IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hall Road, DISS, IP21 4RF

Pulham St Mary is a quiet village with a rather nice Perpendicular Church. The Church has possibly one of the most spectacular porches in either Norfolk and Suffolk.

The gate into St Mary's > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1593696 churchyard is situated at its south-eastern corner. The road seen beyond is The Street.

Near St.Mary's Church Road No.C877

Road No.C877

The parish of Pulham St. Mary was originally known as Pulham St Mary the Virgin, reflecting the church of that name > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1593696. There is ample evidence of the site having been inhabited since the Bronze Age and many Roman artefacts have been found in the area, which the Domesday book shows as one of the most populated in the country. Oyster shells (the Romans considered oysters a great delicacy) were found in considerable quantity during excavations in the garden of The Croft, an old thatched cottage > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1593690 situated at the bottom of The Street, opposite the churchyard. A market was established in 1249 and the development of houses in the vicinity of the market area eventually gave rise to the separate parish of Pulham Market, a short distance to the north-west. Pulham became noted for the manufacture of hats, dornicks (a coarse kind of linen) and coverlets. Although the Pulhams today are two separate villages, they were for many years (until 1857) recognised as one parish. The village boasts a collection of old buildings - almost all timber-framed with wattle and daub infill - about 80 of which are listed as being of architectural and historic interest. Formerly the village had three inns and three windmills, none of which has survived. In modern history, Pulham St Mary became famous for its Airstation (in RAF ownership until 1958) where the airships ("Pulham Pigs") were sited from WWI. Until the 1960s there was a branch railway line that was used to take milk and vegetable produce to the London markets daily. Besides a few crossing keeper's cottages (now converted into private dwellings) nothing remains > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1592863 in Pulham St Mary but the station in neighbouring Pulham Market still stands > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1592892.

The parish of Pulham St. Mary was originally known as Pulham St Mary the Virgin, reflecting the church of that name > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1593696. There is ample evidence of the site having been inhabited since the Bronze Age and many Roman artefacts have been found in the area, which the Domesday book shows as one of the most populated in the country. Oyster shells (the Romans considered oysters a great delicacy) were found in considerable quantity during excavations in the garden of The Croft, an old thatched cottage > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1593690 situated at the bottom of The Street, opposite the churchyard. A market was established in 1249 and the development of houses in the vicinity of the market area eventually gave rise to the separate parish of Pulham Market, a short distance to the north-west. Pulham became noted for the manufacture of hats, dornicks (a coarse kind of linen) and coverlets. Although the Pulhams today are two separate villages, they were for many years (until 1857) recognised as one parish. The village boasts a collection of old buildings - almost all timber-framed with wattle and daub infill - about 80 of which are listed as being of architectural and historic interest. Formerly the village had three inns and three windmills, none of which has survived. In modern history, Pulham St Mary became famous for its Airstation (in RAF ownership until 1958) where the airships ("Pulham Pigs") were sited from WWI. Until the 1960s there was a branch railway line that was used to take milk and vegetable produce to the London markets daily. Besides a few crossing keeper's cottages (now converted into private dwellings) nothing remains > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1592863 in Pulham St Mary but the station in neighbouring Pulham Market still stands > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1592892.

This over 500 years old cottage is called The Croft. It contains carvings similar to those on the roof inside the church. It is believed that the existence of these carvings may point to the fact that the house was used by masons and other travelling craftsmen. It is also of interest that oyster shells - the Romans considered oysters a great delicacy - were found in considerable quantity during excavations in the surrounding garden. The cottage is situated in The Street, opposite St Mary's > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1593696 churchyard - the wrought-iron fence surrounding it can be seen in the foreground.