Compare the history of Martham with times past.

Dive into a period from the past and see what was happening in Martham at the time. Use the links to travel through time.

PeriodEvent
Prehistoric to Iron AgeMartham, the Isle of Flegg and even Britain, of course, did not exist at this time as a separate land mass but some prehistoric objects have been found in and around what is now Martham.  Intrigued?  For more information click Prehistoric
2.6m to 10,000BCPalaeolithic period. For more information click Prehistoric
10,000 to 4,000BCMesolithic period. For more information click Prehistoric
4,000 to 2,500BCNeolithic period. For more information click Prehistoric
2,500 to 800BCBronze Age. For more information click Bronze Age
800BC to 61ADIron Age. For more information click Iron Age. Also, Celtic Britain 600BC to c50AD
43AD to 410ADIn 43 AD the Romans landed and began the conquest of Britain. By 300 to 400 Britain was largely self-sufficient Romano-British country. There was a sparse Romano-British occupation to the north side of Martham by settlers who were probably farmers. For more details go to Romans. In the year 410 Emperor Honorius refused to help Britain against attacking Anglo Saxons.
400 to 600The Dark Ages.
410 to 599Anglo Saxon England. Martham gained its named after the polecats or “martens” that were common to the area and “ham” having the Angle origin of a residence of a thane or lord. For more information go to Anglo Saxons.
599 to 624King Raedwald was the most powerful Anglo Saxon King of East Anglia.
650 to 830There were seven Saxon Kingdoms including East Anglia. Viking raids began in 781, almost certainly utilising the River Bure and Breydon Estuary to settle on the south side of the Isle of Flegg at Runham and at Martham on the north side.
1066Harold was King until the Battle of Hastings in October 1066.
1086Domesday Book commissioned. Martham was well populated and widely cultivated. The population had a greater than average number of free farmers. For more information about Domesday Martham click HERE.
1096Bishop Herbert De Losinga gave Martham Manor to his new Priory of Norwich resulting in the first Martham Manor. For more information click Anglo-Danish.
1215The Magna Carta.
1292A survey by the Cathedral Priory Manor of Martham called the Stowe Survey was carried out recording 376 tenants of land in Martham which included 75 families holding land as tenants of the Manor.
1294A very poor harvest was recorded in the village. Farmland was valued at 3/- (15p) per acre which was considered to be high. For more information click Anglo-Danish.
  
1315 & 1316Martham had two wet seasons, poor harvests and high corn prices. For more information click Medieval.
1325There was a great drought that made it difficult to find pasture for animals.
1332Tax records show a population of around 1,000 to 1,500 people in the village. For more information click Medieval.
1349/50
 
The Black Death spread up the river Bure to Martham. The mortality rate was at least 55% of villagers. In 1350 only 368 out of a possible 617 people attended harvest duties the rest were presumed sick or dead. For more information click Black Death.
1370 to 1380Following the Black Death many men started to leave Martham and look for work in Yarmouth if only for the fishing season.
1381The Peasants Revolt in Norfolk. Martham had minor involvement. 
1400Local farm labourers earned about 11s  7d a year (58p) which rose to about £1 in 1424. For more information click Medieval.
1404There was a fishery at a place called Cobham College Manor on the River Thurne near the present floating pontoon at Ferrygate Lane which was later let for £5  6s  8d a year. For more information click Medieval.
1416 to 1435A Martham man bought a cottage and nine acres of land in the village for 50s (£2.50) in 1416 and had amassed 30 acres at his death in 1435. His name was Thomas Drake and he was also the tenant of the (Prior’s) Manor of Martham.
1480Martham’s annual fair started according to the Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England & Wales dated 1516.
1534 to 1549The Reformation period. In 1549 the first Church of England Prayer Book was authorised.
1649Charles I was executed and the ‘Commonwealth’ established.
1660Monarchy restored. 
1665Plague of London.
1720’s to 1840sIndustrial revolution.
  
1800The first Baptist Church was built in Martham next to what is now Oak Tree Close. It was demolished by 1878 but the graveyard still exists there. For more information click on Baptists.
1802The West Flegg Electoral Roll (Poll Book) of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1802 Poll Book. 
1812Martham Inclosure Award. For more information click on Inclosure.
1832The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1832 Register. 
1835The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1835 Register. 
1836The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1836 Register. 
1837The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1837 Register. 
1840The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1840 Register. 
1841The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1841 Register. 
1841The 1841 census was carried out based on where people lived at midnight on 6th June. You can see an alphabetical list of people living in Martham at that time by clicking 1841
1842The Martham Tithe Award.
1844The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1844 Register. 
1845The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1845 Register. 
1845A copy of White’s Directory can be seen by clicking Whites 1845.
1850A copy of Hunt & Co Directory can be seen by clicking Hunt 1850.
1851The 1851 census was carried out based on where people lived on 30th March 1851.
1855The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1855 Register. 
1861The 1861 census was carried out based on where people lived on 7th April 1861.
1865The West Flegg Electoral Roll of people entitled to vote on behalf of Martham can be seen by clicking 1865 Register. 
1871The 1871 census was carried out based on where people lived on 2nd April 1871.
1877Martham railway station opened on 15th July. For more information click railway.
1879The present Baptist Church on the north side of the Green was built.
1880Martham Methodist Church was built in Repps Road.
1881The 1881 census was carried out based on where people lived on 3rd April 1881.
1883A copy of Kelly’s Trade Directory can be seen by clicking Kelly’s 1883.
1891The 1891 census was carried out based on where people lived on 5th April 1891.
1894/95Click on Gazetteer to see how the Gazetteer of England and Wales described Martham at this time.
1896A copy of Kelly’s Trade Directory can be seen by clicking Kelly’s 1896.
1901The 1901 census was carried out based on where people lived on 31st March 1901.
1911The 1911 census was carried out based on where people lived on 2nd April 1911.
1914 to 1918The First World War. For photos of the war memorial click War Memorial. This page also gives details of Martham people who gave their lives during both World Wars.
1937A copy of Kelly’s Trade Directory can be seen by clicking Kelly’s 1937.
1939A pre-war register was compiled of the population in preparation for rationing and war needs. Click 1939 Register for a list of those living in Martham at the time and copies of the actual Register Returns.
1939 to 1945The Second World War. For details of Martham people who gave their lives during both World Wars click on War Memorial.
1959The last train went through Martham railway station on 28th February before it closed. The former Butagas depot at the station closed in the same year. For more details click railway.

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