Our Neighbours
Denton has borders with six other parishes, four in Norfolk and two in Suffolk. Details are provided below with links to other websites where appropriate. All population figures are from the 2011 census - the results from 2021 are awaited.
Alburgh
Population - 410 in 162 households. Area - 642 hectares.
As well as sharing the longest boundary with Denton, Alburgh (pronounced "Arbrough") has many close links with us and there is a long-standing friendly rivalry between the two villages. At different times each could perhaps have claimed superiority in one field or another but, of course, competition is nearly always a good thing.
The most obvious things we share are, probably,: the School, the Rector and the Parish Magazine.
An Alburgh Village Website is now available so that is another reason to keep us on our toes.
Bedingham
Population - 221 in 93 households. Area - 552 hectares.
A small parish, Bedingham does not qualify for a parish council. However its Parish Meeting, which has similar powers, holds regular meetings and represents the local community.
An unchanged ancient boundary means that more than half the population could be considered to be residents of Woodton, but do not tell them that!
Basic information is available from Wikipedia.
Earsham
Population - 882 in 375 households. Area - 1,265 hectares.
Much larger, Earsham ("Ersham") is just across the river from Bungay which has its advantages.
Much of the parish is still owned by the Earsham Hall Estate which has produced some interesting results - a check of the public footpaths available in the parish (compared with those in Denton) is a good example.
The Hall itself, now the base for the Earsham Pine Company, is an impressive mansion but the separate Music Room, converted from an Orangery by Sir John Soane in 1785, is described by Pevsner as "very elegant". A detailed history appears on the Hall Website.
Their Parish Council provides a village website.
Flixton
Population - 176 in 75 households. Area - 718 hectares.
Another small village, Flixton lies across the Waveney in Suffolk
Apart from an excellent hostelry, The Buck, the village has significant aviation links. During the last war it was the location of a US bomber airbase and it now contains the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum which is well worth a visit.
Basic information about the village can be found on Wikipedia.
Hempnall
Population - 1,292 in 547 households. Area - 1,481 hectares.
This is the shortest shared boundary, barely 400 metres in length, but it lies where another wartime airfield used to be located. RAF Hardwick covered parts of four parishes and was the base for two US Army Airforce bombing groups. Further information is available from Wikipedia.
Hempnall Village proper is some distance away to the north-west. The village is a very active community.
Homersfield
Population - 158 in 74 households. Area - 406 hectares.
Another Suffolk parish across the river, Homersfield had several important historical links with Denton.
When the Waveney Valley railway line was built in the 1860's Homersfield station, confusingly actually in Alburgh parish, was the nearest to Denton. Then when the local telephone service was established in the 1920's, our exchange was called Homersfield (and again located in Alburgh!).
Its two most important claims to fame are the (now bypassed) old bridge over the river ,reputably the oldest surviving concrete bridge in the country/world built in 1870, and the nearby Black Swan Inn (the "Mucky Duck"). If you travel by bicycle or on foot you can cross the former on your way to enjoy the delights of the latter.
Basic information is available from Wikipedia.
Topcroft
Population - 265 in 109 households. Area - 776 hectares.
It has been suggested that Topcroft's major claim to fame is its cricket club. They attract quality players from a wide area and are regularly highly placed in Norfolk cricket leagues. As if to emphasise the point, the parish council meet in the cricket pavillion where most village activities take place.
A museum in the village, based on some of the old Hardwick airbase buildings, was initially set up to commemorate the 489th Bomb Group, but in 2012 the contents moved to Holton near Halesworth the home of the Group. The units actually based at Hardwick were first the 310th Bomb Group flying B25 Mitchells and then, from the end of 1942, the 93rd Bomb Group equipped with B24 Liberators. The museum has been converted to commemorate 93rd Bomb Group.
Basic information about the village can be found on Wikipedia.