Editing Coltishall

{{Short description|Village in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|52.7281|1.36189|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference = TG271197
| official_name = Coltishall
| population = 1,446
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| area_total_km2 = 7.27
| shire_district = [[Broadland]]
| shire_county = [[Norfolk]]
| region = East of England
| civil_parish = Coltishall
| constituency_westminster = [[Broadland and Fakenham]]
| postcode_district = NR12
| postcode_area = NR
| post_town = NORWICH
| dial_code = 01603
| london_distance = 
| static_image_name = The church of St John the Baptist - geograph.org.uk - 873336.jpg
| static_image_caption = Church of St. John the Baptist
}}

'''Coltishall''' is a village and [[civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] county of [[Norfolk]].

Coltishall is located on the [[River Bure]] and within the [[The Broads|Norfolk Broads]], {{Convert|2.4|mi|km}} north-west of [[Wroxham]] and {{Convert|7.7|mi|km}} north-east of [[Norwich]].

==Etymology==
Coltishall's name is of [[Old English]] origin and first attested in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 in the forms ''Cokereshala'' and ''Coketeshala''. From 1200 onwards, it is attested in the contracted form ''Couteshal(e)'', in which form it has more or less remained to the present day (the ''l'' in the modern spelling is due to [[hypercorrection]]). The second part of the name is thought to derive from the Old English word ''halh'' ('nook') but the origin of the first part is uncertain; one guess is that it was an otherwise unattested personal name ''Coccede'' or ''Cohhede'', and thus meant 'Coccede's nook'.<ref> University of Nottingham. (2022). Retrieved 18 December 2022. http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Coltishall.</ref> But ''The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names'' concludes that "the recorded forms are too few and contradictory for satisfactory explanation".<ref>''The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society'', ed. by Victor Watts (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), s.v. ''Coltishall''.</ref>

==History==
In the [[Domesday Book]], Coltishall is recorded as a settlement of 16 households in the [[Hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[Erpingham|South Erpingham]]. In 1086, the village was divided between the estates of [[William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey|William de Warenne]] and [[Roger the Poitevin|Roger de Poitou]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coltishall {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TG2719/coltishall/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=opendomesday.org}}</ref>

In 1231, Coltishall was made a 'free-town' by [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Coltishall, Norfolk - White's Directory 1845 |url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/NFK/Coltishall/White1845?utm_source=chatgpt.com |website=GENUKI |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

Furthermore, from the mid-Eighteenth Century, Coltishall was a centre for the malting industry with many [[Norfolk wherry|wherries]] being built in the village.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MNF19209 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF19209 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref>

In the late-Eighteenth Century, parts of the Bure Navigational Canal were dug in the parish to make the [[River Bure]] more easily navigable for watercraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MNF29856 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF29856 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}</ref>

[[Horstead Watermill]], close to the village, was one of the most photographed mills in Britain until it burned down in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Mills - Horstead watermill |url=https://norfolkmills.co.uk/Watermills/horstead.html |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=norfolkmills.co.uk}}</ref>

==RAF Coltishall==
[[RAF Coltishall]] was opened in 1939 as a fighter station of the [[Royal Air Force]] during the Second World War. It became home to [[No. 242 Squadron RAF]], which was largely composed of Canadian personnel who had suffered heavy losses in the [[Battle of France]]. Morale within the unit was low, and on 24 June 1940, the squadron was placed under the command of the legless fighter ace [[Douglas Bader]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Douglas Bader Fighter Pilot – A Fighter Pilot Again |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/douglas-bader-fighter-pilot/a-fighter-pilot-again.aspx |website=RAF Museum |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=24 June 1940 – Douglas Bader Takes Command of 242 Squadron |url=https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/24-june-1940-douglas-bader-takes-command-of-242-squadron/ |website=This Day in Aviation |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> Bader quickly restored discipline, reshaped the squadron’s reputation, and led it effectively through the early stages of the [[Battle of Britain]].

