Names in Denton
The object of this section is to attempt to explain the derivation of various names that occur on maps of Denton or elsewhere.
Where appropriate a link is provided for further details; in other cases no explanation is really needed. However, the names of some private houses have very interesting stories associated with them.
Suggestions for additions or corrections are most welcome.
A
?
B
Back Lane
An ancient track, now a bridleway, between Paynes Hill Road and Wash Lane, forming part of the boundary between Denton and Alburgh.
Barn House
A substantial barn conversion at Misery Corner. Presumably originally part of, nextdoor, Ivy Farm.
Beck Farm
In the valley of the
Beck.
C
The Candlestick
A long-established
Circular Walk.
in the village.
Castle Hill
Not really a hill but the site of
Denton’s Norman castle.
Chapel Corner,
Chapel Farm,
Further details available Here.
Chapel Hill &
Chapel Hill Farm
All of these names are derived from their proximity to
Denton’s URC Chapel at the junction of Norwich Road,
Trunch Hill and Chapel Hill.
Chapelfield
A row of modern bungalows on
Norwich Road built on the field next to the Chapel.
Church Hill
The hill beside St Mary’s, the parish church.
The Coal House
A building on Norwich Road built originally to
Store Coal
to be used by the poor of the parish.
D
Danacre Road
A road running alongside the Beck down to join Low Road. Together they once formed part of the A143.
Origin unknown. The only other use found is the name of a street in Basildon, Essex.
Darrow
The word Darrow is believed to have evolved from “Dearhaugh” indicating the existence of an ancient
Deer Park in that area.
Darrow Farm
Darrow Green Farm
Darrow Green Road
The Eastern end was, in the days of the Mill, see below, called Mill Road.
Darrow Mount
Appears on some OS maps at the location of some cottages on a bend on Darrow Green Road.
Denton Beck
A tributary of the
Waveney, this name does not appear on any maps but it does drain most of the parish.
Denton House
At the top of Church Hill, the original Manor House for the village..
Denton Lodge
On Danacre Road.
Denton Road
So called because before recent parish boundary changes it was in Earsham and linked the two parishes.
Denton Wash
An alternative to Denton Beck. A tributary of the Waveney, this name does not appear on any maps but it does drain most of the parish.
Denton Wash Farm
The remains of this farm stand at the bottom of Danacre Road where it once formed part of the A143.
E
East Hall
The former Lodge Farm is on
Middle Road. It has been described as “Perhaps the most interesting building in Denton”
F
Fairhead’s Farm
On Chapel Hill opposite Chapel Farm. Previously Haggard’s Farm, see below.
Fir Tree Farm
Another former Farm, on the South Side of Darrow Green Road.
Frater House
On Norwich Road.
Apparently, Frater derives from the refectory space in a monastery. When staying there on his own to finish the house the late owner
associated the silent solitude with life in a monastery.
G
Glebe Farm
On Norwich Road.
The name records its former ownership by the Church, but in this case not Denton’s Church.
Globe House
On
Norwich Road.
Origin unknown.
Globe Close
A row of modern houses and bungalows on Norwich Road opposite
Globe House.
Great Green Farm
Set back on the East side of Norwich Road at the site of one of the medieval Greens that were found in the village.
Higher Green Farm
In Middle Road.
Lower Green Farm
In the part of Middle Road that was transferred to Denton from Earsham in 2019.
Grove Barn &
Grove Cottage
In Middle Road on the site of the former Grove Farm
H
Haggard’s Farm
Now called Fairhead’s Farm from the owners for the last three generations.
Before that it was owned by the Haggard family of Ditchingham and the author Ryder Haggard of that ilk.
Hall Farm
In Middle Road.
Hangman’s Hill
A mound in the National Trust’s Denton Castle site. Reputedly the site of a gibbet where executions took place.
High/er Green Farm
On Middle Road.
Home Farmhouse
At the junction of
Church Hill and Roundhouse Hill.
Name probably based on its original links with nearby Denton House, though it has been suggested that, at some time in the past, it was called "Hill Farm" or even Upper Farm which would match well with Low Farm.
I
Ivy Farmhouse
On the corner of
Darrow Green Road and Manor Farm Road.
J
?K
Kingsland Farm
On Middle Road.
Origin unknown, royal links doubtful?
L
Lammas Farm
The last house in the village, right at the end of Darrow Green Road.
Origin unknown.
Little Green Farm
On Middle Road.
Lodge Farm
The former name of East Hall, see above.
Low Farm
On Low Road.
The road at the bottom of the village, originally part of the main road between Bury St Edmunds and Great Yarmouth,running parallel with the new road that replaced it as the A143 and the river Waveney.
M
Manor Farm
On Manor Farm Road.
Presumably derived from being part of the original ancient Manor estate.
Marshall’s Hill
Linking Middle Road and Danacre Road.
Presumably once linked to the Marshall family?
Middle Road
Possibly so-called because it provides the intermediate route into the village from the East between Danacre Road to the South and Denton Road to the North?
Mill Cottage
Mill Farm &
Mill House
Based on their location near the site of Denton's historic
Windmill on Darrow Green Road and the accomodation for the miller.
