The Norfolk Town of Dereham
A SHORT HISTORY
THE Norfolk town of Dereham is at the exact centre of Norfolk and is situated just off the main A47 road between the city of Norwich and the town of King's Lynn. It is about 15 miles from Norwich. In the 2011 census Dereham (or East Dereham as it is sometimes known) had a population of just under 19,000.
Dereham is in Breckland - one of a number of districts that make up the county of Norfolk. It is separate to the village of West Dereham which is 25 miles away.
It is likely that there was a settlement at Dereham in the Bronze Age and Neolithic axe heads and Bronze age flints have been found near the town. It is also likely that the town has been developed on a Roman Road with Roman pottery and furniture remains being found in local fields.
The name Dereham derives from a deer park in the area and originally there was a monastery founded by Saint Withburga in the 7th century. Nothing is left of this building. Many of the town's ancient buildings were destroyed in serious firs that took place in 1581 and 1659.
Fast forward a few centuries and Dereham suffered damage during a Zeppelin air raid during the First World War in September 1915. At the time the 5th Territorial Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment had its headquarters on the corner of Church Street and Quebec Street and was damaged.
THE Norfolk town of Dereham is at the exact centre of Norfolk and is situated just off the main A47 road between the city of Norwich and the town of King's Lynn. It is about 15 miles from Norwich. In the 2011 census Dereham (or East Dereham as it is sometimes known) had a population of just under 19,000.
Dereham is in Breckland - one of a number of districts that make up the county of Norfolk. It is separate to the village of West Dereham which is 25 miles away.
It is likely that there was a settlement at Dereham in the Bronze Age and Neolithic axe heads and Bronze age flints have been found near the town. It is also likely that the town has been developed on a Roman Road with Roman pottery and furniture remains being found in local fields.
The name Dereham derives from a deer park in the area and originally there was a monastery founded by Saint Withburga in the 7th century. Nothing is left of this building. Many of the town's ancient buildings were destroyed in serious firs that took place in 1581 and 1659.
Fast forward a few centuries and Dereham suffered damage during a Zeppelin air raid during the First World War in September 1915. At the time the 5th Territorial Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment had its headquarters on the corner of Church Street and Quebec Street and was damaged.
Dereham Memorials
Dereham has a number of town memorials dedicated to those who lost their lives in conflicts. The images below are of some of these memorials. Click on the photographs to enlarge them.
Dereham has a number of town memorials dedicated to those who lost their lives in conflicts. The images below are of some of these memorials. Click on the photographs to enlarge them.
A lasting memorial in Dereham was unveiled on Sunday, 4th December, 2011. The statue (featured in the top row) is based on an actual act of heroism by a Dereham man. The statue is about four feet in height on a plinth in the reception area of the town Memorial Hall. It is made of bronze with a Portland Stone base. There are no recognisable faces on the figures as the tribute was intended to represent all who carried the burdens of war on their shoulders. It was commissioned by Dereham Town Council and was sculpted by Neal French.
The photograph on the top left explains the thinking behind the memorial which is entitled "Courage" and reads as follows:
"During the renovation of the Memorial Hall in 2011 Dereham Town Council commissioned this statue as a tribute to the many servicemen and women from Dereham whose names appear on no other memorial: those who served and faced imminent death; whose acts of courage, heroism and self-sacrifice saved and inspired others; and who against all odds, survived.
"Neal French's compositions have a universal quality. The structure is based on an actual act of heroism by a Dereham man, transformed by the sculptor's style and skill into a symbol of all those acts of wartime courage that gave us the peace we enjoy today. We hope "Courage" will inspire you to remember them with gratitude and pride."
The photograph on the top left explains the thinking behind the memorial which is entitled "Courage" and reads as follows:
"During the renovation of the Memorial Hall in 2011 Dereham Town Council commissioned this statue as a tribute to the many servicemen and women from Dereham whose names appear on no other memorial: those who served and faced imminent death; whose acts of courage, heroism and self-sacrifice saved and inspired others; and who against all odds, survived.
"Neal French's compositions have a universal quality. The structure is based on an actual act of heroism by a Dereham man, transformed by the sculptor's style and skill into a symbol of all those acts of wartime courage that gave us the peace we enjoy today. We hope "Courage" will inspire you to remember them with gratitude and pride."
Bill O'Callaghan's Connections with Dereham
Bill O'Callaghan is an adopted son of Dereham, living most of his life in the town.
Bill was born in London but moved to Dereham around the age of six. He enlisted in the territorial army aged 16 in 1930 and joined the regular army two years later. In 1939 he went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force.
Bill's survival of the massacre of Le Paradis is documented throughout this web site as is his experiences as a prisoner-of-war ahead of returning to Dereham in 1945. He married his fiancee Edith (nee Warren) on July 14th, 1945, and, in early 1946, was discharged from the Forces and began working for Dereham company Hobbies.
Bill and Edith's children Dennis and Heather were both born in Dereham in 1946 and 1953 respectively.
Bill went on to work for Metamec and Crane Fruehauf in Dereham. He died in West Norwich Hospital in 1975, aged just 61.
Bill was subsequently honoured when a road in Dereham was named after him. Bill O'Callaghan Place is at the entrance to Becclesgate and the photograph below shows Bill's son Dennis by the sign .
Bill O'Callaghan is an adopted son of Dereham, living most of his life in the town.
Bill was born in London but moved to Dereham around the age of six. He enlisted in the territorial army aged 16 in 1930 and joined the regular army two years later. In 1939 he went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force.
Bill's survival of the massacre of Le Paradis is documented throughout this web site as is his experiences as a prisoner-of-war ahead of returning to Dereham in 1945. He married his fiancee Edith (nee Warren) on July 14th, 1945, and, in early 1946, was discharged from the Forces and began working for Dereham company Hobbies.
Bill and Edith's children Dennis and Heather were both born in Dereham in 1946 and 1953 respectively.
Bill went on to work for Metamec and Crane Fruehauf in Dereham. He died in West Norwich Hospital in 1975, aged just 61.
Bill was subsequently honoured when a road in Dereham was named after him. Bill O'Callaghan Place is at the entrance to Becclesgate and the photograph below shows Bill's son Dennis by the sign .
