Official Guide to North Walsham 2023-2024

ley
3
PASTON HALL
1
paston church
knapton
church
wa y l d fp p a t h
edingthorpe
church
bacton
2
The 22 mile Paston Way can
be joined in North Walsham,
and intersects with 3 short
Paston Footprints walks.
t
bacton wood
mill
witton
church
happisburgh
church
6
spa
common
bacton woods
BROMHOLM PRIORY
HAPPISBURGH
ebridge mill
a149
honing
b1159
east ruston gardens
lessingham
i n e ( n o r w i c h to cr o m er)
orstead
norwich
10
"For I shall make my
doublet all Worsted,
for the glory of Norfolk"
Judge Williiam Paston
1. PASTON
In the early 15th century, Judge
William Paston established the
family in Paston. Paston Church
contains a number of Paston
family tombs. Paston Hall and the
nearby Great Barn was built by a
later William Paston (1528-1610).
The map shows Paston Hall as it
appeared circa 1600. This hall has
since been demolished and there is
now a private hall on this site.
There is a Paston Footprints walk
which starts from the church.
2. BACTON
The Pastons had close links with
Bromholm Priory which was an
important centre for pilgrimage.
The map shows the impressive
priory circa 1500. This has since
fallen into ruin, its remains are
located on private land.
There is a Paston Footprints
walk here
3. MUNDESLEY
The stone used to construct Paston
Hall was landed at Mundesley.
This stretch of the coast was often
attacked by French ships.
4. GIMINGHAM
In the 1380’s Clement Paston
owned land and a small mill in
Gimingham. Clement enabled his
son William to have the education
he needed to eventually become
a Judge.
5. NORTH WALSHAM
The town was the local market for
the Paston family. By the end of the
16th century they had risen up the
social order and become extremely
wealthy. In 1606, Sir William Paston
founded Paston School, where later
Horatio Nelson was a pupil.
6. SPA COMMON
In 1413, Clement Paston was
charged with stealing fish
from ponds near Spa Common
belonging to the Abbot of St
Benet’s Abbey.
7. SITE OF THE BATTLE OF
NORTH WALSHAM 1381
Earlier in the Peasants Revolt,
Clement Paston had been charged
with disorderly conduct in North
Walsham.
8. OXNEAD HALL
Judge William Paston purchased
the land at Oxnead, which
eventually became the main family
home. Here, in 1671, King Charles
II visited Sir Robert Paston, Earl of
Yarmouth. Sir Robert described
Oxnead as “the sweetest place in
the world” . In 1735, the Paston
Letters were discovered in the
ruins of Oxnead Hall. The hall
as it appears on the map was
demolished circa 1760, there is
now a private hall on this site.
9. OXNEAD CHURCH
The church has several fine Paston
tombs. Near by Brampton was the
site of a large Roman town.
There is a Paston Footprints walk
which starts from the church.
10. WORSTEAD
The Pastons admired the fine cloth
that was made here. “For I shall
make my doublet all Worsted, for
the glory of Norfolk” wrote Judge
William Paston.