There are various versions of the history of the names of these buildings. One suggests that Mutts Farm, see below, was originally called Mill Farm and only changed its name when the Mutts family moved in.
Prior to that happening the current Mill Farm was called Mill Cottage.
Research continues.
Misery Corner
The junction of Darrow Green Road and Manor Farm Road.
There are a number of theories as to its origin which are documented
Here.
Moat Farm
This was originally on Darrow Green Road. A conversion of its barns survives as
Oak Lodge.
Mutts Farm
On Darrow Green Road.
Previously called Mill Farm, see above. Mr Mutt is listed as living there in the 1901 Census records.
N
Naughty Bridge
Crosses the Beck at the bottom of
Payne’s Hill Road.
Norwich Road
As in at least 75 other Norfolk villages, this road runs through the centre of Denton and leads, of course, towards our County Town.
O
The Old Dairy
On Darrow Green Road. Presumably the historic source of our local milk supply?
The Old King's Head
On Norwich Road. The last
Public House in the village. Converted to a private house in 1984
The Old Smithy
On Norwich Road next to Globe House.
Originally a vital part of the village economy.
P
Parr’s Farm
On Denton Road, transferred to Denton from Earsham in 2019.
Presumably once owned by the Parr family?
Payne’s Hill
One of the roads linking Denton and Alburgh. No passport required but proceed with caution.
Payne’s Hill Farm
Presumably once owned by the Payne family?
Pear Tree Cottage
On Trunch Hill, next to Sawers.
Pear Tree Farm
At Misery Corner at the junction of
Darrow Green Road and Manor Farm Road.
Pockthorpe Cottage
On Pockthorpe Lane
A bridleway off Chapel Hill Road. Origin unknown.
Post Office House
At Chapel Corner. Its Annex was previously the
Village Shop..
Q
?R
The Rectory
On Danacre Road, sharing its access with the Church. At least when he was resident there the Rector did not have to travel far to take services.
Rogerson’s Wood
The renamed Millenium Wood, planted to celebrate that great event.
The Roundhouse
At the junction of Low Road and Roundhouse Hill. One of Denton’s mysteries. It appears to be an old Tollhouse but Low Road, while formerly part of the main road between Bury St Edmunds and Great Yarmouth, was never a Tollroad.
On Roundhouse Hill.
S
The Saleece
On Middle Road.
Origin unknown.
Sawyers
Formerly Hill View, on Trunch Hill at the Junction with Middle Road..
Origin unknown.
School House
The former headteacher's residence next to the
Old School at the bottom of Trunch Hill.
Sidge’s Lane
A bridleway linking Whitgates Corner to the end of Middle Road. Presumably Mr Sidge owned property on either side?
It features prominently on the Jubillee Walks Page.
Skinners Meadow
A group of Affordable Housing on the Norwich Road built on land provided in 2017, at minimal cost, by the Skinner family.
Stonycroft
On Norwich Road next to Ashton's Autos. Erected on the site of a row of four, very primitive, cottages.
Origin possible related to the contents of the material excavated to create its foundations?
Street Farm
On Norwich Road. Unlike many Norfolk villages, Denton does not currently have a “Street” but perhaps it did when this building was erected?
T
Trunch Hill
Links Danacre Road and Norwich Road at Chapel Corner. A long way from Trunch, a village in North Norfolk.
It seems "trunch" is an old English word meaning a Stake or a Post. A search for its location is under way.
Trunch Road
On some maps the lower part of Trunch Hill bears this title, but this is ignored on the Electoral Register and Road Signs
Trunch House
An ancient House, previously called
Valley View, on the West side of lower Trunch Hill.
U
Uplands Farm
Off Norwich Road, origin unknown.
Upland Terrace
A row of former Council houses on
Norwich Road, opposite the entrance to Uplands Farm.
V
Vale Farm
In the valley of the
Beck, approached by a ford across it.
W
The Walk/s
Singular or plural, a bridleway connecting Chapel Hill Road to Norwich Road.
Walnut Tree Farm
On Manor Farm Road.
Wash Cottage
At the junction of Danacre Road and the A143, one of the properties moved from Earsham into Denton in 2019.
Wash Lane
The continuation of Darrow Green Road into Alburgh. The top of the
Wash, runs alongside.
The Watch House
On Trunch Hill. A former
Public House.
The name has several uses, including some military buildings.
Watts Hill
The short road linking Trunch Hill and Middle Road. Who was Mr Watt?
Well Corner
The junction of Norwich Road and Darrow Green Road.
The old well, suitably capped, is still there on the South East side, but hidden by vegetation.
Websdill Wood
On the by-way running West from the top of Norwich Road.
Technically in Bedingham, but only just - its Southern edge is on the parish boundary, it is used a lot by Denton dog-walkers.
Perhaps even more significant, the by-way forms part of the new Coast-to-Coast Pilgrimage Route, the
Via Beata.
Presumably a Mr Websdill once owned it?
Whitegate Corner
At the junction of Norwich Road and Sidges Lane. Origin obvious, as long as current gate painting is maintained.
Whitehouse Farm
On Denton Road, transferred to Denton from Earsham in 2019.
Wood Farm
The last house on the right at the top end of Norwich Road.
Its proximity to Websdill Wood, over the parish boundary in Bedingham, may explain its name.