View source for Aylsham

{{short description|Town in Norfolk, England}}
{{For-multi|the village in Kent|Aylesham|the village in Canada|Aylsham, Saskatchewan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country =                 England
|official_name=             Aylsham
|population =               8,817
|population_ref=            (2021)
 | area_total_km2    = 17.52
|shire_district=            [[Broadland]]
| region =                  East of England
| shire_county =            [[Norfolk]]
|static_image_name= St Michaels Aylsham.jpg
|static_image_caption= [[Church of St Michael, Aylsham|Church of St Michael and All Angels]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Broadland and Fakenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Broadland and Fakenham]]
|post_town=            NORWICH
| postcode_district =  NR11 
| postcode_area=       NR
|dial_code=            01263
|civil_parish=         Aylsham
|os_grid_reference=    TG1927
|coordinates  = {{coord|52.79|1.256|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Aylsham''' ("Elsham",<ref>"Looking at Norfolk" by Jane Hales & William Bennett, published in October 1971 by Charles N. Veal & Company</ref> "Elsh'm"; more correctly ""Elss'm"<ref>"Dialect Matters" by Peter Tudgill, published in 2016 by Cambridge University Press</ref>) is a historic [[market town]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] on the [[River Bure]] in north [[Norfolk, England]], nearly {{convert|9|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of [[Norwich]]. The river rises near [[Melton Constable]], {{convert|11|mi}} upstream from Aylsham and continues to [[Great Yarmouth]] and the [[North Sea]], although it was only made navigable after 1779, allowing grain, coal and timber to be brought up river.

The town is close to large estates and grand country houses at [[Blickling Hall|Blickling]], [[Felbrigg Hall|Felbrigg]], [[Mannington Hall|Mannington]] and [[Wolterton Hall|Wolterton]], which are important tourist attractions.

The civil parish has an area of {{convert|4329|acre|km2}} and in the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 census]] had a population of 5,504 increasing to a population of 6,016 at the 2011 census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the [[Non-metropolitan district|district]] of [[Broadland]].<ref>Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council, 2001. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170211032229/https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes]''. Retrieved 2 December 2005.</ref>

==History==
[[File:Aylsham Town Sign.jpg|thumb|left|Aylsham town sign, typical of many Norfolk [[village sign]]s, stands at the entrance to the town. It depicts [[John of Gaunt]], Lord of the manor from 1372.]]
Archaeological evidence shows that the site of the town has been occupied since [[prehistoric]] times. Aylsham is just over two miles (3&nbsp;km) from a substantial [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement at [[Brampton, Norfolk|Brampton]], linked to [[Venta Icenorum]] at [[Caistor St Edmund]], south of Norwich, by a [[Roman road]] which can still be traced in places – that site was a bustling industrial centre with maritime links to the rest of the empire. Excavations in the 1970s provided evidence of several [[kiln]]s, showing that this was an industrial centre, pottery and metal items being the main items manufactured.

Aylsham is thought to have been founded around 500 AD by an [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo Saxon]] [[thegn]] called Aegel, ''Aegel's Ham'', meaning "Aegel's settlement". The town is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''Elesham'' and ''Ailesham'', with a population of about 1,000. Until the 15th century, the [[linen]] and [[worsted]] industry was important here, as well as in [[North Walsham]] and [[Worstead]] and ''Aylsham webb'' or 'cloth of Aylsham' was supplied to the [[royal palace]]s of [[Edward II of England|Edward II]] and [[Edward III of England|III]].

[[John of Gaunt]] was [[lord of the manor]] from 1372 and Aylsham became the principal town of the [[Duchy of Lancaster]]. Although John of Gaunt probably never came to Aylsham, the townspeople enjoyed many privileges, including exemption from jury service outside the manor and from payment of certain taxes. The town sign depicts John of Gaunt.

