About Holt Norfolk

HOLT - North Norfolk

A pretty lane leading to Holt

The picturesque market town of Holt is situated a few miles inland from the North Norfolk coast and has a history that can be traced back to Saxon times. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1066 it had both a market and a port and the coastal village of Cley is named as the port of Holt. The town was already of some size, with five water mills and twelve plough teams to its name.

The Plague of 1348 decimated the population of Holt, but the town survived and continued to flourish.

By 1556 a school had been opened in the town. It was named Gresham's after its founder John Gresham and today it is one of the leading schools in the country and boasts many famous old boys including the composer Benjamin Britten 1913-1976.

In 1708 the town was badly damaged by a huge fire. Many of the properties, including the church with its thatched roof, were destroyed or severely damaged. A consequence of the fire is that many of the houses in the town were built after the fire and despite its ancient connections, the town has few houses that pre-date the fire. The face of Holt was also changed at this time with the properties being built around an open market place rather than being clustered around the church.

By Victorian times, Holt was a town of some 1700 people. Gresham's school was growing and the town was becoming known as a centre for education as well as agriculture. The town was well served by a daily coach service connecting Cromer, Norwich and then through to London.

In 1960 Holt market was formerly closed, but the town has continued to thrive and is today, full of unusual shops and businesses, many utilizing the former court yards and tradesmen’s yards which have been tastefully converted to accommodate them, but loosing none of their original charm.

The market place has many very attractive buildings and the back streets lead to more courtyards with their cafes and shops.

Although Holt railway station was shut in the Beeching era, today the town is served by a unique horse drawn coach service known as “The Holt Flyer” connecting the station to the town which is about three quarters of a mile away, just off the A148 at Kelling. The station is the western terminus of The North Norfolk Railway, which runs along the Norfolk coast and is centered at Sheringham.

Where else in Britain can you still travel from the railway station into the town in a horse drawn coach?

For more details on Shops, Businesses, Accommodation, Where to go and What to do and the local Attractions and Facilities, please go to:-

The Holt website on: www.holtnorthnorfolk.co.uk