little Ouse and got its name from the Anglo-Saxon Theod ford or people's ford. The nearby river Thet was named after the city.
During the Anglo-Saxon period, Thetford was both the seat of the kings of East Anglia and the seat of a bishopric . In 869, Thetford was the winter camp of the Great Army , a Danish Viking army, which in the following year, after the Battle of Hoxne and the death of the last East Anglian king Edmund, incorporated all of East Anglia into their territory, later Danelag . East Anglia ceased to exist as an independent entity. Thetford is also mentioned in 1085 in the Domesday Book , which was written after the Norman conquest of England . The Normans built a tower-hill castle on Castle Hill, the tallest moth in England .
In 1103 a monastery was founded in Thetford by the Anglo-Norman nobleman Roger Bigod . Due to the secularization of the English monasteries under Henry VIII (King 1509–1547), the abbey, which in the Middle Ages became an attraction for pilgrims due to a miracle of Mary, was dissolved in 1536 and fell into disrepair.
Thetford is the birthplace of Thomas Paine (1737-1809), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States . To him, a statue of King Street , the "Rights of Man" (a spring and his well-known book The Rights of Man ) holds. This book popularized the French Revolution outside of France.
Events
Thetford hosts the annual Autumn Equinox Festival of Astronomy . The UK's Star Party also takes place in Thetford, as the place is in a rural area with little disruptive artificial light and therefore has a dark night sky that is well suited for stargazing. An annual concert called STORM is also at home in Thetford.
traffic
Thetford is on the A11 between Norwich and London. A bypass was built in the 1990s.
The rail service between Norwich and Cambridge serves Thetford station. However, a branch to Bury St Edmunds was closed in the 1960s due to unprofitability.
National cycle route 13 runs from Thetford to Gately near Fakenham.
Industry
Tulip International, one of the UK's largest ham and pork producers, has a production facility in Thetford. The factory opened in 1966. In 2007 the production of ham was stopped, but fried products are still made here.
Attractions
Castle Hill is an artificial hill from the Iron Age. In the Middle Ages he carried a Norman tower-hill castle. Today the hill is in a public park and from its top you have a wide view over Thetford.
Thetford Abbey are the ruins of a monastery that was dissolved in 1536 and are surrounded by parks. It was one of the most important monasteries in eastern England in its day. After an apparition of Mary, it was decided to build a chapel for the Virgin. During the construction, relics were found in an old statue , which made the place a place of pilgrimage. Although some early members of the Tudor dynasty were buried here, this did not protect against the dissolution of the monastery by Henry VIII. The ruins of the church, the monastery buildings, the abbot's apartment and a complete gatehouse from the 14th century have been preserved.
The city is also known for its Portuguese and Eastern European shops and cafes.
The Thetford Forest was laid out around the city after the First World War . The aim was to create stocks of wood. As a result of the war, wood from slow-growing species such as oak , beech and ash became scarce.
Grimes Graves , a Neolithic flint mine, is located near Thetford near Brandon .
Sports
In the village of Euston near Thetford is Euston Park Endurance , an international competition venue for endurance riding . The 2012 World Endurance Championship was held there.
Twin cities
- Hürth , near Cologne , Germany
- Skawina , near Krakow , Poland
- Spijkenisse , near Rotterdam , the Netherlands
- Les Ulis , near Paris , France
Web links
- Information from GENUKI Norfolk (English)
- Thetford Tourism website (English)