Stalham is a small, thriving market town 15 miles north of Norwich, 3 miles from the coast with its golden beaches and on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, one of England's finest National Parks, affording wildlife, sailing and good clean country air.
Throughout the 19th century, the village was largely a self sufficient unit, exporting grain by river and beasts by road to Norwich via Rackheath and importing coal and fertilizer
1833 saw the founding of the village Fire Brigade, one of the oldest in Norfolk, whose first station (next to St Mary's Church) and pump can be seen in the High street. The small door to the right of the Old Fire Station is the old Parish  Lock-up.
With the closure of the railway in 1959 as part of Dr. Beecham's cutback.  The site of the old railway line was converted to the present day A149 thereby putting the village within easy access to the beautiful city of Norwich and Great Yarmouth on the east coast. 
The traditional farming community and local institutions remained largely unchanged until the late 1950's and '60's. (The Norfolk accent was still predominant). Then came the changes in agriculture. Farming became increasingly intensive and less labour orientated. Fewer men were needed on the land so  were forced to seek work elsewhere. This was a classic case of rural push and urban pull.
The biggest change to the village was wrought in the 1970's with the appearance of the three new housing developments, Heron Gardens, Rivermead and Millside. The Lyndford and St Benet's developments were also added at a later date. 
Such changes are part of the continuing development of Stalham, the meaning of which is,
"Homestead by a pool" or "Homestead with a stable"

Pictures of the river adjoining Stalham Click on the thumbnails to see a full size photograph
Photographer: Gillian Jackson for UKCountywide Web Construction

A view showing Stalham High Street