Discover Litcham

When considering Litcham as a destination, two themes stand out side by side: the architectural history surrounding All Saints and the natural landscape of Litcham Common. The Nar Valley Way also runs across the Common, making a direct connection with walking. Historic buildings and the War Memorial add further points of reference from different periods to the village’s character.

All Saints and its architectural history

All Saints was consecrated in 1412. Inside, there is a 15th-century rood screen with 22 original painted panels. The year of consecration and the date of the rood screen represent different historical layers: one date relates to the consecration of the church, the other to a specific element of its furnishings. This distinction gives the architectural history more depth than a single date could.

The building known as The Priory, at the lower end of Church Street in Litcham, dates from the 14th century; it was probably a chapel or hermitage. Priory Farmhouse is a former chapel and hermitage from the early 14th century that was converted into a farmhouse and is now a private residence. The building also features significant additions from the 17th century. The tentative interpretation of The Priory and the present-day residential use of Priory Farmhouse are each part of their distinct histories.

Litcham Hall, a Grade II listed building, is on Lexham Road. Litcham War Memorial is also Grade II listed. It dates from the First World War and was later supplemented with additions from the Second World War. The Bull Inn dates back to the 17th century. Horses were changed there; until the late 18th century, the building also served as the local court. Together, these places illustrate different functions and periods, without Litcham’s history being confined to a single building or era.

Litcham Common and the Nar Valley Way

Litcham Common is a managed nature reserve with 28 hectares of lowland heath and mixed woodland. These two habitat types give the area its distinctive landscape character. This natural setting differs in focus from Litcham’s historic buildings: here, heath and woodland take centre stage, while there, the focus is on architecture and former uses.

The Nar Valley Way is a 35-mile long-distance walking route from East Dereham to Kings Lynn and passes through Litcham Common. A suggested walk on the Nar Valley Way also runs from Castle Acre to Litcham. This section passes through a local nature reserve and ends in Litcham. The route details can therefore be distinguished by their scope: the 35 miles refer to the long-distance route between its two endpoints; the suggested walk describes the section from Castle Acre to Litcham. This is a useful guide when choosing a destination, if you want to distinguish a longer route from a specific section.

So when deciding whether to visit Litcham, you can use different travel interests as your guide: All Saints and the other buildings offer historical points of interest spanning several centuries. Litcham Common and the Nar Valley Way, by contrast, offer a connection with nature and walking. These combined themes make it clear whether you want to include Litcham in your hotel plans mainly for its local history or its landscape.

Discover more destinations: Foulsham, Hainford, Great Massingham, Freethorpe, Edingthorpe, Feltwell, Necton, Costessey

For the wider travel guide: Norfolk.