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ELSING This
tiny scattered Norfolk village was at one time thriving town with a
population of over 1000 and its own market and guildhall. But over the
years it has dwindled to its present state. Named
after a Danish chieftain “Elesa” whose image appears on the village
sign together with his hunting hound, the manor of Elsing was held by
the Hastings family who in 1470 built the lovely moated Hall. The Hall was
used during the 16th century to hide catholic priests to
escape persecution and has the usual priest holes amongst its many
features. In recent years an ancient ring with the inscription “forget
me not” was dredged from the moat but there is no trace of how it got
there or to whom it belonged. The
village church of St Mary was built in 1347 it has the widest pillar
less nave of any church in East Anglia and its Font was featured in the
Great Exhibition of 1851. There is a superb brass commemorating the life
of Sir Hugh Hastings the Lord of the Manor. Elsing
Mill still stands beside the road between Elsing and Bawdeswell and is
in excellent order. If you would like to add any
information to this page or have any photographs that we could use,
please Telephone 01692631213 or |