In 1519 [[Henry VIII]] granted a market on Saturdays and an annual fair to be held on 12 March, which was the eve of the feast of [[St Gregory]] the pope. Aylsham markets have always been an important feature of the town, and businesses developed to meet the needs of the town and the farming lands around it. Besides weekly markets there were cattle fairs twice a year and, in October, a [[hiring fair]].

The historic Black Boys Inn in the Market Place is one of Aylsham's oldest surviving buildings, and has been on the site since the 1650s, although the present frontage dates to between 1710 and 1720. There is a [[frieze]] of small black boys on the [[cornice]] and a good staircase and assembly room. The Black Boys was a stop for the [[post coach]] from Norwich to [[Cromer]], had stabling for 40 horses, and employed three [[Hostler|ostlers]] and four [[Postilion|postboys]].

A [[thatched]] waterpump was built in 1911 at Carr's Corner in memory of John Soame by his uncle, a wealthy financier. An [[artesian well]] 170 feet (52 m) deep, its canopy is thatched in [[Norfolk reed]].

As with many of the other [[market town]]s in the county, the weaving of local cloth brought prosperity to the town in [[medieval]] times. Until the 15th century it was the manufacture of [[linen]] which was the more important, and Aylsham linens and Aylsham canvases were nationally known. From the 16th century linen manufacture declined and wool became more important, a situation that continued until the coming of the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Thereafter the principal trade of the town for the 19th century was grain and [[timber]], together with the range of trades to be found in a town which supported local agriculture. Records show that Aylsham had markets and fairs, certainly from the 13th century. Such weekly and annual events were important for the trade that they brought. Annual [[horse fair]]s would bring many other traders to the town, and the weekly market would be the occasion for more local trade. The rights of the stallholders in the market place today date back to the rights established in medieval times.

Aylsham was once noted for its [[spa]], situated about half a mile south of the town; it comprised a [[chalybeate]] spring, formerly used by those suffering from [[asthma]] and other [[chronic diseases|chronic conditions]].

==Local government==
[[File:Aylsham Town Hall (geograph 4600391).jpg|thumb|left|[[Aylsham Town Hall]]]]
In medieval times the parish of Aylsham was established as four [[Manorialism|manors]], the main manor of Lancaster, Vicarage manor, Sexton's manor and Bolwick manor. The ownership of the Lancaster manor changed hands many times, before [[James VI and I|James I]] assigned it to his son, the future [[Charles I of England|Charles I]].

In the course of the events which led up to the [[English Civil War]] Charles I had to raise as much money as possible, and mortgaged Lancaster manor to the Corporation of the [[City of London]]. The Corporation eventually sold it to [[Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Hobart]], and through him it passed to the ownership of the [[Blickling Hall|Blickling Estate]]. The current lords of the manor are the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]].

Formerly part of the [[Erpingham|South Erpingham]] [[Hundred (country subdivision)|Hundred]], Aylsham was, for administrative purposes, absorbed into [[St Faith's and Aylsham Rural District]] in 1894 and became part of [[Broadland|Broadland District]] in 1974. Local issues come under the jurisdiction of Aylsham [[Parish councils in England|Town Council]] which is based at [[Aylsham Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/artseastmag/docs/1_aylsham_town_guide_2021_2022_web|title=Aylsham Town Guide 2021/22|publisher=Aylsham Town Council|page=7|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Lychgate.jpg|[[Lychgate]] at St Michael's Church|thumb]]
[[File:Hungate Street.jpg|thumb|Hungate Street, with its many medieval half-timbered houses, was formerly the main road into the town from [[Norwich]]]]

== Parish church ==
{{main|Church of St Michael, Aylsham}}
The Market Place and surrounding area is dominated by the tower of the parish church of St Michael and All Angels, a fine example of [[Gothic architecture]] of the [[Decorated Period|Decorated]] style. The small [[spire]] on top of the 98&nbsp;ft (30 metre) tower is also a landmark that can be seen for miles around. The [[nave]], [[aisle]]s and [[chancel]] were built in the 13th century. The tower and ground floor of the south porch were added in the 14th century. The north [[transept]] was built under the patronage of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster around 1380. An upper floor to the porch was added in 1488. The lower part of the [[rood screen]] survived the destruction visited by [[Oliver Cromwell]] and the [[Puritan]]s, although some of the painted panels were disfigured.

