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Removals to Aylsham with Hamiltons Removals
Aylsham has been named as one of the best places to live in Norfolk by the Sunday Times – it’s ideally placed for not just the coast and the Broads, but the city of Norwich as well. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer house removals to all parts of Norfolk, look at the town’s history and current facilities – and how we can help you to move there.
The History
There is some evidence of Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlements on the site of the current town, which was granted a licence to hold a market by King Henry VIII in 1519. This is a tradition which continues to the present day.
Aylsham owed its growth to the textile industry – particularly linen and cloth – and, in medieval times, it also hosted hiring fairs (a form of open-air labour market) and horse fairs as well. The River Bure, which the town lies on, helped with the town’s trade and prosperity was used for the transport of grain, coal and timber from the 18th century onwards. (The river, which ultimately runs into the North Sea, is now only navigable from Coltishall).
Another factor in the town’s expansion was the fact that it served as a major stopping-off point for travellers between Norwich and Cromer – the Black Boys Inn was a coach house between the two. The Grade II listed building in the town’s marketplace is still going strong as a pub and restaurant today.
John of Gaunt, the famous nobleman and military leader, is the figure who appears on the town sign. This is because he was Aylsham’s Lord of the Manor in the 14th Century – even though there’s little evidence he ever actually visited Aylsham.
The Town Today
The Aylsham of today doesn’t have a livestock market any longer, but it does have a monthly farmers’ market as well as its two regular weekly markets. There are also plenty of independent shops, although two supermarkets have been built on the Norwich Road. The Dunkirk industrial estate is home to a number of small businesses.
Aylsham is now a Cittaslow town, and it was one of the first in the UK to receive the accolade. This organisation was founded by Italian migrants who wanted to promote the joys of rural life across the UK (the word Cittaslow actually translates as ‘slow city’) and it has backed a number of initiatives in the town. It sponsors the farmers’ markets, organises the town’s annual Slow Food Festival in the autumn, promotes sustainable transport and co-ordinates Aylsham litter-picks.
Transport
The Norwich to Cromer road, which used to carry horse-related traffic, is now the route of the A140 which bypasses the town. Aylsham used to have a railway station, but this closed in the 1950s – instead there is a narrow-gauge heritage line, the Bure Valley Railway. This runs services to nearby Wroxham and is particularly popular with tourists and steam train enthusiasts.
The town also has a half-hourly bus service which runs to Sheringham to the north and Norwich to the south. However, many people commute into Norwich for work by car.
House Prices in Aylsham
A number of estates, notably Bure Valley and Willow Park in recent years, have seen the population of the town rise from just over 6,000 in 2011 to around 8,700 in 2021. This has also increased the variety of the types of homes coming onto the market.
Its proximity to both the city of Norwich and the North Norfolk coast means it’s one of the more popular places in Norfolk to live. Apart from the Sunday Times accolade, The Muddy Stilettos website, which offers a feminine perspective on rural life, also rated Aylsham the best place to live in Norfolk this year.
This desirability and popularity of the town may be reflected in Aylsham’s property market – according to property portal Rightmove, the average house price is £332,000, which is around £15,000 more than the Norfolk average.
Moving House to Aylsham with Hamiltons Removals
If you are interested in moving house to Aylsham, then we, as a leading house removals company based in Norfolk, can get you there; our local knowledge means we know all the local roads and routes.
We pride ourselves on our quality of service and can offer a number of optional extras, whatever part of the world you are coming from. These include removals insurance, packing and unpacking your belongings, and we can move large and specialist items too.
You can start the whole moving process by either opting for one of our video surveys or choosing an online quotation. You can also call us on 01379 855203.
Image: Jonathan Billinger/Geograph.org.uk
The Best Places to Move to in Malta
The low cost of living, the warm climate and the fact that English is widely spoken mean that Malta is one of the most popular countries to move to in Europe – particularly for British people looking for somewhere to retire to. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer commercial and domestic moving packages right across Europe, look at some of the most popular places if you are considering removals to Malta.
Valletta
The country’s capital is also its only city, with a population of around 6,000 people. This means the expat community, although increasing, is still quite small. It is the cultural capital of the island and was designated the European Capital of Culture as recently as 2018. Valletta is home to the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Fine Arts Museum, and the Royal Opera House.
In practical terms, it is the administrative centre of the island too, which is convenient if you are moving house to Valletta and have a problem or a query to sort out. There are also plenty of shops here too – a good mix of brand-name stores, smaller independent shops and a daily morning market.
Valletta is also a seaport with a Grand Harbour (pictured above); however, it is commercially much less important than it used to be as much of the island’s trade now goes through a free port near Marsaxlokk. However, the harbour area is the focus of several regeneration projects. This will include new piers built for handling cargo, a new promenade for pedestrians – and several new recreational areas will be created as well.
Marsaxlokk
This pretty little fishing village is on the Malta’s south-eastern coast. It’s ideal to move to if you like seafood; there’s a big fish market every Sunday and bream, bass, swordfish and tuna are all likely to feature on restaurant menus (however, there are restrictions on how much tuna and swordfish can be caught).
It’s also a great place to move to if you like swimming and sunbathing. There’s a small sandy beach on the east side.
St Paul’s Bay
This is a town on the main island’s northern coast. Its population is around the 20,000 mark, but this increases considerably over the summer months when tourists and Maltese residents come here on holiday. You should still be able to find a quiet spot to relax and it’s also ideal for water sports such as swimming and snorkelling.
Like other towns in the north of the island, St Paul’s Bay is a particularly popular spot to retire to; apart from the coastal location, housing is cheaper compared to Valletta and it’s much quieter as well, with far less in the way of night-time entertainment.
Victoria, Gozo
This is the largest town on Malta’s smaller island, Gozo. Small really is beautiful as everything is accessible on foot and the whole town covers just over 1 square mile. It still possesses two opera theatres, a landscaped park and two streets with a variety of shops.
If you want some spectacular views over the Mediterranean, make sure you visit the Citadella (citadel); this was built in the early 17th century as a defensive fortress and is the dominant feature of the island’s skyline. It has a visitor centre which is open during the day, although to get the best views you should visit the Citadella at night.
Another advantage of moving to Victoria – or anywhere on Gozo – is the cost of living. Accommodation (whether rented or purchased outright) is generally cheaper than on Malta’s main island, as is eating out and socialising. However, you will need to factor in the cost of any commute as there are many services, including the airport, which are only available ‘over the water’.
Removals to Malta with Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons Removals, we can help you if you are considering moving house to all the major Maltese destinations, including Valetta, Marsaxlokk and Gozo. We can ship your belongings in a dedicated container or, if you opt for our groupage service, they will be put into a shared container with other customers’ possessions. Smaller, valuable items can be sent by air freight.
If you would like to know more about our European moving service, follow this link or call us directly on 01379 855203 or 0800 246 5622.