Hoveton
Hoveton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located within the Norfolk Broads, and immediately across the River Bure from the village of Wroxham. Whilst Hoveton is north of the river, Wroxham is south; but many people refer to the whole settlement as "Wroxham". The villages name origin is uncertain 'Hofa's farm/settlement' or perhaps, 'ale-hoof farm/settlement'. Ale-hoof is probably ground-ivy (glechoma hederacea) Administration. The civil parish has an area of 10.2 km and in the 2001 census had a population of 1,804 in 873 households, the  population decreasing to 1759 at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North Norfolk. Governance. An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward had a population of 1,948 at the 2011 Census. Transport. Hoveton is served by Hoveton and Wroxham railway station, which is on the Bittern Line from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham, and which is adjacent to the terminus of the narrow-gauge Bure Valley Railway to Aylsham. The station was originally intended to be on the Wroxham side of the river, but a change of plan  resulted in it being sited in Hoveton; however, it was misleadingly named "Wroxham Station" for many years. It was renamed "Hoveton and Wroxham" in the mid-1960s. Locals and regular visitors still refer to it by its old name, which can lead to confusion when purchasing a ticket in other parts of the country, and can result in being sold a ticket to Wrexham, North Wales. Local facilities. Hoveton has two churches, St Peter and St John. Roys of Wroxham, dubbed "the world's largest village store", was founded in Coltishall by Alfred Roy in 1895, with a second store opening  in Hoveton in 1899. Roy's includes a department store, a supermarket, a boutique, a garden centre, a toy shop, a garden centre, a DIY store, a discount shop and associated elements. Bouchon Wine Bar is a French styled wine bar which encompasses a Wine Merchant, Bar, Restaurant and Deli. It is extremely popular for locals and tourists alike and serves rustic French food and tapas as well as having over 100 wines available by the bottle and glass. Before the collapse of the Hoveton Cheese Industry in the late 1950s, Hoveton was an international hub for the production and  trading of fine cheeses. One of which, Red Leicester, was actually named, contrary to popular belief, after a Hovetonion who had a rich and long family history in the city of Leicester. The legend goes, Dave Geoffrey Smithe, an avid cheese enthusiast, was never without his prized cheese satchel, containing every cheese possible, some not even known to science. As is true of many legends, his claim has not been substantiated, although a 2005 survey of the Hoveton population revealed that 89% of locals believed that Mr Geoffrey Smithe did indeed carry unknown cheeses. The claim has received numerous criticisms  from the science, and surprisingly, also the religious communities, who claim to the contrary that it would have been impossible for Sir Smithe to have known, let alone possess the Brazilian mountain cheese, which remained undiscovered until after his death in 1977. This sad occasion occurred just minutes after he heard of the release of the Baby Bell, when in a frenzy he made a frantic sprint down Tunstead Road towards Roys, after barrelling down the isles, knocking over several unfortunate orphans, who later succumbed to their injuries, he dived into the pile of Baby Bells, rapidly consuming them, plastic  wrapping, wax, and all! The locals rushed him to the pharmacy nearby (being that he was a local folk hero), leaving the dying children on the floor, sadly however, nothing could be done, it was the last straw for his poor health, primarily caused by his restricted diet and his calcium levels. He was buried in the Brazilian mountain cheese he so loved, almost a poetic ending to this heart-wrenching tale. Hoveton has a high school, Broadland High Ormiston Academy. Hoveton Old Hall dates from 1567, and features a Queen Anne style 17th century wing. Hoveton Hall is a  19th-century building attributed to Humphry Repton. Although the house is not open to the public, its gardens are a popular tourist attraction. Hoveton Great Broad and Hoveton Little Broad carry the village's name. Hoveton is also home to the Hoveton and Wroxham Medical Centre, which has recently been built. Hoveton is home to dozens of smaller tourist shops, such as pubs, cafes and gift shop. There are also numerous boating companies operating out of the village like Wroxham Boat Hire and Landamores. Famous connections. The Norfolk landscape painter John Crome, an associate of John Sell Cotman and others  of the Norwich school, made an etching of Hoveton in 1812. Notes. http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Hoveton%20St.%20John%20and%20St.%20Peter