Dereham - Trains, Wells & Windmills

St Withburga's Well

I always thought that Dereham and East Dereham were two separate places? Apparently not, they are one and the same. There is however a West Dereham some 25 miles away.

I had high expectations of this visit to the Breckland Market Town (That doesn't bode well does it...) It's a Sunday morning and is something of a Ghost Town. Nothing is happening, there is little of any interest. Just the usual offering of Charity shops, Vape stores and Turkish Barbers if you want your hair setting on fire.It must have some redeeming features? After all Stephen Fry got married here.There is also a Windmill here somewhere. Just as we are about to give up I spot a sign pointing to St Withburga's Well, that might be quite  interesting? (To quote Mr Fry). St Withburga's Well is a holy spring located in the churchyard of St Nicholas in the centre of Dereham. The water sprang from the grave of St Withburga when her bones were removed.A plaque records that “The ruins of a tomb which contained the remains of Withburga, youngest daughter of Anna, King of East Angles, who died AD 654. The ambience is slightly spoiled by the presence of an old wheelbarrow if I'm being picky. 

As we walked backed to the car we passed the Signal Box for Dereham North Station. The Mid Norfolk heritage railway.  At 17+1⁄2 miles (28.2 km) preserved standard gauge one of the longest in the UK. Regular steam and diesel services run 11+1⁄2 miles (18.5 km) through the centre of Norfolk down to Wymondham via Yaxham and Thuxton. 

Class 47 Diesel 'County of Essex

After some gentle persuasion I purchased two tickets for a halcyon railway trip from yesteryear. Sadly there were no steam locomotives to pull us along today  Instead we are in the safe hands of the 'County of Essex' Diesel loco also know as Brush Type 4. A class of diesel-electric locomotive that was built between 1962 -1968 at the Crewe works. A total of 512 were produced. 

All change, apparently we aren't going to Wymondham now. Thuxton and back is all we are getting. No idea why? Wrong type of leaves? A cow on the line ? They can't be arsed ? Information is not forthcoming. Not even the offer of a Bus Replacement service. We set off at a snails pace , which gradually increases to a slugs pace as we crawl past Yaxham Station. I'm guessing they are having to pad the ride out a bit now. We get to Thuxton and stop. Nothing is happening, I ask a fresh faced youth in a Stationmasters outfit what the idea is? A 20 minute wait to enjoy the platform while the Diesel Loco turns around to take us back. A 'Runaround' I believe he called it. Not sure if that is official railway terminology?  

If truth be told keeping occupied for twenty minutes on a near deserted rural platform is easier said than done. Pose for the odd photo, that whiled away a few seconds. Checked out the Signal Box, strolled along the Platform, crikey It's nearly time to depart! 'Time flies by when you're the driver of a train' the song goes. Not quite so much for the passenger.

Determined to make up for the £12 per person fare we dive into the 1st Class Compartments. We will be travelling back to Dereham in style. 

Romantic images of bygone days are conjured up of when rail travel ruled the roost. We trundle back into Dereham Station very much as we departed. I can't help feeling rather short changed. 

Oh well onwards and upwards we have a Windmill to find . There is a cafe too and all this high speed travel has pepped up my appetite.  

First impressions aren't great..... Have I said that earlier? We appear to be in the middle of a new housing estate. (Viewings by appointment only). Several wrong turns later we spot the Windmill! Norwich Road Mill was built in 1836,  recently restored and reopened to visitors in 2013. Like many of the houses it looked like it was built last week. There is very little information available about the history. No sign of Windy Miller either. 

 Just to round things off perfectly the flipping Cafe was all shut up too.... I was tempted to name this post 'Disappointing Dereham' It would definitely have been more apt.