The origin of Freethorpe's name is uncertain. It either derives from the Old Norse for Fraethi's settlement or an amalgamation of the Old Norse and Old English for a settlement offering refuge or safety.[1]
Several Nineteenth Century almshouses are located within the village, which were built in 1871 by Richard Henry and Harriet Vade Walpole to care for local widows.[3]
During the First World War, the village was home to a Royal Flying Corps airfield between 1916 and 1918. During the Second World War, the airfield was passed on to the Royal Observer Corps who operated the site until the mid-Twentieth Century.[4] In addition, an eastern part of the parish was designated as a Starfish site during the Second World War to draw Luftwaffe attention away from Norwich and Great Yarmouth.[5]
According to the 2011 Census, Freethorpe has a population of 995 residents living in 405 households. Furthermore, the parish has a total area of 3.67 square miles (9.5 km2).[6]
Freethorpe's parish church is one of Norfolk's remaining 124 round-tower churches, with the tower dating from the Twelfth Century and the remainder of the church dating from the Thirteenth Century. The church was restored in the Nineteenth Century by Anthony Salvin at the behest of Richard Henry Vade Walpole, Lord of the Manor of Freethorpe. The stained-glass inside the church was installed by Thomas Willement and Clayton and Bell and largely glorify the Walpole family.[7]
Freethorpe also has a Methodist Chapel that holds regular church services and seats up to 150 people.
The majority of local children attend Freethorpe Community Primary School, which was rated as 'Good' by Ofsted in 2016[8] which was subsequently upheld in 2019.[9]
Freethorpe's war memorial takes the form of a square pillar, made from granite, topped with a carved urn, located in the cemetery of Freethorpe's Methodist Church. The memorial lists the following names for the First World War:
Media related to Freethorpe at Wikimedia Commons
