Hingham

Hingham, which is believed to have its origins as a Saxon settlement, is renowned for the diversity and wealth of its Georgian architecture, although the Parish Church of St Andrew, Hingham, around which it is built, and in which Abraham Lincoln's great-great-great-great-grandfather, Samuel, was baptised in 1622, dates from the 14th Century.

In addition to those buildings around the periphery of the Market Place, a largely unspoilt conservation area, further fine examples of Georgian residential architecture can be found by ambling through the quiet streets and alleys which lead to the Market Place and The Fairlands.

Although formerly a market town, and a coaching stop on the road between Norwich and Watton (the White Hart, a timber-framed coaching inn extensively rebuilt in the 1770s, remains as a public house to this day), the markets had stopped by the mid 18th Century.

For a village of its size (population of 2,583 at the time of the 2001 Census) however, Hingham offers an exceptional range of shops to meet the needs of guests at White Lodge Farm - a butcher, a baker, two grocery stores (including "Harrods of Hingham"), both with off-licences, a newsagent, a chemist with pharmacy, a public house, a post office and a hairdresser. A mobile fishmonger visits on a Thursday morning.

Facilities in the village include a tea shop ("Lincolns"), doctors' surgery, dentist, a village hall with a large playing field and a children's play area, tennis courts, bowling green, library, and a fire station.

Other opportunites for retail therapy include shops selling gift wares, an interior designers', an army surplus stores(!), pine furniture shop, and an architectural ironmongers'.

Guests say ...

"Harrods of Hingham: Excellent local store, with good selection of items (food and drink)."     K,D&J T