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Norfolk

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Norfolk is a ceremonial county located in the East of England.

Norfolk UK locator map 2010
Norfolk UK locator map 2010

It sits within the larger region of East Anglia. The county is bordered by the North Sea to the north and the east. To the south, it meets the county of Suffolk. Cambridgeshire lies to the west. In the north-west, Norfolk borders Lincolnshire and The Wash. The area is predominantly rural, meaning it consists mostly of countryside.

Norfolk numbered districts
Norfolk numbered districts

The largest settlement is the city of Norwich, located in the centre-east. Other principal towns include Great Yarmouth on the coast, Thetford in the south, and King's Lynn in the north-west.

The geography of Norfolk is defined by several distinct landscape features. The central part of the county consists of gently undulating lowland. This means the land has soft, rolling hills rather than sharp mountains. To the east, the northern half of the Broads is located. The Broads is a network of rivers and lakes that extends into Suffolk. This area has a status similar to a national park. The western part of the county contains portions of the Fens. In the south, you will find part of Thetford Forest. The geology includes significant clay and chalk deposits. These materials make the coastline particularly susceptible to erosion by the sea.

Human history in Norfolk stretches back to prehistoric times. Evidence shows Palaeolithic settlers were present as early as 950,000 years ago. During the Roman era, the Iceni tribe lived in the region. Their leader, Boudica, led a major revolt against Roman rule in AD 60. This rebellion was crushed, which opened the area to Roman influence. Romans built roads, ports, and widespread farming systems throughout the territory. Following the Roman departure, Germanic peoples known as the Angles settled the area. They arrived around the 5th century and established the Kingdom of East Anglia. This group eventually became known as the "north folk," which gave the county its name.

The Middle Ages brought great prosperity to the region. Norfolk became heavily involved in the wool trade during this period. This wealth allowed for the construction of many massive medieval churches. In fact, Norfolk has the greatest concentration of medieval churches in the world. Out of an original total of over one thousand, 659 have survived. However, the economy began to decline due to the Black Death in 1349. Later, in 1549, Kett's Rebellion broke out during the reign of Edward VI. A farmer named Robert Kett led 16,000 rebels against the enclosure of land. The revolt ended at the Battle of Dussindale, where 3,000 rebels were killed.

Industrialization did not transform Norfolk as it did other parts of England. During the Industrial Revolution, the county developed very little industry. Norwich eventually lost its status as one of the largest cities in England. In the 20th century, the county took on a new role in aviation. Airfields expanded massively during the Second World War. This was due to the growth of the Royal Air Force. The American USAAF 8th Air Force also operated from many Norfolk airfields. This period also saw agriculture become much more intensive. Large fields were established for growing cereals and oilseed rape.

The modern economy of Norfolk is built on agriculture and tourism. In 2017, tourism added £3.25 billion to the economy each year. This sector supports approximately 65,000 jobs. Agriculture remains vital, with over 20% of employment in food and farming industries. Farmers grow crops such as wheat, barley, sugar beet, and oilseed rape. Some areas even produce saffron. Important business sectors also include energy, advanced engineering, and manufacturing. Notable companies in the region include Lotus Cars and Colman's. The fishery business also continues, including the harvesting of Cromer crabs and lobster.

Managing the coastline is a major challenge for the region. Because the cliffs are made of chalk and clay, they are vulnerable to weathering. The North Sea flood of 1953 was a major erosion event. Currently, the British Environment Agency manages the low-lying coast between Kelling and Lowestoft Ness. This helps protect the Broads from flooding. The North Norfolk Shoreline Management Plan aims to protect the coast for at least 50 years. However, rising sea levels may require future research. Scientists are studying whether sea defences might need to be realigned to a more sustainable position.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Norfolk UK locator map 2010.svg
Norfolk UK locator map 2010.svg
File:Norfolk numbered districts.svg
Norfolk numbered districts.svg
File:Norfolk UK local election results 2011 map.svg
Norfolk UK local election results 2011 map.svg
File:Norfolk County Council election 2013 map.svg
Norfolk County Council election 2013 map.svg
File:Arms of Norfolk.svg
Arms of Norfolk.svg
File:Flag of Norwich.svg
Flag of Norwich.svg
File:Norwich Railway Station Platforms.jpg
Norwich Railway Station Platforms.jpg
File:Holt railway station heritage 2022.jpg
Holt railway station heritage 2022.jpg
File:Britpieryarmouth.JPG
Britpieryarmouth.JPG
File:Norwich Theatre Royal.JPG
Norwich Theatre Royal.JPG
File:NorwichPlayhouse (cropped).JPG
NorwichPlayhouse (cropped).JPG
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