Hellesdon

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Hellesdon
latitude= 52.6485
longitude= 1.2509
population = 11,177
os_grid_reference= TG200105
shire_district= Broadland
shire_county = Norfolk
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Norwich North
post_town= NORWICH
postcode_district=NR6
postcode_area=NR
dial_code= 01603

Hellesdon is a thriving suburb of Norwich approximately 4 miles (6.4 kilometres) north-west of Norwich in Norfolk, England. It has 11,177 inhabitants. [ [http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census 2001] Retrieved February 19 2008] The council tax area is Broadland.

History

Situated to the north-west of Norwich, Hellesdon is a popular suburb with a large population.

Hellesdon has signs of very early settlement as a variety of flint instruments have been unearthed in and around this suburb; it is thought that they date back at least 4,000 years. A collection of bronze axe heads were found near Hellesdon Hall and a skeleton dating from around 600 AD was discovered next to Hellesdon Lodge in Low Road. It is not clear from where the name Hellesdon originates; suggestions have been made throughout the centuries, but we will probably never know for certain.

In the 1880s the railways reached Hellesdon linking it to nearby Norwich. In 1915 Mann Egerton built H1s, Spads and Type B seaplanes in Hellesdon and, in the 1920s, construction of the Ring Road began, making Hellesdon much more accessible.

Hellesdon was the home of the old Firs raceway (home of the Norwich Stars and of Ove Fundin, who was World Speedway Champion on a number of occasions in the early 1960s). The stadium was sold for housing in 1964 which brought the Norwich Stars Speedway team to an end.

The area has now developed into a major suburb of Norwich.

Amenities

Hellesdon has a number of small shops, an Asda supermarket, a B&Q store, six schools (one high school, two junior schools and three infant schools), and Norwich International Airport, which flies throughout Europe as well as the British Isles and is owned by Omniport. The high school, Hellesdon High School, is a specialist Technology College, and shares a Sixth Form partnership with Taverham High and Costessey High. There is also a community centre for use by local clubs such as [http://www.aboutus.org/HellesdonHorticulture.org.uk Hellesdon Horticultural Association] , and a library. There are two remaining pubs in Hellesdon: [http://www.thebullathellesdon.co.uk The Bull At Hellesdon] and "The Firs". Former pub "The Man On The Moon" is now a the Hellesdon doctors surgery and another former pub, "The Bignold Arms", is now a fish restaurant and takeaway.

It once had its own Hellesdon railway station, which closed in the 1950s.

References

External links