The mainly Georgian buildings around the market place provide an attractive centre to the town with the two towers of St Mary’s, Reepham and St Michael’s, Whitwell, dominating the skyline. The market itself developed at a point where three manors, Reepham, Whitwell and Hackford, met. This is where the churches were built and the market was actually held in Reepham cemetery.
Reepham is famous for having three churches in one churchyard: St Mary’s, St Michael’s and All Saints, Hackford, now in ruins. It was destroyed by fire in 1543 and never rebuilt. The tower was dismantled in 1790. St Mary’s was mainly built in the 14th century and contains a canopied tomb on the north wall of the sanctuary which is famous for its exquisite detail. The tomb, probably to Sir Roger De Kerdeston, who died in 1337, is one of the finest of the 14th century in Norfolk. Sir Roger was Lord of the Manor of Kerdeston, in Reepham. He lies on a bed of pebbles and is wearing knights armour. His shield can be found on the west end of the tomb.
In 1240, the Sheriff of Norwich stopped the holding of a market in the cemetery and a new site was found to the west in the current market place. Of the many buildings located here is the Old Brewery House with its attractive sun dial. It was built in 1729 and was formerly known as Dial House. The inscription over the dial reads ‘I count only the sunny hours’. To the left of the house is a courtyard containing a timber well head with a spired roof.
The Bircham Institute, a former house, is now used mainly for the Reepham Library. The original building was 17th century but it was greatly altered in the 19th century. Once the home of the Rector of Hackford, it was eventually given to the town by a member of the Bircham family to be used as a reading room and meeting place, a use that is has well fulfilled.
The famous Norfolk diarist, Parson Woodforde, did his shopping in Reepham in the 1700s, as did the rector of Booton, Whitwell Elwin, 100 years later. Whitwell Elwin is noted for his literary talents and for a number of years edited the famous Quarterly Review. He also designed the extraordinary church at Booton, just outside Reepham.
At the time of the Domesday Book, there were four distinct areas here: Kerdiston, Reepham, Whitwell and Hackford. Eventually, the town assumed the name of Reepham although much of it lies within what was Hackford. In mid-Victorian times, the town thrived, with a brewery, two tanneries, a brickworks, horse training stables, a stock fair, market, two fire engines, two railway stations, reading room, library, a company of the Third Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, three chapels, 12 pubs, a professional for the cricket club and 1800 people! In fact, Whitwell Hall housed Norfolk’s largest tannery which was owned from at least 1836 by the Leamon family. Most of the leathers went to merchants or to shoe manufacturers in Norwich.
In 1882, two railway stations opened at Reepham and Whitwell. The railway brought cheaper products to the area from larger works elsewhere and it contributed to the downfall of the tanneries, brewery and many other small local industries. By the end of the century, the population was down to 400. The former trackbed is now used as part of the Marriott’s Way long distance walk that runs from Norwich to Aylsham and through many picturesque villages on the way. The Walk is named after the Chief Engineer, William Marriott, who worked the Midland and Great Northern Line for 41 years.