WHG & Food Museum Exhibition

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In October 2021, the Wreningham Heritage Group held an exhibition in the village hall covering aspects of our village story over a period from the early 1800s to recent times. Many villagers asked if it would be possible to see some of this again. On Saturday (7th May) you can.

The occasion is the visit of the “Food Museum” (formerly known as the Museum of East Anglian Life) who are holding their own exhibition in Wreningham village hall; the Wreningham Heritage Group will be supporting them by reusing some of display material from last October. This will include old village farm information and old photos together with some very exciting and recently discovered information – from over 100 years ago, about the former village shop located at the school crossroads.

The event is free. The hall is open from 10am to 4pm. All will be very welcome and refreshments will be on sale.

Nuisance Calls and more…!

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Norfolk Association of Local Councils has written about opportunities for residents. If you know anyone who may benefit please contact the Clerk.

Call Blockers
The Norfolk Against Scams Partnership (NASP) have been successful in their bid for a share of funding made available for call blockers and have been able to purchase a further 45 call blockers.  Partners can apply for a call blocker on behalf of a resident, customer or client who they think would benefit from having one fitted. It has been identified that call blockers can help protect adults who are susceptible to scam and nuisance calls

Applications will be assessed by Norfolk Trading Standards on behalf of the NASP. If a resident could benefit from a call blocker, please complete the referral form with the person you are applying for.
 
             Application form available here:      LINK
 
If the application is successful, Norfolk Trading Standards will arrange with the individual for the unit to be fitted by an appropriate volunteer.
 
If you have any questions about the NASP Call Blocking project please email nasp@norfolk.gov.uk 
 
Grants to help with energy debts If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off. These energy suppliers offer grants to their customers:
 
British Gas Energy Trust – apply for a grant on the British Gas Energy Trust website https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/
 
Ovo Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the Ovo Energy Fund website
https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/debt-and-energy-assistance
 
E.ON Next Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the E.ON Next Energy Fund website https://www.eonenergy.com/more-for-your-home/energy-fund.html
 
EDF Energy Customer Support Fund – apply for a grant on the EDF Energy Customer Support Fund website https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/help-centre/faq/extra-support-when-you-need-it?steps=23147#chapter-23146-6
 
Octopus ‘Octo Assist Fund’ – apply for a grant on the Octopus website
https://octopus.energy/blog/struggling-to-pay/
 
If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, check if you can get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone – you don’t have to be a British Gas customer.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/
 
For older people (of/over state retirement age) don’t forget the Friends of the Elderly charity grants. Friends of the Elderly provides small grants (normally up to £400) to older people who meet all of the criteria:
* Resident in England and Wales
* Of/over state pension age
* Who are living on low incomes and with little savings
* Who do not fit the criteria for other funders

Their grant streams include:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT grants help with unexpected bills and large costs such as utility bills, funeral costs for loved ones, moving fees, etc. https://www.fote.org.uk/our-charity-work/grants-2/

Website going live and an invitation to help promote the countywide celebrations with the Norfolk Lieutenancy and Bruno Peek  
Wednesday 6 April 7pm-8.30pm
Speakers: James Bagge Chairman Norfolk Lieutenancy Platinum Jubilee Committee
Chris Donaldson Creative and Digital Director Brandex
Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
 
This webinar will provide a first in-depth look at the Norfolk Lieutenancy Platinum Jubilee Website which goes live in April. You will find out how to post your own events, look at all the other elements on the website; and it will also give a Platinum Jubilee Celebrations general update including the Norfolk Beacons project.
 
More information: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/301296956307
 
Our mailing address is: NALC, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2UF
 

SNC Session for Ukrainian Refugee Sponsors

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Due to the popularity of the online information session held on Monday, SNC is repeating their Zoom session for those considering hosting a Ukrainian refugee or family in Norfolk – this is scheduled for Thursday evening (31 March) – 7 pm on Zoom.

It is for anyone in Norfolk as the content is not district specific as the processes are universal across the county.

The Zoom meeting will accommodate up to 500 participants at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89131193141 Password: 883393

Alternatively, you can view the Monday night session here: https://youtu.be/bFSWJiQof5M

Further details from Kerrie Gallagher, Help Hub and Communities Senior Manager
t  01508 533741 e kerrie.gallagher@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk  

South Norfolk Community Awards Nominations

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Nominations are now open for South Norfolk Council’s Community Awards, celebrating the work and achievements of volunteers, community groups, and businesses across the district.

The categories for this year are:

  • Inspiration of the Year
  • Young Hero of the Year (aged 18 or under)
  • The Helping Hand Award
  • Business in the Community Award
  • Green at Heart Award
  • Community Group of the Year
  • Volunteer of the Year
  • Community Hero

The winners in each category will receive £250 for their chosen community group.

If you know someone who is doing a great job, then please nominate them. The closing date is 6 June 2022. For more information and to nominate someone please visit https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/communities/community-awards-2022

If you need any further assistance or have any queries, contact the Communities Team on 01508 533914 or email communities@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk 

Wreningham service and oak to remember Covid victims

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A service of Remembrance, Thanksgiving and Hope, and the dedication on an oak tree in memory of all those who have died from Covid 19, was held at All Saints church in Wreningham, South Norfolk, on Sunday (March 20).

A congregation of Wreningham villagers and Upper Tas Valley Benefice church members gathered for the service, led by retired minister Rev Linda Ricketts, as all regular clergy in the benefice are currently isolating due to having Covid.

