History of Bedingham Village
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Bedingham ‒ situated in the ancient Hundred of Loddon ‒ has Saxon origins. The name probably derives from ‛the homestead of Beda’s people’. In Saxon times a nephew of King Harold, called Hagan, was the lord of the manor: there is, incidentally, a field called Hagg or Haghern still in existence and reputed to be named after him. The parish is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). One of Bedingham’s most famous inhabitants was the novelist Sir Henry Rider Haggard who owned Moat Farm in the village during the latter part of the 19th century. As well as writing ‛King Solomon’s Mines’, Sir Henry was the author of the book ‛A Farmer’s Year’ which chronicles the life of a typical Norfolk farm (Moat Farm and his farm at Ditchingham). In 2014 The ‘Friends of Bedingham Church’ was set up to enable the community to become more involved in helping to support the Church. Bedingham has a population of 221 (2011 census) |