In Litcham, cultural history and landscape sit side by side: All Saints and several historic buildings give the village a layered past, while Litcham Common comprises lowland heath and mixed woodland. When choosing your destination, you can weigh up whether you are more interested in historic buildings or a landscape with designated walking trails.

Church, Priory and Local History

All Saints was consecrated in 1412. Inside is a 15th-century chancel screen with 22 original painted panels. The screen separates the chancel from the rest of the church; the panels are a specific detail to look out for when visiting. The consecration year and the screen’s date of origin are different points in time. If you would like to see the panels in particular, check access before your visit.

It is worth distinguishing between two similarly named buildings. The Priory, at the lower end of Church Street, dates from the 14th century and was probably a chapel or hermitage. Priory Farmhouse, by contrast, is a former chapel and hermitage dating from the early 14th century that was converted into a farmhouse. The building is now a private residence and has significant additions from the 17th century. The tentative interpretation of The Priory and the confirmed former use of Priory Farmhouse should not be conflated.

Litcham Hall and the Litcham War Memorial also tell different chapters of the village’s history. Litcham Hall is a Grade II listed building on Lexham Road. The Litcham War Memorial is also Grade II listed: it dates from the First World War and was later supplemented with additions commemorating the Second World War. The Bull Inn, a 17th-century coaching inn, had historic functions beyond providing accommodation: horses were changed there, and until the late 18th century it also served as the local court. These details bring Litcham’s history to life through specific buildings and a memorial.

Litcham Common and the Nar Valley Way

Litcham Common is a managed nature reserve comprising 28 hectares of lowland heath and mixed woodland. It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1984 by Norfolk County Council, with the agreement of the Lexham Hall Estate; ownership of the Common lies with the Estate. The landscape therefore has a distinct history of designation and ownership as well as its significance as a natural environment.

The Nar Valley Way offers two different scales for planning a route. The 35-mile long-distance trail runs from East Dereham to Kings Lynn and passes through Litcham Common. In addition, the Castle Acre to Litcham section is presented as a suggested walk: it passes through a local nature reserve and ends in Litcham. The long-distance trail connects East Dereham with Kings Lynn; the suggested walk, by contrast, runs from Castle Acre to Litcham.

This gives you two clear reasons to choose Litcham as a destination: its historic buildings and the landscape around the Common. Which one matters most to you depends on whether you are more interested in traces of the past or in the routes mentioned above.

Discover more destinations: Spooner Row, Aldborough, Tivetshall St. Margaret, Swanton Abbott, East Harling, Barney, Cromer, South Pickenham

For the broader travel overview: Norfolk.