Thwaite Common is a designated County Wildlife Site covering 19 hectares of open-access meadow, copse and marsh in North Norfolk.

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Because of its marshy nature the Common was left as uncultivated waste land for most of history which is how it gets its name because “thwaite” is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning waste.

 

History of Thwaite Common

 

Thwaite Common lies along the boundary of the parishes of Alby-with-Thwaite and Erpingham. A County Wildlife Site, it is a very special place with a proliferation of wild flowers; a haven for wildlife. 

 

Ancient

Common land that was not useful for farming was traditionally given to local people to supplement their income - usually to graze. It was owned by the landlord (in this case Lord Orford, then Lord Walpole). Anyone around the common could graze it, providing they held less than 10 acres of their own land. The common was surrounded by perimeter hedges, with gates across the road in three places: at the far east end; at the foot of Goose Lane; & just east of Thwaite Hall.

 

In 1835 Thwaite School was built on the common at the cost of £500 thanks to the benevolence of Mrs Lydia Baret. Comprising a schoolhouse and a school room for up to seventy-five children, it closed in 1933. It is now two private houses.

 

In 1839, the Alby Settlement, a private Act of Parliament, gave the landowner permission to enclose (and improve) that part of the common which was within Alby parish; the field which was created now splits the common in two.

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In Living Memory

Stephen Jordan is the third generation of his family to live on the common. As such, he offers an invaluable account of its history in his lifetime. He remembers that as a boy, before and after school, he was responsible for keeping in check grazing animals on the common. He recalls when the common was given over to the local farmer, Mr Scott, to farm at the outbreak of WW2. Consequently the common was drained (taking 18 months), and for 3 years the central section and the west end were cropped with peas, potatoes and wheat. It will be noted that trees, bushes etc. have grown since this time.

 

After the war, Mr Scott attempted to retain the common for farming; this was how many commons were lost. However, Stephen`s grandfather, John ('Jack') Jordan, took Mr. Scott to arbitration and was successful in winning back the common. Had he not been successful, we would not have Thwaite Common today. Farmers were requested to seed common land after the war, however this was not done.

 

In 1947 Aubrey Jordan (Stephen`s father) returned from the war to find the common overgrown, the gates deteriorated and the traffic increased. In order to restore the common and maintain grazing, he started to fence to the south of the road, and graze the common with horses, starting with the central section. By the end of the 1960s all except the far east end was fenced and grazed largely by horses, with bullocks joining them in the summer months.

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More recent History

In 1965 the government brought in legislation to cover ownership, registration and grazing rights of common land; grazing rights went with property. Aubrey Jordan died without registering his rights. Today just two properties hold these rights (specific to the properties) to graze a limited number of horses, cattle and geese as well as collect “estovers” (fallen branches).  Lord Walpole did not claim ownership of Thwaite Common, so custodianship was allocated to North Norfolk District Council.

 

With so few residents entitled to graze the common, it was in danger of becoming overgrown, so efforts were made to manage it by increased grazing and cutting, overseen by a representative management committee. The fences remained and the common was grazed largely by horses, owned by residents of the common (although for one summer Redwings turned out their rescued horses). The grazing intensity was much lower than previously and there was a marked increase in flora. In 2001, North Norfolk District Council removed all permanent fencing. Consequently overall grazing ceased and the common declined again.

 

Ideally, to maintain its character, all of the common would be grazed, but there are legal limitations on fencing and an obligation since 1992 for all parts of the common to be open to walkers. Balancing the needs of wildlife, grazing and open-access has proved controversial and a number of possible schemes for enclosing grazing animals have been explored.

 

In 2001 a questionnaire was sent out to all local households as to who should manage it. The result was "an independent body with a conservation bias". Thus the present Management Committee was formed which included Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

 

Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s “Thwaite Common Management Plan 2013” was prepared on behalf of North Norfolk District Council and aims to:

i.“conserve and enhance the wildlife, landscape and amenity value of the area”

ii. “preserve and control the grazing of the area by agreement with the common rights holders”.

 

Currently the western end of the common, seen as the most flower rich area, is grazed from spring to autumn by cattle within a temporary fence (thus complying with the rules) and other parts are cut in late summer.

 

An application in 2015 on behalf of North Norfolk District Council to increase the extent of the temporary fencing so that most of the common could be grazed, was refused by HM Planning Inspectorate. When the results of this application were known it was realised that, despite the great efforts made by the committee, people on the ground were needed to inform the committee of necessary works and to provide a work party. Thus, `The Friends of Thwaite Common` was launched with the declared aim:

“to assist in the management of Thwaite Common, working with North Norfolk District Council’s Management Committee and the Parish Council”.   

                                 

Auriel Mims, with the help of Stephen Jordan.(edited by T. Moore)