RAF Coltishall remained an active RAF station throughout the Cold War, later becoming a base for [[English Electric Lightning]] and [[SEPECAT Jaguar]] aircraft. The station was operational until its closure in November 2006, following a review by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MNF7697 - RAF Coltishall |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF7697 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

The main technical site was subsequently repurposed as [[HM Prison Bure]], a Category C prison for adult male offenders.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-08-02 |title=Bure Prison |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bure-prison |website=GOV.UK |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

The adjoining married quarters and residential area were renamed **Badersfield** in honour of Douglas Bader. Although closely associated with RAF Coltishall, Badersfield does not fall within the civil parish of Coltishall. Instead, it lies partly in the parish of [[Scottow]] (in the [[North Norfolk]] district) and partly in the parish of [[Buxton with Lammas]] (in the [[Broadland]] district).<ref>{{cite web |title=RAF Coltishall (Badersfield) Planning Brief |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/12442597/raf-coltishall-badersfield-north-norfolk-district-council |website=North Norfolk District Council |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], Coltishall has a population of 1,446 people which shows a decrease from the 1,503 people recorded in the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coltishall (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/broadland/E04006214__coltishall/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

Coltishall is located on the [[River Bure]] and within the [[The Broads|Norfolk Broads]]. The village is also located at the junction of the [[B1150 road|B1150]], between [[Norwich]] and [[North Walsham]], and the [[B1354 road|B1354]], between [[Thursford]] and [[Hoveton]].

==Church of St. John the Baptist==
Coltishall's parish church is dedicated [[John the Baptist]] and dates at its earliest to the Fifteenth Century. St. John's is located on Church Street and has been Grade I listed since 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, Coltishall - 1177913 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1177913?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

The church was largely re-built in 1865 and boasts a Twelfth Century [[Baptismal font|font]] made from [[Purbeck Marble]]. In addition, there is a good collection of stained-glass windows including some from the workshops of [[James Powell and Sons]] (depicting the Risen Christ) and memorial glass by Alfred Wilkinson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/coltishall/coltishall.htm |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}</ref>

Within the parish there is a ruined church dedicated to [[Saint Theobald of Provins]] which was built in the Eleventh Century and was abandoned in the Nineteenth Century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Church of St Theobald, Coltishall - 1295280 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1295280?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable Residents==
*[[John Alen|Reverend John Alen]]- (1476-1534) priest and church lawyer, born in Coltishall.
*[[John Alan|Sir John Alan]]- (1500-1561) statesman and Irish Lord Chancellor, born in Coltishall.
*[[John Smith (astronomer)|Doctor John Smith]]- (1711-1795) academic and astronomer, born in Coltishall.
*[[Thomas Holloway (painter)|Thomas Holloway]]- (1748-1827) painter and engraver, lived & died in Coltishall.
*[[William Addison (VC)|Chaplain William Addison VC]]- (1883-1962) Church of England priest and army chaplain, Rector of Coltishall from 1938-1958.
*[[Gwyneth Johnstone]]- (1915-2010) painter, born & died in Coltishall.
*[[Robin Huggins]]- (b.1947) [[Norfolk County Cricket Club|Norfolk]] cricketer, born in Coltishall.

==Climate==
Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.  The [[Köppen climate classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]" (Marine West Coast Climate/[[Oceanic climate]]).<ref>[https://archive.today/20130630142108/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=591033&cityname=Broadland,+England,+United+Kingdom&units= Climate Summary for closest city on record]</ref>

