St John and St Mary, Stiffkey

with

All Saints, Cockthorpe

Stiffkey stands on the North Norfolk Coast on the River Stiffkey. To the north are the Stiffkey Freshes - large saltmarshes which break the back of the incoming tides, and are home to its famous cockles known as 'Stewkey Blues'. At the west end of the village is Warborough Hill, on which is an iron age tumulus, and at the east end are the Church and the Hall.

Cockthorpe is further inland, but has been linked to Stiffkey from time immemorial - the medieval Stiffkey manors had lands in Cockthorpe and vice versa. While Nathaniel Bacon was building Stiffkey Hall on behalf of his father Sir Nicholas, he lived in the mansion at Cockthorpe, then owned by the Calthorpe family. The relationship was not completely harmonious.

To the East of Cockthorpe is Langham Airfield which was built in the Second World War, remaining operational until 1947 when it was closed down. It now houses a Bernard Matthews Turkey Farm.

Stiffkey has a Post Office and shop, Stiffkey Stores, which not only sells local produce and wine, but home wares and gifts (decent). They also bake cakes and tarts, and provide salads for take-away picnics.

The Red Lion at the west end of the village still bears the hallmarks of an old-fashioned pub, with log fires, great ale, and good food. Certainly worth a visit - more information at http://www.stiffkey.com/