==Transport==

===Roads===
Road transport for Aylsham was very important. It was the principal coaching point on the Norwich-Cromer road and the meeting point for other roads. Each day, the [[post coach|coaches]] from [[Cromer]] and [[Holt, Norfolk|Holt]] would draw up at the Black Boys, the main inn in Aylsham market place. Coaching ended with the coming of the railways in the 1880s.

The town is now located on the [[A140 road]],<ref>County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, page 000 {{ISBN|978-1-84348-614-5}}</ref> a route which runs between [[Ipswich]] and [[Cromer]], via [[Norwich]].

===Buses===
The town is served by frequent bus services to Norwich and [[Sheringham]] (the X41, 43 and X44), operated by [[Sanders Coaches]]. Both the X41 and X44 continue on to [[Cromer]] and [[Sheringham]], some of which connect with the Coasthopper services to [[Blakeney, Norfolk|Blakeney]], [[Wells-next-the-Sea]] and [[Cromer]].<ref>[https://sanderscoaches.com/timetables/coasthopperch1|coasthopper Sanders Coaches - Route CH1] Retrieved 30 June 2024</ref> Other services serve surrounding villages and towns, including [[Wroxham]], [[East Dereham]],<ref>[https://www.ourhire.co.uk/_files/ugd/5c4d44_252c4c689fb4491e9b7286984468daed.pdf Our Bus - Route 80] Retrieved 30 June 2024</ref> [[North Walsham]] and [[Felbrigg Hall|Felbrigg]].<ref>[https://www.sanderscoaches.com/timetables/1818a Sanders Coaches - Route 18 and 18A] Retrieved 30 June 2024</ref>

===Railways===
There were many different plans for railways, but eventually two lines served Aylsham, with the town having two railway stations.  [[Aylsham South railway station|Aylsham South]] was on the [[Great Eastern Railway|Great Eastern]] line between [[County School railway station|County School]] (near [[North Elmham]]) and [[Hoveton & Wroxham railway station|Wroxham]]. [[Aylsham North railway station|Aylsham North]] was on the [[M&GNJR]] line from [[Melton Constable railway station|Melton Constable]] to [[Great Yarmouth railway station|Yarmouth]]. Both stations were closed in the 1950s.

[[Aylsham railway station]] is the northern terminus for the ''[[Bure Valley Railway]]'',<ref>[http://www.bvrw.co.uk/ Bure Valley Railway website]</ref> which was built on the site of Aylsham South station in 1990. The railway is a {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}} [[minimum gauge]] [[heritage railway]] which runs to [[Wroxham railway station|Wroxham]] ({{convert|9|mi|km|1|disp=or}}); it is Norfolk's longest railway of less than [[standard gauge]].

Several [[long distance footpath]]s with a railway theme start or pass through the town:
* [[Bure Valley Path]] runs alongside the railway line from Aylsham to Wroxham;
* [[Marriott's Way]] follows the old trackbed from Aylsham to [[Norwich City railway station|Norwich]], via the [[Themelthorpe|Themelthorpe Curve]];
* [[Weavers' Way]]; starting in Cromer, much of this route follows the trackbed of the former line to [[Yarmouth Beach railway station|Yarmouth]].

===Waterways===
The ancient but natural transport route for Aylsham would have been the [[River Bure]], but it was not open to substantial navigation. There was a scheme in the 18th century to widen the navigation from [[Coltishall]] to Aylsham and, after many difficulties, trading [[wherry|wherries]] from [[Great Yarmouth]] were able to reach a [[staithe]] at Aylsham. The end for this scheme was the devastating [[flood]] of 1912.