{{Weather box|location = Coltishall 17m asl, 1991-2020
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 7.5
|Feb high C = 8.1
|Mar high C = 10.4
|Apr high C = 13.2
|May high C = 16.3
|Jun high C = 19.2
|Jul high C = 21.7
|Aug high C = 21.7
|Sep high C = 18.9
|Oct high C = 14.9
|Nov high C = 10.8
|Dec high C = 8.0
|year high C = 
|Jan low C = 1.8
|Feb low C = 1.7
|Mar low C = 3.0
|Apr low C = 4.8
|May low C = 7.8
|Jun low C = 10.5
|Jul low C = 12.7
|Aug low C = 12.5
|Sep low C = 10.5
|Oct low C = 7.8
|Nov low C = 4.3
|Dec low C = 2.3
|year low C = 
|unit rain days= 1.0&nbsp;mm
|Jan rain mm = 55.1
|Feb rain mm = 45.2
|Mar rain mm = 46.2
|Apr rain mm = 38.6
|May rain mm = 46.5
|Jun rain mm = 63.2
|Jul rain mm = 57.5
|Aug rain mm = 66.5
|Sep rain mm = 59.6
|Oct rain mm = 70.4
|Nov rain mm = 71.2
|Dec rain mm = 64.0
|year rain mm= 
|Jan rain days = 11.5
|Feb rain days = 11.0
|Mar rain days = 9.2
|Apr rain days = 8.8
|May rain days = 7.9
|Jun rain days = 9.5
|Jul rain days = 9.4
|Aug rain days = 9.2
|Sep rain days = 9.4
|Oct rain days = 11.4
|Nov rain days = 12.8
|Dec rain days = 12.9
|year rain days= 
|Jan sun = 58.9
|Feb sun = 80.4
|Mar sun = 129.6
|Apr sun = 174.5
|May sun = 207.0
|Jun sun = 181.3
|Jul sun = 205.6
|Aug sun = 184.8
|Sep sun = 154.4
|Oct sun = 113.1
|Nov sun = 66.5
|Dec sun = 55.2
|year sun = 
|source 1 = Met Office<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/u12unggmv
|title = Coltishall 1991–2020 averages
|access-date = 17 December 2021
|publisher = Met Office }}</ref>
|date = Dec 2021}}

== Governance ==
Coltishall is both a civil parish and an electoral ward for local elections, falling within the district of [[Broadland]]. Local affairs are managed by Coltishall Parish Council, which oversees matters such as the village hall, playing fields, and provides input on planning applications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coltishall Parish Council |url=https://coltishall-pc.gov.uk/ |website=Coltishall Parish Council |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

The council also supports the maintenance and improvement of community facilities, including the children's play park, picnic areas, basketball court, and outdoor gym equipment on the Recreation Ground. It works alongside local charities and trusts, such as the Coltishall Commons Management Trust and the Village Hall charity, to promote the wellbeing of residents and the protection of local green spaces. The Parish Council is a statutory consultee on planning matters and plays an active role in representing the interests of the village within the wider framework of local government.


At the district level, Coltishall is governed by [[Broadland District Council]], and at the county level by [[Norfolk County Council]].

Nationally, the village forms part of the [[Broadland (UK Parliament constituency)|Broadland and Fakenham]] parliamentary constituency, which has been represented by [[Jerome Mayhew]] of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] since the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Broadland and Fakenham Parliamentary Constituency |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3700/overview |website=UK Parliament |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

