At the 2001 census it had a population of 500 and an area of 1,015 hectares (3.92 square miles)[2] reducing to 472 at the 2011 Census. Norfolk (pop. 832,400) has about one-thirtieth of the population density of Central London, the tenth lowest density county in the country, with 38% of the county's population living in the three major urban areas of Norwich (194,200), Great Yarmouth (66,400) and King's Lynn (40,700).[3]
The River Wissey cuts through the village at Houghton Lane bridge,[4] following the course of Meadow Lane, close to the river's source at Bradenham. Its sister village South Pickenham is two miles away through pretty, narrow country lanes.
The village is after its Saxon leader Pinca,[6] Pica[7][8] or maybe Piccea with ham meaning homestead, it became a paganAnglo Saxon settlement in the 5th century AD. It remained part of a Saxon kingdom until the Norman Conquest in 1066[9] when it became part of the honour of the Earl of Richmond, Yorkshire. The old village sign showed a Saxon (left) and a Norman (right) warrior (see Great Britain in the Middle Ages) with Richmond Castle and the river Wissey in the background; The sign was designed by Ben Ripper, a local historian, and carved by Steve Eggleton. A new village statue by Tom Yorke replaced the deteriorating old sign and was unveiled by the incumbent MP George Freeman on 22 October 2010.[10] Due to an insect infestation the statue was removed in 2018 and in 2020 the old village sign was refurbished and re-erected in its place.
The former Royal Air Force station, RAF North Pickenham, was located nearby hosting American B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II.[14] In the late 1950s and early 1960s three PGM-17 Thor nuclear missiles were located here[15] with early cases of CND acts of civil disobedience.[16][17] The airbase is now the site of a turkey farm owned by Bernard Matthews,[18] a karting circuit and an eight-turbine wind farm run by North Pickenham Wind Farm LLP.[19] A 'stealth blade', which is trying to be invisible to aviation radar, was tested on one of the turbines here in October 2009.[20] In February 2009 Bernard Matthews detailed plans to put two turbines at the airfield site,[21] an independent development to the eight turbines already there.
Amenities
St Mary's Church, Houghton on the Hill
North Pickenham has a newly extended school with its own wind turbine. Its namesake, at the centre of the village, is St Andrew's church[22] in the Benefice of Necton
Adjacent to the church is a freehousepub called the Blue Lion which, with recent surveys and listed buildings visits, suggest it dates from the late 18th century with documented licensees from the mid-19th century.
The lost village of Houghton on the Hill is in the civil parish. Houghton includes the restored church of St Mary's, with its outstanding 11th century wall paintings,[23] instigated by Bob Davey MBE.[24][25][26]
The annual local village show was reinstated in 2007. It raises funds for the church and highlights the growing and making skills of local residents.[28]