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Tacolneston transmitting station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Tacolneston|title=Full Freeview on the Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref> Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Norfolk]] on 95.1 FM, [[Heart East]] on 102.4 FM, [[Greatest Hits Radio East]] (formerly [[Radio Norwich 99.9]]) on 99.9 FM and [[Kiss 105-108|Kiss]] on 106.1 FM. The town is served by the local newspaper, ''[[Eastern Daily Press]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/east-anglian-daily-times/|title=Eastern Daily Press|date=23 June 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=20 January 2024}}</ref>

==Aylsham today==

Aylsham came fourth in the world in an international competition celebrating liveable [[communities]], winning a Silver Award in category A (towns with a population up to 20,000) of the ''International Awards for Liveable Communities'',<ref>[http://www.livcomawards.com/media-2005/finalists.htm International awards for Liveable Communities finalists, 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213185528/http://www.livcomawards.com/media-2005/finalists.htm |date=13 February 2008 }}</ref> held in [[A Coruña|La Coruña]], [[Spain]] in November 2005.

The ''Market Towns Initiative'' finished in 2004, but the partnership successfully bid for funding to take part in the [[Cittaslow]] pilot project and to sustain work on [[traffic management]] and [[Industrial heritage|heritage]]. As a result, Aylsham became one of the founding towns and the first in Norfolk, of the Cittaslow movement, an international organisation promoting the concept of 'Slow Towns' ("a Network of towns where Quality of Life is important").<ref>[http://www.cittaslow.org.uk/town.php?Tid=2&Pid1=1&PLv=1 The first Cittaslow in Norfolk.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302161452/http://www.cittaslow.org.uk/town.php?Tid=2&Pid1=1&PLv=1 |date=2 March 2008 }} ''Cittaslow UK'' (Official Website). Retrieval Date: 10 February 2008.</ref> It is claimed that Aylsham did not have to change to become a member, as it was already a clear example of the type of community advocated by the Cittaslow movement.

Local entertainment in the town includes concerts by the Aylsham Band, which plays at venues in and around Aylsham. The ''Aylsham Players'' host one or two productions a year and [[Aylsham High School]] presents an annual school musical.

Aylsham also lies on the [[Weavers' Way]] which passes [[Blickling Hall]]; this is the great [[English country houses|country house]] in the care of the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]], which is about a mile and a half (2&nbsp;km) from Aylsham. With its dramatic symmetrical front, flanked by two great yew hedges, Blickling Hall is a fine example of a [[Jacobean architecture|Jacobean]] brick-built manor house and was the home of the young [[Anne Boleyn]].

The annual ''Aylsham Show'' features [[agricultural show|agricultural exhibits]] and takes place on August [[Bank holiday|bank holiday Monday]] at nearby Blickling Park.<ref>[http://www.aylshamshow.co.uk/ The Aylsham show] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831003259/http://www.aylshamshow.co.uk/ |date=31 August 2009 }} Retrieved 5 August 2009</ref>

Aylsham Heritage Centre is located in a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] building within the grounds of St Michael's Church. Archives stored at the centre can be used to research the town's past.<ref>[http://www.aylshamheritage.com/ The Aylsham Heritage Centre] Retrieved 4 November 2014</ref>

The town's [[Tesco]] store was built from wood, [[recyclable plastic]] and other sustainable materials; it claimed to be the "[[green politics|greenest]] in the world" opened in the town July 2008.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/4942228.stm Tesco news report] Retrieved 26 July 2008</ref>

==Notable people==
Thomas Hudson, a [[glove]]r of Aylsham, is recorded as one of the [[List of Protestant martyrs of the English Reformation|Protestant martyrs]] condemned to death for his faith under the reign of [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary]], towards the end of her reign. He was burnt at the stake at the [[Lollards Pit]] outside Bishopsgate, [[Norwich]] on 19 May 1558.<ref>[http://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxe379.htm Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 376. William Seaman, Thomas Carman, and Thomas Hudson.] Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2013</ref>

Sir [[Jerome Alexander]] (died 1670), a [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] judge in [[Ireland]], noted for his exceptional severity, attended the local school c. 1600.

