Burnham Market is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is located 19 mi north-east of King's Lynn and 32 mi north-west of Norwich. It is one of the Burnhams, a group of three adjacent villages that were merged: Burnham Sutton, Burnham Ulph and Burnham Westgate. In 2022, Burnham Market was rated among the "20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland" by Condé Nast Traveler in 2020.

History

Burnham Market's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for settlement on the River Burn where there is a market. Burnham Market is not listed in the Domesday Book. In 1952, the West Norfolk Junction Railway, which ran through the village, was closed. This railway had linked with Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea, Hunstanton and Kings Lynn. The station still stands on the road to North Creake. Burnham Westgate Hall is a Grade II listed country house built in the 1780s by Sir John Soane for Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford. The Hall was built on the existing Polstede Hall, which had been built in the 1750s by Matthew Brettingham for Pinckney Wilkinson MP. In 1933, the Hall passed to the Royal British Legion and after the Second World War it was used as an old people's home. From 1990 onwards, it has become the private residence of Baroness Rawlings.

Geography

According to the 2011 census, Burnham Market had a population of 877 people, which fell to 724 people by the 2021 census. Burnham Market is located at the junction between the B1155, between Great Bircham and Holkham, and B1355, between A148 and A149.

Churches

Burnham Market is home to several churches. St. Mary's Church is of Norman origin and is dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. St. Mary's was significantly remodelled in the 14th, 15th and 19th centuries and is currently a listed building. The church bells date to the 17th century. All Saints' Church is of Norman origin and was heavily remodelled in the 14th century, with further minor alterations in the 19th century. St. Henry Walpole Catholic Church, Burnham Market's Catholic Church, was constructed in 1959 and is dedicated to Saint Henry Walpole, an Elizabethan Catholic martyr. The church conducts weekly Mass on a Friday and Sunday.

Notable Residents

Governance

Burnham Market is part of the electoral ward of Burnham Market & Docking for local elections and is part of the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk. The village's national constituency is North West Norfolk which has been represented by the Conservative's James Wild MP since 2010.

War Memorial

Burnham Market's war memorial is a stone celtic cross located on the marketplace which has been Grade II listed since 2018. The memorial lists war dead from Burnham Market as well as Burnham Westgate, Burnham Sutton and Burnham Norton. The following soldiers from Burnham Market died during the First World War: And, the following for the Second World War: