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Unusual Facts About Norfolk
Norfolk is one of the most popular counties in the UK to move to, with plenty of hidden gems and little-known attractions to attract people.
Hamiltons Removals have been offering top-quality commercial domestic and specialist moving services for people moving to Norfolk for more than two decades. We also have high quality self storage facilities at two sites in south Norfolk, in Harleston and at nearby Aldeby. As we know the area well, we have compiled these interesting facts about the county.
It’s A Big County
Norfolk is the fifth largest county in England, covering an area of 5,371sq km. It was also one of the more heavily populated, according to the Domesday Book, until around 1600. However, it was badly affected by the Black Death and the various outbreaks of the Plague, with thousands of people failing to survive. This, coupled with Norfolk’s relatively isolated location, means that it is one of the few counties where the current population is lower than it was in the early 14th century.
A Centre for Churches
Norfolk has 659 mediaeval churches, which is believed to be the highest concentration in the world. It also has 125 churches with round towers, which is a record number in the UK.
And the county can also lay claim to a third church record. St Nicholas’ Church in Great Yarmouth, also known as the Minster Church, is the largest parish church in the country. This is due to its floor surface area, which covers 23,000 square feet.
Modern Postcodes Started in Norwich
The Post Office wanted to make the sorting of mail less labour intensive, so it came up with a machine-readable code which people put on addresses at the end of letters. The first trials began in Norfolk’s county town in 1959. The success of this pilot scheme persuaded the Post Office to roll out postcodes across the rest of the country.
The whole programme finished in 1974 back in Norwich, which was given a fresh code. This date is recorded on a blue plaque on the site of the old Post Office in Gentleman’s Walk in the city, now the site of a bank.
A Famous Forest
Thetford Forest, on the county’s border with Suffolk, is the largest lowland pine forest in England, covering an area of about 18,730 hectares. The first trees were planted there in the 1920s to replace the nation’s supplies of timber after the First World War. Today part of the forest, known as the Stanford Training Area, is reserved for military exercises and is closed to the public.
Much of the forest is, however, open to visitors and it attracts around 1.5million people every year. It is a haven for wildlife and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Many people go there for special events such as concerts at the High Lodge Visitor Centre. Ed Sheeran, Simply Red and Blondie have all played there in recent years.
A Poetic Tribute to Diss
The south Norfolk town of Diss was immortalised in a famous poem by Sir John Betjeman, who was the Poet Laureate until 1984. He first went to Diss while filming a series on British market towns for the BBC and quickly fell in love with the town.
The poem, entitled A Mind’s Journey to Diss, was written to Mary Wilson. She was the daughter of a Congregationalist Minister and was born in the town. Later she married Labour politician Harold Wilson, who went on to become Prime Minister. The poem’s opening lines are: “Dear Mary/Yes it will be bliss/To go with you by train to Diss.” Betjeman also made a famous film, Something About Diss, which also saw him travel from London to the town, alighting at the station.
Hamiltons Removals provides a friendly, professional service for domestic, commercial and specialist removals to customers in Suffolk, Norfolk and across East Anglia.
We also offer state of the art self storage at our Safe N Stored sites in Harleston and Aldeby in south Norfolk. Both are ideal for people moving to the Diss, Dickleburgh, Bungay and Stradbroke areas who might need somewhere to store their belongings while they complete a house move, or for residents who already live there but need to store some possessions away during the winter months.
The Harleston site offers rooms from 25sq ft to 200sq ft, and a shop which has sells a comprehensive range of packing materials, while Aldeby has storage containers from 5ft to 20ft in size. Both sites are easily accessible and are protected by CCTV around the clock, so you can be sure your items will be kept safe and secure. Follow the link above if you would like to know more about our self storage facilities.
Popular Cities to Move to in New Zealand
Increasing numbers of people from the UK are choosing to move to New Zealand; whether you are retiring or are moving there for work reasons, you will be able to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle and an excellent standard of living.
As specialists in organising removals from the UK to New Zealand, Hamiltons Removals has put together this guide to the most popular cities to move to in this attractive country.
Auckland
This is New Zealand’s largest city, larger than even the capital Wellington, with a population of around 1.5 million people. On the country’s North Island, it borders both the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and has harbours on both coastlines.
It is a very cosmopolitan place, with natives and Polynesian Islanders happily rubbing shoulders with large expat communities who are drawn from all over the world, and not just the UK. In fact, the city was recently ranked 3rd best city in the world to live in Mercer’s Quality of Living index.
The most visible city landmark is the Sky Tower, a telecommunications tower and observation point, which is more than 320 metres tall. Famous Aucklanders include pop singer Lorde, and Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953.
Wellington
The country’s capital has a population of around 400,000, and is on the southern tip of the North Island. Its extensive network of hiking and biking tracks, plus a thriving café culture, means it also rates highly among expats.
Its most distinctive building is the Beehive, the country’s Parliament building which was initially designed by Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence. Its shape is supposed to resemble a skep, a traditional woven form of a beehive.
Famous people born in Wellington include screenwriter Richard Curtis, who moved to the UK from New Zealand at an early age, and Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.
Christchurch
This is the country’s third largest city, on the South Island, with a population of around 350,000. The Avon River goes through the centre and it is a very picturesque place to move to, even though the area has suffered from earthquakes in the recent past.
It boasts a thriving nightlife and lies at the centre of the country’s artistic and cultural scene, leading some to name it the world’s ‘coolest little capital’. Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole and former international cricketer Sir Richard Hadlee were both born in the city.
Dunedin
Dunedin is one of the most popular places to move to for work reasons. The economy of this South Island city is flourishing, thanks in part to a large student population based at its university and polytechnic. They make up a large part of the city’s total population of around 118,000, which makes it the seventh largest place in the country. New Zealanders rate it highly themselves, naming it in a survey as their top city to live in for happiness and quality of life.
Baldwin Street, Dunedin, is officially the steepest street in the world with a gradient of 1 in 2.9. Athletes run up and down it in an annual event known as the Baldwin Street Gutbuster.
Famous Dunedin people include New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum and the late Archibald McIndoe, one of the pioneers of modern-day plastic surgery.
Hamilton
This city, on the North Island, is in the Waikato region and lies at the heart of one of the fastest growing urban areas in New Zealand. It has a population of more than 140,000 people, and the major employers are the agricultural and scientific research industries, and manufacturing, particularly boats and aircraft.
Hamilton Gardens, to the south of the city, are one of the most popular tourist attractions, drawing more than a million visitors every year. It has more than 20 different themed gardens and hosts a range of community events, such as concerts, scarecrow festivals and Anzac Day commemorations.
Richard O’Brien, creator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and host of the first UK version of The Crystal Maze, lived in the city, and Warren Gatland, who has coached the British Lions, Welsh and Irish rugby union teams, was born here.
Hamiltons Removals can help you if you need removals from the UK to New Zealand. We arrange commercial and domestic moves from the UK to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hamilton, and also to other New Zealand destinations including Tauranga, Napier and Hastings. Follow the link above if you would like to contact us and to learn more about our services.
We can also arrange removals to other international locations, including Australia, Canada and the USA, and European destinations such as France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.