NHER 53082 (Landscape record) - Former extent of Mousehold Heath
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Summary
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Location
| Map sheet | TG21SE |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BLOFIELD, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | GREAT AND LITTLE PLUMSTEAD, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | POSTWICK WITH WITTON, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | RACKHEATH, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | SALHOUSE, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | SPROWSTON, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | THORPE ST ANDREW, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
| Civil Parish | NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK |
Map
Full Description
The origins of Mousehold Heath are unknown. The name Mushold is usually interpreted as meaning mouse + wood, though it is never recorded as the name of an actual wood. By 1086 the area was wooded only at the Norwich end, where Thorpe had 'wood for 1200 swine'. By the 16th century the heath had extended across the plateau, and woodland was confined to steep slopes around the edges. Mousehold Heath survived almost unaltered until the 18th century, and the polygon attached to this record indicates the extent shown on Faden's Map of 1797. However, Enclosure Acts for various parishes swiftly eroded the heath during the early decades of the 19th century, and by 1838 only half of the Norwich City portion (approximately 180 acres) remained. This was acquired by the Norwich Corporation in the 1880s as a place of public resort.
Information from (S1).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 13 October 2009.
Associated Sources (1)
- <S1> SNF72297 Monograph: Rackham, O.. 1986. The History of the Countryside.. pp 299-302.
Site and Feature Types and Periods (1)
Object Types (0)
Related NHER Records (0)
Record last edited
Aug 12 2025 10:30AM