Hoveton/ˈhɒftən/ is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located within the Norfolk Broads, and immediately across the River Bure from the village of Wroxham. Hoveton is north of the river, with Wroxham to the south, but the whole settlement is commonly referred to as "Wroxham".[2]
The villages name origin is uncertain, deriving from either "Hofa's farm/settlement" or perhaps, "ale-hoof farm/settlement". Ale-hoof is probably ground-ivy (glechoma hederacea)
Administration
The civil parish has an area of 10.2 km2 and in the 2001 census had a population of 1,804 in 873 households, the population decreasing to 1759 at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North Norfolk.[3]
Governance
An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward had a population of 1 at the 2011 Census.[4]
Transport
Hoveton is served by Hoveton & Wroxham railway station, which is on the Bittern Line from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham, and which is adjacent to the terminus of the narrow gaugeBure Valley Railway to Aylsham. The station was originally intended to be on the Wroxham side of the river, but a change of plan resulted in it being sited in Hoveton; however, it was misleadingly named "Wroxham" until being renamed "Hoveton & Wroxham" in 1966. Locals and regular visitors still refer to the station as "Wroxham", which can lead to confusion when purchasing a ticket in other parts of the country.
Local facilities
Hoveton has three churches, St Peter, St John and St Helen's Catholic Church. The town has tourist shops, pubs, cafés and a gift shop.
It is a popular place for tourists due to the largest village store and is also one of the busiest places to boat in Norfolk.
Roys of Wroxham, dubbed "the world's largest village store", was founded in Coltishall by Alfred Roy in 1895, with a third store opening in Hoveton in 1899. Roys includes a department store, a supermarket, a garden centre, a toy shop and a DIY store in Hoveton with a petrol station in Wroxham and many other department stores and supermarkets across Norfolk and Suffolk.
