Listed buildings within Bridgham include Orchard Cottage (Eighteenth Century)[3], Red House (Seventeenth Century)[4] with accompanying outbuildings[5], the Old School House (Eighteenth Century)[6] and The Rectory (c.1770).[7]
In 1940 during the Second World War, a concrete pillbox was built in Bridgham as part of the defences against a possible German invasion.[8]
Geography
According to the 2021 census, Bridgham has a population of 373 people which shows a slight increase from the 335 people recorded in the 2011 census.[9]
The course of the River Thet runs through the parish.
Church of St. Mary
Bridgham's parish church is dedicated to Saint Mary and dates from the Fourteenth Century. The church has been Grade II listed since 1958.[10] The church boasts a carved chalk font as well as stained-glass designed by A. L. Moore in 1900.[11]
Governance
Bridgham is part of the electoral ward of Harling & Heathlands for local elections and is part of the district of Breckland.
Bridgham's war memorial is granite, stone cross located in St. Mary's Churchyard. It was erected in 1920 and has been Grade II listed since 2018.[12] It lists the following names for the First World War:[13]
And: J. Paul, A. Shaw, P. Shaw, J. Shaw, J. Ward, E. A. Holmes, W. Keeble, A. R. Kemp, E. C. W. Garnham.
The memorial also lists the name of Pte. Walter David Odey of 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment who was killed on 25 October 1947 fighting in the 1947-48 Palestinian Civil War. He is buried in the Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Haifa and left behind a wife, Rubie.[14]