A plaque on the wall of the former [[Barclays Bank]] in the Market Place commemorates [[Christopher Layer]] (born 1683), who was a militant [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] and supporter of Prince [[Charles Edward Stuart]], the 'Young Pretender'. He was tried for high treason and hanged at [[Tyburn]] in London in 1723 for his part in the [[Atterbury Plot]]. Nearby, a plaque commemorates [[Joseph Thomas Clover]] (1825&ndash;82), the father of modern [[anesthesia|anaesthetics]], who was born above a shop overlooking the Market Place.

[[Daniel Defoe]] is thought to have stayed in Aylsham in 1723 during his journey through the eastern counties, and enjoyed a meal at the Black Boys Inn. [[James Woodforde|Parson Woodforde]], the famous Norfolk diarist, also dined there in 1781, and [[Horatio Nelson]], whose cousin lived in Aylsham, is said to have danced in the Assembly Room attached to the inn.<ref>[http://www.blackboyshotel.co.uk/history.html Black Boys Inn history] Retrieved 4 November 2014</ref>

[[Humphry Repton]] (1752&ndash;1818), the landscape gardener who lived at nearby [[Sustead]], is buried in St Michael's Churchyard, and his watercolours provide a fascinating record of the Market Place in the early 19th century.

The Reverend [[James Bulwer]] (1794-1879), the collector, naturalist, artist and conchologist, was born in Aylsham.

Kathleen Starling (1890&ndash;ca 1970) became an [[opera singer]] under the name of Kathleen Destournel. She sang at [[Covent Garden]] and entertained troops in [[North Africa campaign|North Africa]] during the [[Second World War]], before moving to [[Arizona]], USA until her husband's death after which she returned to Aylsham to live with her sisters.<ref>[http://www.concertprogrammes.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/4189 Kathleen Destournel] Retrieved 13 April 2010</ref>

[[Clive Payne]] (1950&ndash;), former [[professional]] [[Association football|footballer]] for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] and [[AFC Bournemouth]] was born in Aylsham.

[[Nick Youngs]] (1959&ndash;) and his two sons, [[Ben Youngs|Ben]] (1989&ndash;) and [[Tom Youngs]] (1987&ndash;) were both brought up close to the town on their father's farm.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/9662159/Family-proud-as-Ben-and-Tom-Youngs-prepare-to-represent-England-against-Fiji.html News item] Retrieved 21 September 2012</ref> Youngs is a former [[rugby union]] player for [[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]]. Both sons went on to represent the national rugby union team. The Youngs brothers gifted land<ref>[https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/new-aylsham-sports-complex-nearing-completion-751274] gifted land</ref> for a new sports ground to be built in the town.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Black Boys Inn.jpg|Black Boys [[Public house#Inns|Inn]]
File:Thatched water pump at Aylsham, Norfolk.jpg|John Soame thatched water pump
File:River Bure at Aylsham.JPG|River Bure downstream of the mill
File:Aylsham Cawston Rd Mill.jpg|[[Cawston Road Mill, Aylsham|Windmill]]
</gallery>

==Twinning==
Aylsham is twinned with 
* [[La Chaussée-Saint-Victor]], [[Loir-et-Cher]], France
and formerly had an informal connection with 
* [[Aylsham, Saskatchewan]], Canada

==See also==
* [[List of closed railway stations in Britain]]
* [[Aylsham High School]]
* [[Cawston Road Mill, Aylsham]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/a/aylsham/ Information from Genuki Norfolk] on Aylsham
* {{OpenDomesday|TG1927|aylsham|Aylsham}}

{{Norfolk}}
{{Civil Parishes of Broadland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Aylsham| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Towns in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Broadland]]