HISTORY
WEASENHAM IN TIMES PAST
Historic records show settlers in this area going back more than 3000 years. The most convincing evidence of population during the mid/late Bronze Age is the existence at least 15 barrows (burial mounds) in the areas known as the Weasenham Plantation and the Lyngs. These are said to be some of the finest preserved barrows in Norfolk and following an excavation of one, it was dated to around 1389 BC. There are four different types of barrow, namely bowl, bell, saucer and disc types.
Later the Romans settled in this area. A Roman villa was excavated near the Weasenham/ Massingham boundary. Numerous Roman artefacts and medieval finds have been discovered in the fields around Weasenham and Rougham by Mr. Albert Hooks, a farm worker born in Rougham and educated at Weasenham School; and latterly by Weasenham-born local historian, Mr Glynn Burrows.
There are two schools of thought as to the derivation of ‘Weasenham’. One is from the Old English meaning ‘Wissa’s homestead’ and the other is from Anglo Saxon, ‘waes’ meaning water or wet soil and ‘ham’ meaning dwelling or dwellings. In the time of Edward I (1272-1307) the name was spelt ‘Weseham’, but within some fifty years it had evolved to ‘Wesenham’.
The Domesday Book of 1086 records both the villages with details of the population, land ownership and productive resources, most of which were owned by William de Warenne. The parishes of All Saints and St Peter have been united for ecclesiastical purposes since the earliest records in the 12th century; they are, however, separate civil parishes.
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