During the service, symbols of the last two years, including a face mask, bowl of salt water (to represent tears) and a jug of daffodils (to represent hope), were placed on the altar. The congregation were invited to tie yellow ribbons on a tree to remember the millions of people who have died during the pandemic.

Speaking words written by Rev Lydia Avery, Rev Linda Ricketts said: “As we look back, we see that each of our lives have changed to some degree. Perhaps we are more anxious than we used to be and many of us have found ourselves reappraising what’s important to us and how we want to live the rest of our wild and precious life.

“Though the invisible enemy is still at hand, we’re now striving to recover what we value not only as community and family members but also as individuals.

“There are now new and very demanding challenges ahead – the devastating consequences of a war in Europe and a rapidly changing climate.

“Today we claim the radical right to have hope and to carry this into the future. We do this in the yellow that we wear and in the tree that we are about to dedicate and in our day-to-day living. With the care of many generations, the Wreningham Oak tree may live for centuries – well past our current concerns and challenges.

“Today, as we reflect on the pandemic and what it has done to us all, we also give thanks that we are not alone in times of trauma devastation and that we and those we love and miss are promised a place of safety and new life in death.”

The congregation then went out into the church yard to see the dedication of the Wreningham Oak tree.

Pictured above is the Wreningham Oak dedication (by David Kirk) and, below, the tree of yellow ribbons.

Wreningham community archaeology project

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March 2022 update

Test-pit digging in our community archaeology project returns this Summer. The last set of diggings’ findings are discussed in the Wreningham interim report.

The three sites selected for the second round of test-pitting are:

  • 26th June 2022 Jean will host the dig at Shelley Cottage on Wymondham Rd
  • 3rd July 2022 Val will host the dig at The Old Homestead in Top Row
  • 24th July 2022, Jill will host the dig at Willeys Croft on Church Road

Please register your interest with Steve Hickling (details below) who is co-ordinating the project and the experts who review the findings. There will be a mid-morning start at 10am. Volunteers should bring a shovel / spade / mattock or pickaxe and a trowel or sieve if you have them. Some suggest that bringing a flask of coffee and some lunch also help with motivation!

The contact for interest and question is Steve Hickling, currently working from home, but reachable at:

Historic Environment Officer, Community and Environment Services, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich

Tel: 01362 869285 | Dept: 01362 869278 | Mobile: 07775687817 | email: steve.hickling@norfolk.gov.uk

August 2018 post

The Wreningham Community Archaeology Project got off to a promising start over the weekend of August 11-12 with a total of five test-pits dug in gardens around the village, reports archaeologist Steve Hickling, who is leading the project.

A sunny weekend saw pits being dug in people’s gardens on Wymondham Road, Ashwellthorpe Road, Mill Lane and the B1113 and all the test-pits yielded some interesting results:

Victorian pottery and little bits of tile were unsurprisingly found in all the test-pits and almost all also yielded prehistoric burnt flints (pot-boilers). These are flint pebbles heated in a fire and then thrown into a liquid in order to heat-up that liquid.

In prehistoric times pottery was terrible and would not survive being put on a fire to heat the contents so pot-boilers were used instead. It is thought that they were heating liquid as part of the process of dying cloth or perhaps making beer. A great number were found in Graham’s test-pit on Mill Lane.

Two of the pits yielded medieval pottery. One on Ashwellthorpe Road produced a couple of sherds, and one on Wymondham Road, behind Pear Tree Farmhouse, produced some rather large sherds. This suggests that there is medieval occupation here.

Pear Tree Farm is a lovely c.17th century timber-framed farmhouse. The test pit produced a lot of c.17th century pottery, a posthole and a layer of redeposited yellow clay, which may be spoil from a deep hole dug nearby, or the remains of a demolished clay-lump building. The medieval pottery suggests that the present house may be a rebuilding of a medieval farm.

All the artefacts recovered will be cleaned and passed to an expert for dating and describing.

What Next?

The next step is to excavate a couple more test-pits on Saturday 1st of September. It would be nice if we could have people to help with the two test-pits on the 1st September. Both are in the middle of the village. If anyone else wants to take part, please let me know on 01508481718 or email me on steve.hickling@norfolk.gov.uk.

Ashwellthorpe Road pit

Wymondham Road pit

Mill Lane pit

Help for Ukraine

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WRENINGHAM VILLAGE HALL will be a drop-off point for desperately needed items on Sunday 6th March 10.00 – 14.00. The hall will be open to take delivery; outside those hours do not leave in the porch, phone Ian Macrae on 01508 489649 to arrange collection. Thank you for your support.

Please bring your items bagged.

Suggested items

Good quality general clothing for children and adults – especially warm items
Outerwear
Thermal wear
Shoes, boots
Socks and underwear

Bedding – Duvets, blankets, sleeping bags

Sanitary items including period supplies, nappies, baby wipes

Personal use – Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, wipes, baby bottles, shampoo, shower gel, towels

Medicines – Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, cold/flu treatment, antiseptic cream, bandages, sterile dressings, first aid kits

Food – Energy bars, packets of nuts, protein-rich items

Planning Application – 31 River View, Top Row

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Reference: 2022/0336
Applicant: Mr & Mrs North
Location: 31 River View Stevens Lane Wreningham Norfolk NR16 1AE
Proposal: Single-storey rear extension and detached garage outbuilding.
Application Type: Householder

Please return comments to South Norfolk Council by 19 March 2022

email: planning@s-norfolk.gov.uk
post: SNC, South Norfolk House, Cygnet Court, Long Stratton NR15 2XE

NB at the time of posting (1 March) this was not accessible on the SNC website – we will ask them to fix, or else put the date back for comments.