== War Memorial ==
Coltishall's war memorial is a stone cross on the High Street which is shared with the nearby village of [[Great Hautbois]]. The memorial was unveiled in August of 1920<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coltishall and Hautbois War Memorial, Coltishall - 1442412 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1442412?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> and lists the following names for the [[First World War]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Caister to Croxton :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/5 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Rank
!Name
!Unit
!Date of Death
!Burial
|-
|Capt.
|Charles W. Archdale
|5th Bn., [[Norfolk Regiment]]
|20 Nov. 1917
|[[Cambrai Memorial to the Missing|Cambrai Memorial]]
|-
|2Lt.
|Edgar H. Collison
|Norfolk Regt.
|26 Jun. 1916
|[[East Bilney|St. Mary's Churchyard]]
|-
|CSM
|Charlie Wells
|8th Bn., [[East Surrey Regiment]]
|1 Jul. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Sgt.
|Stanley W. Nicholson
|12th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|30 Dec. 1917
|[[Shatby|Shatby Memorial]]
|-
|Cpl.
|William H. Lemon
|7th Bn., [[Border Regiment]]
|3 Jul. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|LCpl.
|Bertie E. Gilham
|7th Bn., [[Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)|Buffs]]
|7 Aug. 1918
|[[Sailly-Laurette|Beacon Cemetery]]
|-
|LCpl.
|Horace A. Daniels
|10th Bn., [[East Yorkshire Regiment]]
|2 Apr. 1918
|[[Rouen|St. Sever Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Frederick J. Hilling
|4th Bn., [[Bedfordshire Regiment]]
|16 Jan. 1918
|[[Mont-Huon Military Cemetery|Mont-Huon Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Charles A. Earl
|8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regt.
|14 Oct. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Edward G. Billing
|7th Bn., [[Border Regiment]]
|2 May 1918
|[[Forceville|Forceville Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Alfred H. Brighton
|1st Bn., [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Cameronian Rifles]]
|7 Nov. 1918
|[[Dourlers|Dourlers Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Sidney Feek
|[[54th Battalion (Kootenay), CEF|54th (Kootenay) Bn.]], [[Canadian Expeditionary Force|CEF]]
|30 Sep. 1918
|[[Sailly-sur-la-Lys|Cantimpre Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|David Tunmore
|2nd Bn., [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment|Duke of Wellington's Regt.]]
|17 Nov. 1918
|[[Cambrai|Cambrai East Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Jacob H. Landamore
|8th Bn., [[East Surrey Regiment]]
|9 Aug. 1917
|[[Menin Gate]]
|-
|Pte.
|George F. Bean
|103rd Coy., [[Machine Gun Corps]]
|1 Jul. 1916
|[[Bapaume Post Military Cemetery|Bapaume Post Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Charles H. Brown
|1st (Drake) Bn., [[63rd (Royal Naval) Division|Royal Naval Division]]
|26 Feb. 1917
|[[Rouen|St. Sever Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|John Bean
|1st Bn., [[Norfolk Regiment]]
|31 May 1915
|[[Ypres|Perth Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|William R. Chaplin
|1st Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|14 Sep. 1914
|[[La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial|La Ferté Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Arthur H. Riseborough
|1st Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|28 May 1918
|[[Tannay, Nièvre|Tannay Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Jonathan E. Feltham
|1/4th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|19 Apr. 1917
|[[Gaza War Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Herbert J. Gilham
|1/4th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|14 Sep. 1915
|[[Helles Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Benjamin Bean
|7th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|12 Oct. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|George B. Burton
|8th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|1 Jul. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|John R. Davison
|8th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|21 Oct. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Harry Graveling
|9th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|10 Feb. 1917
|[[Bethune Town Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Ivan J. A. Spinks
|9th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|18 Oct. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Arthur E. Youngs
|9th Bn., Norfolk Regt.
|17 Nov. 1915
|[[Hollybrook Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Leslie Wells
|1/5th Bn., [[Northumberland Fusilers]]
|14 Nov. 1916
|[[Thiepval Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|George H. Pye
|2/7th Bn., [[Royal Warwickshire Regiment|Royal Warwickshire Regt.]]
|18 Aug. 1918
|[[Tannay, Nièvre|Tannay Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Arthur T. Bullen
|3rd Bn., [[Worcestershire Regiment]]
|11 Oct. 1916
|[[Pozières cemetery|Pozières Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Ernest Riseborough
|4th Bn., Worcestershire Regt.
|2 Jun. 1917
|[[Arras Memorial]]
|-
|Spr.
|Arthur Tunmore
|55th Coy., [[Royal Engineers]]
|27 Jul. 1915
|St. John's Churchyard
|-
|App.
|Wilfred C. D. Walton
|S.S. ''Arab''
|7 Jan. 1918
|[[Bizerte|Bizerte Cemetery]]
|}
And, the following for the [[Second World War]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Rank
!Name
!Unit
!Date of Death
!Burial
|-
|WO
|Peter H. Watson
|[[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve|Royal Air Force Reserve]]
|7 Apr. 1945
|[[Karachi War Cemetery]]
|-
|Sgt.
|Basil G. Crisp
|[[No. 75 Squadron RAF]]
|16 Aug. 1943
|[[Olonne-sur-Mer|Olonne-sur-Mer Cemetery]]
|-
|Sgt.
|Frederick H. Hilling
|[[Royal Air Force]]
|30 Dec. 1942
|St. John's Churchyard
|-
|Pte.
|Arthur Y. Woods
|2nd Bn., [[Royal Norfolk Regiment]]
|27 May 1940
|[[Dunkirk Memorial]]
|-
|Pte.
|Benjamin H. Goodson
|5th Bn., Royal Norfolks.
|16 Jun. 1944
|[[Kanchanaburi War Cemetery]]
|-
|Pte.
|Leonard M. Neville
|5th Bn., Royal Norfolks.
|21 Sep. 1944
|[[Kranji War Memorial]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://coltishall-pc.gov.uk/ Coltishall Parish Council – Official website]

{{Commons category|Coltishall}}

{{Civil Parishes of Broadland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Broadland]]
[[Category:Villages in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Norfolk]]