Ludham, Norfolk Genealogy

England   Norfolk   Norfolk Parishes



Parish History
LUDHAM (St. Catherine), a parish, in the Tunstead and Happing incorporation, hundred of Happing, E. division of Norfolk, 13 miles (N. E. by E.) from Norwich.

Ludham St Catherine is an Ancient parish in the Waxham deanery of the Diocese of Norwich.

When King Canute founded St. Benet's Abbey in the 11th century he endowed it with several manors and so the village of Ludham on the River Thurne came into being.

Although the oldest parts of the current church of St. Catherine only dates back to the 14th century there is evidence that an earlier church stood here back in the 11th century.

Legend tells of a dragon that terrorised the village of Ludham. The dragon made a lair of tunnels under the churchyard and across to the main street. Whilst the dragon was out basking in the sunshine one day a young fellow blocked the entrance to its tunnel. Enraged, the dragon flew off to St. Benet's Abbey and after smashing its tail against the wall, vanished, never to be seen or heard of again!

Church Records
parish registers of christenings, marriages and burials are available online for the following years:

Images of the parish register for this parish are available in historic records at FamilySearch Norfolk Record Office reference PD 653

Poor Law Unions
Tunstead and Happing     http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/england/norf/smallburgh_workhouse.htm

Norfolk Poor Law Unions

Registration Districts

 * Tunstead 1837-1869
 * Smallburgh 1870-1938
 * North Walsham 1939-1974

Census
a.

http://www.btinternet.com/~e.c.apling/1891Census/Ludham.htm transcript of 1891 census

Probate Jurisdictions
Norfolk Probate Jurisdictions Parishes I through N

Maps
England Jurisdictions 1851

Websites
http://www.ludhamarchive.org.uk/ Ludham Community archive for history and images of the village

http://www.ludhamairfield.org/ for World war 2 photos of RAF Ludham

http://www.achurchnearyou.com/ludham-st-catherine/ for information about the parish

http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/ludham/ludham.htm Norfolk Churches website