Gillingham ( ) is a small village and civil parish in the South Norfolk district of Norfolk, England.
Gillingham is located north-west of Beccles and south-east of Norwich, along the A146.
History Gillingham's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the "homestead or village of Gylla's people".
In the Domesday Book, Gillingham is listed as a settlement of 34 households in the hundred of Clavering. In 1086, the village formed part of the East Anglian estates of King William I.
The parish contains two villages that were abandoned in the 14th century due to the ravages of the Black Death: Winston and Wyndale.
Gillingham Hall is located within the parish and was built in the early-16th century as a residence for Sir Nicholas Bacon. Today, the hall is owned by Edward Haughey.
On the night of 6 and 7 November 1943, a Dornier 17 light bomber crashed in the village after being shot down by anti-aircraft fire whilst on a bombing raid of Norwich. One crew member survived and attempts at excavation of the site were made by the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum during the 1970s.
On 13 March 2014, a helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from Gillingham Hall, killing all four people on board, including Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond, the owner of Gillingham Hall.
Geography According to the 2021 census, Gillingham has a total population of 697 people which demonstrates an increase from the 676 people listed in the 2011 census.
The A146, between Norwich and Lowestoft, passes through the parish.
St. Mary's Church Gillingham's parish church dates from the 12th century but was largely rebuilt in the mid-19th century by Thomas Penrice and is dedicated to Saint Mary. St. Mary's is located on Church Road and has been Grade I listed since 1960. St. Mary's is open throughout the week for services.
Gillingham is also home to the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Church, which was built in late-19th century by the Kenyon family of Gillingham Hall.
Amenities St. Michael's Church of England Primary School is located within the village and is part of the Diocese of Norwich Education Trust.
The village also has a playground, allotments and a village hall.
Transport The village has a regular bus service to much of the surrounding area. First Norfolk & Suffolk run the X2 through the village, which gives access to Beccles, Loddon, Norwich and Lowestoft as well as the smaller surrounding villages and BorderBus run the 580 to Beccles, Bungay, Harleston and Diss and the connecting 581 to Beccles and Great Yarmouth and the 146 which runs between Norwich and Lowestoft via Loddon and Beccles. Bus services to other areas can be found in Beccles.
Notable residents Admiral Henry Eden- (1798–1888) Royal Naval officer, lived at Gillingham Hall. Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond- (1944–2014) Anglo-Irish entrepreneur & politician, lived at Gillingham Hall.
Governance Gillingham is part of the electoral ward of Thurlton for local elections and is part of the district of South Norfolk.
The village's national constituency is South Norfolk which has been represented by Ben Goldsborough of the Labour Party since 2024.
War Memorial Gillingham War Memorial is a grey granite wheel cross with a small plinth located outside the village at the site where King George V inspected troops in 1916. The memorial lists the following names for the First World War: +RankNameUnitDate of deathBurial/CommemorationLCpl.William Drewell1/5th Bn., Suffolk Regiment2 Nov. 1917Gaza War CemeteryASmn.Leonard W. RivettHMS K431 Jan. 1918Chatham Naval MemorialEgmn.Lewis ButtonH.M. Drifter Gleaner of the Sea26 Oct. 1916Chatham Naval MemorialPte.Charles T. Chambers2nd Bn., Border Regiment13 Mar. 1915Le Touret MemorialPte.Edward Spencer2nd Bn., Border Regt.16 May 1915Le Touret MemorialPte.Ernest Leon13th Bn., East Yorkshire Regiment13 Nov. 1916Euston Road CemeteryPte.Harry Leon9th Bn., Essex Regiment7 Apr. 1918Varennes CemeteryPte.Edmund G. B. Farrow1st Bn., Honourable Artillery Coy.8 Aug. 1917Messines Ridge CemeteryPte.Thomas Richardson33rd Bn., Machine Gun Corps3 Mar. 1918Dochy Farm CemeteryPte.Albert J. Kemp1/4th Bn., Norfolk Regiment27 Mar. 1917Gaza War CemeteryPte.David Whincup7th Bn., Norfolk Regt.18 Sep. 1918Épehy CemeteryPte.Richard S. Sturman9th Bn., Norfolk Regt.3 Apr. 1918Étaples Military CemeteryPte.Arthur W. Hembling1st Bn., Suffolk Regt.24 May 1915Südfriedhof, ColognePte.Clarence H. Simpson8th Bn., Suffolk Regt.31 Jul. 1917Menin GateRfn.Clifford J. Lobban12th Bn., Royal Irish Rifles27 Apr. 1918Boulogne East CemeterySmth.Robert G. Rackham272nd Bde., Royal Field Artillery15 Sep. 1918Ramleh War CemeterySkpr.Henry W. PlummerH.M. Trawler Freesia2 Nov. 1918Cobh CemeteryCookAlfred E. SaundersH.M. Trawler Raymont22 Nov. 1918St. Mary's Churchyard The following names were added after the Second World War: +RankNameUnitDate of deathBurial/CommemorationLt.Robert E. Todhunter6th Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment6 Mar. 1942Brixton Cemetery, JohannesburgLSt.Frederick S. PlumbHMS Gallant10 Jan. 1941Chatham Naval Memorial
References
External links
S Norfolk Council