An octagonal font made of Purbeck marble, the ruins of a medieval priory church and the River Wensum reveal different sides of Lyng. There is also a large glacial erratic beside a public footpath and a natural motocross track.
Church and Archaeological Traces Through Time
St Margaret’s is the oldest surviving building in the parish of Lyng. The church has an octagonal font made of Purbeck marble, dating from the early 13th century. This makes a specific church furnishing, with a stated shape, material and date, part of the church’s history.
The ruins of St Edmund’s Chapel in Lyng are fragmentary remains of a medieval priory church, probably dating from the 12th century. Parts of the ruins are obscured by vegetation. Finds from prehistoric, Roman, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval periods have been discovered at the site. The periods represented by the finds therefore extend well beyond the probable date of the medieval church. St Margaret’s centres on a surviving building with a datable furnishing detail; at the Chapel, ruins and finds from several periods come together.
River, Glacial Erratic and Industrial History
The River Wensum flows through Lyng and is designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The river thus brings a nature-conservation aspect to the village. The Great Stone of Lyng is a large glacial erratic beside a public footpath. As a natural landmark, it differs from both the church buildings and the village’s later industrial history.
Mill House lies east of the village of Lyng, on the River Wensum. It is the site of an 18th-century paper mill. Another historic feature stands by the road east of Easthaugh Hill: a hexagonal Second World War Type 22 concrete pillbox. It was built around 1940 as part of the defences against invasion at the time. The paper mill and pillbox refer to quite different chapters of local history and do not share the same historical context.
Motocross and Event Dates
Cadders Hill is a natural, predominantly sandy motocross track on a hillside. The track has few artificial obstacles. Lyng also has a history spanning more than 35 years of hosting British Championship events. Event availability depends on the date; check the current events calendar before making plans.
The Word and Praise Service at St Margaret’s, Lyng, takes place every second Sunday at 10:30 am and lasts one hour. As recurring service times can change, check the current schedule if you would like to include it in your plans. Lyng is also included in Trail 4 of the Trails of Norfolk Churches Stained Glass route. Some of the project’s trails are still being developed; checking the latest route status can help you plan accordingly.
The village’s history can therefore be understood across several periods, while the river, glacial erratic and motocross offer a different selection of themes. When choosing your destination, consider which of these aspects matters most for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Billingford, Bircham Newton, Beechamwell, Bawdeswell, Heydon, Honingham, South Pickenham, Harleston
For the broader travel overview: Norfolk.
