The town of Dereham is located in the county of Norfolk. While there is no set date on when the town was settled it is known to pre-date the Saxon era. It is believed that the name Dereham comes from a deer park that once existed in the area. The ancient buildings that once marked the town's long history were destroyed during the fires of 1581 and 1659. There are still a couple of historic buildings that survived the fires.
One of these structures is the Church of St Nicholas. Built in the 1200s by the Normans the church was once used as a prison during the Napoleonic wars. Today visitors can enjoy the beautiful architecture both inside and outside. It's interesting to note that the bell tower, which is separate from the rest of the structure, was added almost three hundred years later in the sixteenth century.
If you are interested in markets then be sure to visit the large market that is held every Friday. Here you can find a large variety of goods and merchandise, almost everything you can think of. If you are not going to be around on a Friday then visit the smaller market that are held on Tuesdays. While the Tuesday market doesn't have the selection of the Friday market there are still many interesting items to be had. They also hold a farmers market at the railway station once a month.
If you are interested in food there is no shortage here. There is a wide choice of restaurants, tea-rooms, and pubs. You can find anything from fine dining to take away, what ever your palate is craving.
If you are curious about the history of Dereham and the surrounding area then you want to visit the Bishop Bonner's Cottage museum. The cottage itself dates back to the early 1500s and is the oldest surviving domestic building in Dereham. On display in this wonderful little cottage is a wide collection of artifacts that detail the story of the local history of Dereham. You will also see a wide array of archeological artifacts from the surrounding area. While you're there take in the wonderful detail of the home including but not limited to the plaster pargeting on the front of the cottage.
Dialling the UK from Abroad
To dial the telephone and fax numbers shown from outside the UK, dial your international access code (check with your telecoms provider if you do not know what to dial), then 44, then the rest of the number except the zero shown in brackets.
Guest House & Hotel Owners
If you run a hotel, guest house or bed & breakfast and would like to be included in 4Hotels.co.uk's Hotel & Guest House Directory, please e-mail info@4hotels.co.uk.
Other accommodation close to Dereham: