View source for Holme-next-the-Sea

{{Short description|Village in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Holme-next-the-Sea
| static_image_name = File:Holme-next-the-Sea village sign - geograph.org.uk - 6793735.jpg
| static_image_caption = Holme-next-the-Sea Village Sign
| country = England
| region = East of England
| shire_county = [[Norfolk]]
| shire_district = [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]]
| constituency_westminster = [[North West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Norfolk]]
| population = 203
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| os_grid_reference = TF7043
| coordinates = {{coord|52.96|0.54|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = HUNSTANTON
| postcode_area = PE
| postcode_district = PE36
| dial_code = 01485
| area_total_sq_mi = 2.90
| hide_services = Yes
}}

'''Holme-next-the-Sea''' is a village and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] [[county]] of [[Norfolk]].

Holme-next-the-Sea is located {{Convert|2.5|mi|km}} north-east of [[Hunstanton]] and {{Convert|39|mi|km}} north-west of [[Norwich]].

== Correct pronunciation ==
"Holme - the 'l' is sounded";<ref>Hales, J. and Bennett, W. "Looking at Norfolk" (October 1971), Charles N. Veal & Company</ref> "Holl’m"<ref>https://friendsofnorfolkdialect.com/portfolio-items/norfolk-placenames/</ref>

== History ==
Holme-next-the-Sea's name is of [[Anglo-Saxon]] origin and derives from the [[Old English]] for the island next to the sea.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Holme%20next%20the%20Sea |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}</ref>

In the [[Domesday Book]], Holme-next-the-Sea is recorded as a settlement of 8 households in the [[Hundred (county division)|hundred]] of Smethdon. In 1086, the village was divided between the [[East Anglia]]n estates of [[King William I]] and [[William d'Ecouis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holme [next the Sea] {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TF7043/holme-next-the-sea/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=opendomesday.org}}</ref>

[[Seahenge]], a [[Prehistory|prehistoric]] timber-circle, is located close to the village. The site was excavated in 1998 and the pieces were removed to the [[British Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=mnf33771 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf33771 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref>

There are numerous post-medieval shipwrecks on the beaches near Holme, including the ''Vicuna'' which sank on 7 March 1883 whilst carrying a cargo of ice to [[King's Lynn Docks]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=mnf21961 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf21961 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref> and the ''Carrington'', a [[Collier (ship)|collier]] which sank in the Nineteenth Century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=mnf21962 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf21962 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref>

During the [[Second World War]], several defences were built in the parish to defend against a possible [[Nazi Germany|German]] invasion. These defences included anti-tank ditches, barbed wire and mine fields.<ref>{{Cite web |title=mnf41685 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf41685 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref>

== Geography ==
According to the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], Holme-next-the-Sea has a population of 203 people which shows a decrease from the 239 people listed in the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holme next the Sea (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/kings_lynn_and_west_norf/E04006323__holme_next_the_sea/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

Holme-next-the-Sea is a prime site for migratory birds in the autumn and is home for two adjoining nature reserves: one owned by the [[Norfolk Wildlife Trust]] and the other by the [[Norfolk Ornithological Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=noa |date=2023-03-09 |title=OUR 4 RESERVES - Open To Visitors |url=https://noa.org.uk/our-reserves/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Norfolk Ornithologists Association |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Holme Dunes {{!}} Norfolk Wildlife Trust |url=https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/HolmeDunes |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> Gore Point, the north-easterly point of [[The Wash]], is located in the parish.

The meeting point of the [[Peddars Way]] and the [[Norfolk Coast Path]] is in the village.

== St. Mary's Church ==
Holme-next-the-Sea's parish church is dedicated to [[Saint Mary]] and dates from the Eighteenth Century. St. Mary's is located on Kirkgate and has been Grade I listed since 1953.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST MARY, Holme Next the Sea - 1171431 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1171431?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> The church holds Sunday service twice a month.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Mary the Virgin Holme-next-the-Sea |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/5506/service-and-events/events-all/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |language=en}}</ref>

The church holds stained-glass windows and a set of royal arms from the [[Georgian era]] as well as a Nineteenth Century marble [[Baptismal font|font]]. The church also holds a ring of five bells including one that was installed in 1677.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/holme/holme.htm |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}</ref>

== Amenities ==
The eastern end of [[Hunstanton Golf Club]] reaches to Holme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Course Overview {{!}} Hunstanton Golf Club |url=https://www.hunstantongolfclub.com/course/course-overview/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.hunstantongolfclub.com}}</ref>

== Governance ==
Holme-next-the-Sea is part of the [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] of Brancaster for local elections and is part of the [[Non-metropolitan district|district]] of [[King's Lynn and West Norfolk]].

