Thetford

Thetford is a town and a county ( parish ) in the county of Norfolk in the Breckland District. It lies on the A11, the main road between Norwich and London, just south of the forest area Thetford Forest. At the 2001 census, 21,588 residents were determined for the city Thetford.

History

Thetford is traditionally thought to be the residence of Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni. The Iceni were a Celtic tribe living in Norfolk and parts of Cambridgeshire. Archaeological excavations have shown that the location was an important tribal center during the late Iron Age and early Roman period. During the excavations a ceremony grove was discovered. The Icknield Way, a Roman road, led by Thetford.

Thetford was an important ford across the Little Ouse and got its name from the Anglo-Saxon people Theodfurt or ford. The current flowing in the nearby River Thet was named after the city.

Was founded in 1103 by Roger Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk a monastery in Thetford. With the secularization of the English monasteries under Henry VIII ( king 1509-1547 ) was the abbey, which was supported by a Marie wonders of attraction for pilgrims in the Middle Ages, however, dissolved in 1536 and fell into disrepair.

Thetford was the birthplace of Thomas Paine (1737-1809), one of the founding fathers of the United States. To him, a statue in King Street, holding a pen and his well-known book " The rights of man" ( The Rights of Man ). This book made ​​the French Revolution also popular outside of France.

Events

Thetford is host to the annual Autumn Equinox Festival for astronomy. In Thetford and the UK 's Star Party will take place, as the place in a rural setting with little annoying artificial light and thus a dark night sky, which is well suited for stargazing has. A concert held annually called STORM is also in Thetford at home.

Traffic

Thetford is located on the A11 between Norwich and London. In the 90erjahren a bypass was built.

The running between Norwich and Cambridge railway station serves the Thetford. A branch line to Bury St Edmunds was closed in the 60s due to unprofitability.

The National Cycle Route 13 runs from Thetford after Gately near Fakenham.

Industry

The company Tulip International, one of the UK's largest producer of ham and pork, operates a manufacturing facility in Thetford. The plant opened in 1966. 2007, the production of ham has been set, but fried products continue to be made ​​here.

Attractions

Castle Hill is an artificial hill from the Iron Age. In medieval times it was a Norman motte. Today the hill is located in a public park and from the top there is a panoramic view of Thetford.

Thetford Abbey, the ruins of a 1536 resolution monastery, surrounded by parks. It was in his time one of the most important monasteries in East Anglia. After a Marian apparition, it was decided to build a chapel of the Virgin. During construction, it was found in an old statue relics, which made the place into a place of pilgrimage. Although some of the early members of the Tudor dynasty were buried, protected also not before the dissolution of the monastery by Henry VIII are preserved ruins of the church, the monastery buildings, the Abtswohnung and a full gate house from the 14th century.

Furthermore, the city is known for its Portuguese and East European shops and cafes.

Around the city Forest was created after the First World War, the Thetford. The aim was to provide wood supplies. Because of the war, especially slow-growing wood species such as oak, beech or ash had become scarce.

In the vicinity of Thetford in Brandon is also Grimes Graves, a Neolithic flint mine.

Twin Cities

• Hürth, near Cologne, Germany
• Skawina, near Krakow, Poland
• Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• Les Ulis, near Paris, France