Pictures of Cockley Cley

About Cockley Cley

Fascinating village to the south of Swaffam. Cockley Cley is famous for its beautiful reconstruction of a village once lived in by the Iceni tribe at the time of Queen Boudicca. It is a faithful reproduction, complete with chariot house, watch towers, drawbridge, long house and snake pit. Said to be on the site of an original Iceni village, there is evidence of a settlement here from over 2,000 years ago.

Other interesting features of Cockley Cley include the ruins of St.Mary's church which date from 628AD. The small church of All Saints and the village also has a pub called - The Twenty Church Wardens. A pretty village green makes a delightful spot to sit and ponder for a while and there are interesting farm buildings scattered around the area, some dating back to the 17th-century.

Fortunate to be set amid beautiful open countryside, Cockley Cley with the little River Gadder flowing on the outskirts, provides a haven for wildlife. In spring the hedgerows are bursting with tender plants and delicate wild flowers and a host of tiny creatures of the wild.

This is a lovely region where the air is often pungent with the aroma of Lavender which grows in great abundance throughout Norfolk - Norfolk Lavender is now as famous as the Lavender of Provence, to me, if anything, Norfolk Lavender is more colourful and more fragrant. Just another reason to take time exploring Norfolk and picturesque Cockley Cley.

Places to visit include: Dereham Museum, Houghton Hall, the lovely market town Swaffam, Iceni Village, River Gadder and All Saint's Church, Cockley Cley.