Village History

Thurton is written 'Tortuna' in the Domesday Book. The suffix is the Anglo-Saxon 'tun', meaning an enclosed space. The prefix may refer to a thorn bush, or perhaps to the Anglo-Saxon god Thunor, whom the Normans called Thur. So Thurton may mean 'the place of the thorn bush' or 'Thor's enclosure'.

The Domesday Book records Roger Bigot as being granted the rights of the land. In the reign of Richard I, Robert de Grys was lord. In 1347 the Abbot of Langley retained interests in Thurton and at the Dissolution, manorial right was passed to Thomas Godsalve. This was subsequently passed down to the Beauchamp family of Langley.

In 1707 a tumuli barrow, north of The Street, was opened and several Roman coins of Gallienus (emperor from 253 to 268), Victorinus (268 - 270 or 271), Tetricus (271 - 273) and Quintillus (270) were discovered. It is thought the village was on the Roman route from Burgh Castle (Gariannonum) to Caistor St Edmund (Venta Icenorum). William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk (1883) records the tradition that a battle took place nearby at White Heath, speculating that it might have been between the Roman and Iceni. If there is a connection with Burgh Castle then the battle might equally have been between Romans and Anglo-Saxons.

Other finds in Thurton include a prehistoric polished flint axe, a Neolithic stone axehead and a prehistoric copper alloy axe. These are held in the Castle Museum in Norwich. In 1848 a proof groat of Edward I, mounted as a brooch, was found. A 17th Century stoneware jar was discovered in 1966. This is also retained at the Castle Museum.

When the commons were enclosed in 1801 the income from Fuel Allotment of approximately 6 acres of land was awarded for the relief of the poor in Thurton. Thomas Spooner also left 20 shillings a year for the poor in 1630. These two charities are still active and benefit the community and are administered by a panel of trustees. In 1801 the population of Thurton was shown as 164, by 1901 the population had grown to 209 inhabitants and by the 2001 census this had grown to 568.

Norfolk Records Office has around 200 historic documents relating to Thurton.

Stump Cross - can you help solve the mystery?

In 1901 on the Census return for Thurton, James Cossey (or Corsey), aged 52, occupation carpenter, born Chedgrave, and his wife Mary Ann Cossey (or Corsey), aged 53, born Liverpool, are shown as living at Stump Cross, Thurton. Does anyone know where Stump Cross may have been situated? On the Census, the entry comes between the Gascoigne family, living on Norwich Road at "The Lodge" and the Bickers family (Publican and Farmer) residing at Lion Lane, presumably the Red Lion Public House. Where was Thurton's Stump Cross?

Traditionally, Stump Cross denotes a place of some importance, e.g. the place where local politicians would stand up and spout their rhetoric on their hustings at election time and where proclamations were made known to village folk. Email us, if you can throw any light on the whereabouts of Stump Cross or of the Cossey/Corsey family?

Where is Dodger's Corner? We are still searching.

We're still trying to find out where Dodgers' Corner used to be. Some say it's near the Church Loke, others think it's by the crossroads at the end of The Street. Do you know anyone who can help solve this mystery? If you can, please email us.

And while we're on the subject, who exactly was Thurton's Baking Powder Man?