# East Raynham

East Raynham is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Raynham, in the North Norfolk district, in the county of Norfolk, England.
East Raynham is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west of Fakenham and 24 miles (39 km) north-west of Norwich along the course of the River Wensum.

## History

East Raynham's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the eastern portion of 'Regna's' homestead or village.
In the Domesday Book, East and West Raynham are listed together as a settlement of 33 households in the hundred of Brothercross. In 1086, the village formed part of the East Anglian estates of King William I, Roger Bigod and Reginald, son of Ivo.
In 1731, Raynham, named after Raynham, Norfolk, was incorporated into the State of Massachusetts.
On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished to form Raynham.

## Geography

In 1931 the parish had a population of 130. This was the last time separate population statistics were collected for East Raynham as in 1935, the parish was merged to form Raynham.
East Raynham is located on the course of the River Wensum and the A1065, between Mildenhall and Fakenham.

## Raynham Hall

Raynham Hall is a Seventeenth Century manor house first built by Sir Roger Townshend. The hall still stands today, reputedly haunted by the Brown Lady and was the residence of Charles Townshend, an Eighteenth Century Secretary of State.

## The Church of St. Mary

East Raynham's parish church is dedicated to Saint Mary and is situated in the parkland of Raynham Hall. The church was largely rebuilt in the mid-Nineteenth Century on the site of an older Medieval building by Clark and Holland of Newmarket. St. Mary's also holds a stone memorial to Maj-Gen. Charles Townshend, who was a distant relative of the Townshends of Raynham Hall, and the grave of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount. In 2002, the ring of bells were restored and, in July 2002, received a private visit from Queen Elizabeth II.

## Recreation

Much of the area can be visited by a circular walk, which takes in mixed woodland, water meadows, arable land and historic buildings, almost entirely on the Raynham estate.

## Governance

East Raynham is part of the electoral ward of The Raynhams for local elections and is part of the district of North Norfolk.
The village's national constituency is North Norfolk, which has been represented by the Liberal Democrat Steff Aquarone MP since 2024.

## War memorial

East Raynham's War Memorial is a stone column topped with a crucifix which was unveiled in July 1920 by Lady Agnes Durham and Bishop Temple Hamlyn. The memorial lists the following names for the First World War who were most likely from East Raynham:
| Rank | Name | Unit | Date of Death | Burial/Commemoration |
| Sgt. | William H. Green | 1st Bn., Norfolk Regiment | 25 Oct. 1914 | Le Touret Memorial |
| Sgt. | Herbert W. L. Southgate | 1/5th Bn., Norfolk Regt. | 19 Apr. 1917 | Gaza War Cemetery |
| LSgt. | Henry Green | Royal Defence Corps | 17 Nov. 1918 | St. Mary's Churchyard |
| LSgt. | George W. Carr | 8th Bn., Norfolk Regiment | 11 Aug. 1917 | Menin Gate |
| Pte. | Augustus Neave | 7th Bn., The Buffs | 18 Sep. 1918 | Templeux Cemetery |
| Pte. | Benjamin W. Boggis | 13th Bn., Durham Light Infantry | 3 Jun. 1917 | Railway Dugouts Cemetery |
| Pte. | Richard Plane | 2nd Bn., Norfolk Regiment | 16 Oct. 1917 | North Gate War Cemetery |
| Pte. | Arthur J. Boggis | 8th Bn., Norfolk Regt. | 31 Jul. 1917 | Menin Gate |
And, John Neave. The memorial also lists the following names for the Second World War:
| Rank | Name | Unit | Date of Death | Burial |
| Lt. | Maurice G. R. Kingsford | 5th Bn., Grenadier Guards | 14 Jun. 1944 | Bolsena War Cemetery |
| Lt. | Nicholas J. R. J. Durham | 6th Bn., Grenadier Gds. | 17 Mar. 1943 | Medjez-El-Bab Memorial |
| Cpl. | Dorothy S. Roffe | Women's Auxiliary Air Force | 11 Aug. 1943 | St. Mary's Churchyardw |
| Pte. | Basil W. Brown | Sherwood Foresters | 17 Oct. 1941 | St. Mary's Churchyard |

## Gallery

* Raynham Hall
* Interior of St. Mary's Church
* St. Mary's Church