Thornham Village

Thornham sits on the beautiful North Norfolk coast between Holme next the Sea (in Roman Times a prosperous town) and the village of Titchwell, famous for it's unique bird reserve.

Popular with walkers and bird watchers alike, Thornham's harbour, marsh, bank, dunes and unspoilt beach provide a rich contrast of landscapes for a perfectly tranquil summer afternoon's walk.

The coal barn on the harbour's edge is a former warehouse. Not an unusual structure for Norfolk but it looks strangely out of place at the water's edge. It's not surprising that the coal barn has been the subject of countless paintings over the years.

The village itself consists of many charming cottages each with it's own character, and a warm welcome is offered by traditional inns serving fine food and excellent ales.

All Saint's Norman church is both impressive and unusual. The tower never reached its planned height as the masons were called to the capital following The Great Fire of London.

For visitors preferring a traditional seaside atmosphere, the popular resort of Hunstanton is only 4½ miles to the west.

Aerial photograph of Thornham here.

Smuggling

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, smuggling was rife along the Norfolk coastline. Notorious gangs unloaded contraband off the creeks of Thornham. Behind the wide flats of the salt marshes, evidence remains of several silted up harbours and ports from those days.

Wool, tea, tobacco and liquor were peddled by the smugglers and records show that in February 1783, excise officers from Wells, assisted by a party of Dragoons, seized 4cwt of tea buried in the sand at Thornham.

Over the years, many old clay bottles that would have contained brandy or gin have been found in and around the Thornham marshes.