Corpusty is a village in Norfolk, England. Corpusty and its sister village Saxthorpe are situated either side of the upper reaches of the River Bure. Corpusty is about sixteen miles from Norwich and six miles from Holt, Aylsham, and Reepham.
History
Corpusty, from the Old Norse meaning ‘raven path’, is a large parish in the northeast of the county, on the River Bure. The two villages of Corpusty and Saxthorpe are now almost conjoined, and dominate the centre of the parish. Saxthorpe comes from the Old Norse meaning ‘an outlying farmstead of Saski’. There is some evidence for early occupation in the parish, a number of prehistoric flints have been found scattered throughout the parish, including Neolithic flints axes, a jade axehead, and an arrowhead which dates to the Late Neolithic or the Early Bronze Age. The sites of two ring ditches, probably the remains of Bronze Age barrows, are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs, and a Bronze Age palstave and a spearhead have been found in the parish. Iron Age coins and a chariot fitting have been found in the parish, suggesting that settlement continued to develop in the parish during the Iron Age period. Roman coins, brooches, pottery and other metalwork including a cosmetic palette and part of a figurine have been found, although a specific settlement cannot be identified with any certainty. In the Domesday Book, Corpusty is a small settlement, whereas neighbouring Saxthorpe was much larger, and more valuable. A church is recorded at Corpusty, rather than Saxthorpe, and St Andrew’s Church in Saxthorpe contains Late Saxon work. An Early Saxon ring, brooch and part of an Early Saxon coptic bowl, as well as Middle Saxon coins and Late Saxon pottery have been found in the parish, and the present villages have probably developed from the Saxon settlement on the banks of the River Bure. During the medieval period Aylmer de Valance, the Earl of Pembroke, built a large moated manor house in the parish, known locally as ‘Saxthorpe Castle’. The manor house has now disappeared, and is only visible on aerial photographs. Close to the site of the manor is an area of abandoned medieval settlement, suggested by the large amount of pottery and other medieval finds recovered from the site. The tanning and the cloth industries were important in the parish during the medieval and post medieval periods. A medieval tanning pit was found during an excavation in 2001, and the site of a post medieval tanneryis close to the river. A post medieval fulling mill, used in the cloth industry which bought prosperity to many parts of Norfolk, is marked on Faden’s map of 1797. Corpusty Mill dates from the 17th century. A 16th century timber framed hall house in Post Office Lane in Saxthorpe, the Manor House is a 16th or 17th century brick house, with a decorative brick porch, and Hillside Cottage, a 17th century house are a reminder of the wealth that the clothing and the wool industry brought into the parish.
Church
Corpusty's small church stands alone on the outskirts of the village and can be seen for miles around. There are different views as to why the church is so far out of the village, some argue it is due to the black death in 1349 which killed so many people. The church is no longer open for worship and is now in the care ofFriends of Friendless Churches . The church has a page, with pictures, on Simon Knott's site.
Corpusty County Primary School in 2006 enrolled 88 pupils.
Public Houses
Corpusty once had four pubs: The Wheatsheaf, The Horse shoes, The Castle and The Dukes Head — the latter is still open; it overlooks the village green and has recently been refurbished and is a freehold pub.
Bonfire
Corpusty and Saxthorpe Bonfire is held every year at Bonfire Night. A life-size guy is made and pulled around the village with a procession on a cart. As the guy is taken to the bonfire it is followed by people dressed up carrying flaming torches. The guy is lifted onto top of the bonfire; when the guy is alight, the fireworks display begins. The event is very popular and although it is free, donations collected go towards next year's event and local charities such as coal for pensioners.
To the northwest of the village of Corpusty, also on the south side of the River Bure and within the civil parish of Corpusty and Saxthorpe, lies the hamlet of Little London. This comprises one street, which is named The Street.
Governance
Corpusty and Saxthorpe is part of the electoral ward called Corpusty. This ward stretches north to Bodham with a total population taken at the 2011 Census of 2,322.