The village's national constituency is [[North West Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Norfolk]] which has been represented by the Conservative's [[James Wild (politician)|James Wild MP]] since 2019.

== War Memorial ==
Holme-next-the-Sea War Memorial is a small latin-cross monument in St. Mary's Churchyard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holme-next-the-Sea War Memorial, Holme Next the Sea - 1450928 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1450928?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> The memorial lists the following names for the [[First World War]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roll of Honour - Norfolk - Holme Next The Sea |url=https://roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/HolmeNextTheSea.html |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=roll-of-honour.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Hackford to Hunworth :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/10 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Rank
!Name
!Unit
!Date of death
!Burial/Commemoration
|-
|2Lt.
|Frank D. Holm
|[[Royal Engineers]]
|14 May 1917
|[[Doullens|Doullens Cemetery]]
|-
|WO2
|George Potter
|190th Bty., [[Royal Garrison Artillery]]
|29 Apr. 1918
|[[Brandhoek New Military Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery|Brandhoek New Cemetery]]
|-
|LSjt.
|Albert Smith [[Military Medal|MM]]
|10th Bn., [[Essex Regiment]]
|22 Oct. 1917
|[[Tyne Cot]]
|-
|LCpl.
|Alec P. Robertson
|[[8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles), CEF|8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Bn.]], [[Canadian Expeditionary Force|CEF]]
|28 Apr. 1915
|[[Menin Gate]]
|-
|LCpl.
|John L. Callaby
|15th Bn., [[West Yorkshire Regiment]]
|28 Jun. 1918
|[[Hazebrouck|Cinq Rues Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Arthur F. Robinson
|1st Bn., [[Royal Berkshire Regiment]]
|29 Sep. 1918
|[[Vis-en-Artois Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Kenneth A. Robertson
|8th Bn., [[Royal Fusiliers]]
|5 May 1917
|[[Arras Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Alfred Potter
|2nd Bn., [[Middlesex Regiment]]
|24 Oct. 1918
|Niederzwehren Cemetery
|-
|Pte.
|Alfred Thacker
|1st Bn., [[Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment|Queen's Own Royal Regt.]]
|22 Jul. 1916
|[[Caterpillar Valley Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Percy C. Rason
|6th Bn., [[Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)|Queen's Royal Regiment]]
|5 Apr. 1917
|[[Arras|Faubourg Cemetery]]
|-
|Spr.
|Frederick N. Knight
|[[1st Australian Tunnelling Company|1st Tunnelling Coy.]], [[First Australian Imperial Force|AIF]]
|4 Nov. 1918
|[[Prémont|Prémont British Cemetery]]
|-
|Spr.
|George B. Callaby
|97th Coy., [[Royal Engineers]]
|1 Apr. 1918
|[[Le Cateau-Cambrésis|Le Cateau Cemetery]]
|}
The following names were added after the [[Second World War]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Rank
!Name
!Unit
!Date of death
!Burial/Commemoration
|-
|FSgt.
|Michael J. T. Finn
|[[No. 620 Squadron RAF|No. 620 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)]]
|6 Sep. 1943
|[[Altdorf, Esslingen|Altdorf Cemetery]]
|-
|Sgt.
|John A. Rix
|[[No. 49 Squadron RAF|No. 49 Squadron RAF (Lancasters)]]
|2 Nov. 1944
|[[Rheinberg War Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|William E. Hayter
|[[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]]
|26 Apr. 1941
|[[Athens|Athens War Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Harold J. Arnold
|7th Bn., [[Royal Norfolk Regiment]]
|12 Jun. 1940
|[[Dunkirk Memorial]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Holme next the Sea}}
*{{oscoor gbx|TF 707 434}} <!-- for Holme-next-the-Sea. -->
* {{cite web |title=Holme-next-the-Sea |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Holme%20next%20the%20Sea |website=Key to English Place-names <!-- |access-date=4 April 2022 -->}}
*[http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/h/holme_next_sea/ Holme-next-the-Sea] from origins.org/Genuki Norfolk
*[http://www.norfolkcoast.co.uk/location_norfolk/vp_holme.htm Holme-next-the-Sea] from NorfolkCoast.co.uk
*[http://www.holme-next-the-sea.co.uk/ Holme-next-the-Sea] village Website.

{{Civil Parishes of King's Lynn and West Norfolk}}

[[Category:Villages in Norfolk]]
[[Category:King's Lynn and West Norfolk]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Beaches of Norfolk]]