Cantley, Norfolk
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Cantley is a village and former civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is Template:Convert north-west of Reedham, Template:Convert west of Great Yarmouth and Template:Convert south-east of Norwich. It is notable for being the site of a major sugar refining factory.
The village, which is now part of the parish of Cantley, Limpenhoe and Southwood, is on the north bank of the River Yare and is partly within the Broads Special Protection Area. Cantley Marshes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is south-west of the village.
History
In the Domesday Book of 1086, Cantley is recorded as a settlement of 58 households located in the hundred of Blofield. It was part of the estates of William the Conqueror.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The manor was later split to created Cantley Netherhall and Cantley Uphall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Cantley Netherhall Manor; 1189-1925; Cantley, Norfolk, Norfolk Records Office. Retrieved 11 October 2025.</ref>
In 1931, the parish had a population of 291.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 1935, the parish was combined with the parishes of Limpenhoe and Southwood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cantley Sugar Factory
In 1912 the Cantley Sugar Factory was founded by the Dutch company Algemene Suikermaatschappij (ASMij). ASMij had been founded in 1908 to concentrate the Dutch beet sugar industry and remove surplus capacity. To achieve this, it also bought the already closed down Dordrecht Sugar Factory. The machinery of this factory was then shipped to England to become part of Cantley Sugar Factory.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The factory was initially unsuccessful and closed down in 1916. After the English Beet Sugar Corporation was founded, Cantley Sugar Factory was reopened in 1920. The site is still in operation today by British Sugar, forming one of the four British sugar processing factories.<ref>Arnold, W. (2011). Retrieved 20 November 2022. https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF62074-Cantley-Sugar-Factory</ref>
Amenities
Local children attend Cantley Primary School and is part of the Coastal Together Federation of local primary schools.<ref>Ofsted. (2021). Retrieved 20 November 2022. https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50165974</ref>
The village is served by Cantley railway station which opened in 1844 on the Yarmouth & Norwich Railway. Today, the station lies on the Wherry Line with services to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Norwich.
St Margaret's Church
Cantley's parish church is dedicated to Saint Margaret and dates from the 14th century. The building is Grade II.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The church was significantly remodelled in the 19th century.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Within the churchyard are two listed monuments, including a tombstone with a stone coffin lid<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a further coffin lid emblazoned with fleur-de-lys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Edward B. Evans (1846–1922), army officer and stamp collector, died in Cantley
- Fred Judd (1914–1992), inventor and amateur radio enthusiast, lived in Cantley
- Brian Edrich (1922–2009), Kent and Glamorgan cricketer, born in Cantley
- Alfie Hewett (b.1997), wheelchair tennis player, lived in Cantley