The Clumps

The Lynn & Dereham Railway and the Norfolk Railway both obtained Parliament’s permission to build lines to Dereham in 1845. The Norfolk Railway, building its line from Wymondham, reached Dereham first, and opened its railway to passengers on the 15th February 1847. As a result of modernisation, the line witnessed its last scheduled steam-hauled passenger train on the 17th September 1955. Diesel units took over the next day, But steam-hauled freight continued into the early 1960s. By 1960 there was an hourly passenger service to Norwich. The increased use of road transport, led to a decline in passenger numbers, and it became one of the many railways to be threatened by the “Beeching Report” in 1963. In June 1965, the Wymondham to Dereham section was reduced to single track with a passing loop at Hardingham, and the service between Wymondham and Dereham ceased in October 1969. Although the Mid Norfolk Railway is physically connected to the Norwich to Cambridge line at Wymondham, it actually starts from Wymondham Abbey station for its 11+ mile run to Dereham. It is hoped to extend the line to North Elmham and eventually to Fakenham. See Link and Link for much fuller histories. Kimberley Park station is the second station along the line from Wymondham Abbey. It opened with the line (when the station was known as Kimberley) and it was provided with a second platform when the line was doubled in the early 1880s. The station reopened as part of the Mid Norfolk Railway on 22nd May 2004. Only the down platform is served by trains. The up platform seen here is no longer used.

The Lynn & Dereham Railway and the Norfolk Railway both obtained Parliament’s permission to build lines to Dereham in 1845. The Norfolk Railway, building its line from Wymondham, reached Dereham first, and opened its railway to passengers on the 15th February 1847. As a result of modernisation, the line witnessed its last scheduled steam-hauled passenger train on the 17th September 1955. Diesel units took over the next day, But steam-hauled freight continued into the early 1960s. By 1960 there was an hourly passenger service to Norwich. The increased use of road transport, led to a decline in passenger numbers, and it became one of the many railways to be threatened by the “Beeching Report” in 1963. In June 1965, the Wymondham to Dereham section was reduced to single track with a passing loop at Hardingham, and the service between Wymondham and Dereham ceased in October 1969. Although the Mid Norfolk Railway is physically connected to the Norwich to Cambridge line at Wymondham, it actually starts from Wymondham Abbey station for its 11+ mile run to Dereham. It is hoped to extend the line to North Elmham and eventually to Fakenham. See Link and Link for much fuller histories. Kimberley Park station is the second station along the line from Wymondham Abbey. It opened with the line (when the station was known as Kimberley) and it was provided with a second platform when the line was doubled in the early 1880s. The station reopened as part of the Mid Norfolk Railway on 22nd May 2004. Only the down platform, seen here from a train leaving for Wymondham Abbey, is served by trains. The up platform is no longer used.

Built in 1845, Wicklewood Windmill is of a tarred brick type construction. The mill ceased working in 1942 and by 1949 was derelict. On 5th April 1973, the mill was donated to the Norfolk Windmills Trust. Since then renovations of many parts of the windmill have taken place.

The Roll of Honour does not differentiate between those that were lost and those who returned home safely. The names of the fallen in WW1 are :James BARNARD, William BUCKLE, Benjamin James SPALDING, Herbert John SPINKS, The Hon. Edward WODEHOUSE M.C., Hon. Philip WODEHOUSE, F.H. WOODCOCK -not named on the memorial. The only WW2 casualty was John WODEHOUSE CBE, M.C. a Civilian who died at 48 Jermyn Street, Westminster in 1941.

It can be seen beside Wymondham Road (B1135) in Kimberley, and was still painted red in January 2015 > Link.

It is situated near the junction of Wymondham Road (B1135) and Norwich Road (B1108), which can be seen in the background, and was still painted red in January 2015 > Link.

A driver's eye view of the first stop north of Wymondham Abbey on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

The window designed by Clayton Bell c1871 is dedicated to the memory of Fanny Wodehouse. It depicts St Frances, St Bridget and St Patrick together with a Resurrection scene. For a view of the church see > Link.