The Pretty Village Of Martham

The pretty village of Martham in Norfolk has retained its traditionally English charm and history with a thriving community, pretty chocolate box thatched cottages and Georgian houses surrounding a village green and duck pond.

Martham is situated in the county of Norfolk surrounded by the Broads National Park. The seaside resort of Great Yarmouth is just 9 miles to the north west of the village and the vibrant city of Norwich is located just 15 miles to the north east.

On the edge of the village is Martham dyke which leads to the River Thurne, joining other Norfolk Broads waterways. This stretch of water has a slower pace and is much quieter than other areas within the National Park as boats need to gain access through Potter Heigham Bridge to get there. Water currents are strong through this medieval bridge and an experienced pilot is needed to pass underneath. The River Thurne is considered a famous fishing location with plenty of roach, bream and pike on offer.

The village is large with over 3000 inhabitants and has always been a large settlement since the Saxons arrived in AD600 and named the village 'the ham of the martens'. This was in honour of the polecats which were found wild around the Broadlands up until a century ago. The name changed to Martham in AD800 when Danish migrants arrived and it became a thriving village. By AD1300 there was a population of around 1000 and the village was wealthy enough to build the parish church. It became a village of farmers, tradesmen and fishermen with no one family presiding over village life at the manor house.

The village church is just a short walk from the centre and is situated on a small rise. The tower and clock on this magnificent building can be seen from miles around. There is stunning architecture and detail in and around the church from the flint checkerboard stonework to the stunning medieval stained glass windows.

There are plenty of facilities on offer within the village. At the centre of the village there are two charming traditional pubs, a post office, a medical centre, pharmacy and a number of other shops including a newsagent, butchers and a food convenience store. Within the village there are two primary schools, a library and playing field with children playground and skate park.

There are lots of things to do around the village. As well as the popular Norfolk Broads waterways, the Martham Broad nature reserve is just over a mile away. Maintained by English Nature and managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the lake is large with the wildlife around including the swallowtail butterfly in summer. There are many walks and cycle routes with footpaths through the reserve and the broads around the village.

Part of the traditional village charm is the many festivals that are organised yearly by the community. These include the Scarecrow Festival in May on the village green which includes lots of activities for the whole family, the Martham Carnival in July, which includes a full weekend of entertainment and fun and the Martham Beer Festival in September.

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