History - Thurne

Thurne sits on the edge of the island of Flegg - higher land at eastern part of the Broads basin.  The church was built about 700 years ago in position safe from flooding.  The River Thurne (to the west of the village of Thurne) joins the River Bure today at Thurne Mouth. The landscape has changed dramatically over the centuries.

The change in sea levels and the impact on the geography and human settlements since the Iron Age is explained in this short video by the Broads Authority.

When the church was built in the early 1300s, the surroundings were very different. Across the marshes to the west lay St Benet's Abbey with a large stone church at its centre. It was founded in the 11th century.  The last monks left the site in 1545 following the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII. The site was reduced to ruins over the next century.  Today the Norfolk Archaeological Trust owns the site of St Benet’s Abbey - their website provides history and background - link here (opens in a new window).

Draining of marshes and reclamation of land took place over many centuries but even today the only road access into Thurne is from the east - the nearest bridges being Acle Bridge across the River Bure to the south and Potter Heigham bridge over the River Thurne to the north (in the adjoining Benefice Parish of Repps-cum-Bastwick).

In 1604, the parishes of the neigbouring hamlets of Ashby and Oby were consolidated and united into the Parish of Thurne.

Enclosure of the village took place in the 1840s which resulted in the main features and layout of the surrounding agricultural land visible today. Further information about the the community of Thurne, Ashby and Oby can be found on the Thurne Community Archive website (opens in a new window).

1n 2010, a special service was held to commemorate 700 years of continuous Christian worship at St Edmund's Church, Thurne.

Thurne St Edmund homepage >>