Wiveton
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The wide, pretty valley of the Glaven runs down through the villages of Leatheringsett and Glandford to Wiveton, a silted mediaeval port. To look at the village now its difficult to believe that Wiveton was once a considerable port handling sea-going ships of up to 130 tons in size. In 1570, Wiveton was credited with having 43 mariners and 8 ships. There is more on this in the Cley pages. Suffice to say, Wiveton ceased to be a thriving port in 1637 when landowner Sir Henry Calthorpe dammed the River Glaven in Blakeney marshes. This cut off the Glaven through both Wiveton and Cley from the scouring action of the tide in the estuary. The channels silted up to give us what we have today. The parish church, St. Mary's, stands on the village green, on the southern edge of the village. It was considerably rebuilt in 1437, but parts of the tower and the chancel can be dated to a century earlier. The road to Cley crosses the Glaven by a mediaeval single-arch stone bridge. Wiveton Hall, on the north side of the coast road, faces Cley across the marsh. Built in 1653 of knapped flint and brick in a Jacobean style, a new larger wing was added in 1907-9. The old village pub, the Bell (top), stands on the green and is now a popular eating place, serving meals throughout the year. J. McShann |
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