Ranworth

Ranworth is a lovely Broadland village, actually fronting Malthouse Broad (so called because of the old malt houses near the pub) and accessed by a dyke from the River Bure. Ranworth Broad (to the west) is closed to boats as it is a nature reserve and divided from Malthouse Broad by a thick bank. Malthouse Broad is a boating paradise with all style, shape and size of boat, and their crew can often be found having a pint of local beer in the pub! Ranworth Broad is said to be haunted by a 12th century monk that is often seen rowing his boat out onto the Broad early in the morning mist. The village itself is dominated by the church dating back to 1370 and is known as the Cathedral of the Broads. It has some splendid old woodwork, including a painted rood-screen, one of the finest in the country and there is a glorious view from the top of the church tower. An ancient book of Psalms is on display in the church - the Ranworth Antiphoner, dating from the 1400's. Ranworth also contains a nature reserve with a visitors centre, a wildlife information office and a shop (most of these operate seasonal opening times). There is a lovely short walk out of the village and across to South Walsham Broad.

View a detailed tourist information map of the Norfolk Broads

We start our tour of Ranworth at the village staithe. Ranworth Staithe actually fronts Malthouse Broad; named after nearby malt houses. It is popular with boating enthusiasts and there is overnight mooring for a few boats (stern on); there is also a seasonal information centre, operated by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, and a shop. A ferry service from the staithe take visitors to the Wildlife Centre (tickets are available from the information centre).

All around Ranworth there are great waterside views ... including glimpses of the Broad through the trees. The village contains more than its fair share of pretty thatched cottages and all this all makes Ranworth an ideal place to visit if you enjoy photography or painting!

A pretty thatched cottage in Ranworth

The tower of St. Helens church dominates the Ranworth skyline and has served the villagers since 1390. It is well worth tackling the ladders inside the church tower and climb to the top for the wonderful views over the landscape. The church bears the nickname the Cathedral of the Broads and it is easy to understand why when from its heights on clear days you can see five Norfolk Broads. The church also has a fine example of a medieval painted rood screen and some lovely stained glass. Next to the church is a Visitors Centre in a converted old coach house, which houses a tea room and a display of photographs of East Anglican churches.

Before we leave Ranworth church, head over to the cabinet just to the side of the main door; usually it has a cloth protecting its ancient contents - the Ranworth Antiphoner. In medieval times, services were held 7 times a day and these would consist of prayers said or sung from a book of psalms. Lines were read alternately, ‘antiphonally’, between the priest and the choir. Ranworth Church still has one of its two medieval Latin antiphoners; the other earlier and smaller one is in the British Library. The book dates from the 1400s and has 285 vellum (animal skin) pages illustrated with gleaming colour pictures and gold leaf edging. Amazingly this book was lost for 300 years, only to re-appear in a private collection and offered for sale back to the church in 1912, where it has rightfully been displayed ever since.

Ranworth is said to be haunted by the friendly ghost of a monk. He appears at dawn, rowing a small boat across the broad with a little dog standing in the bow. Legend says that the brothers of nearby St. Benet’s Abbey undertook the work of restoring the rood screen of the church of St. Helens at Ranworth. So early each morning a monk would row his boat across the broad from the Abbey to the church in order to carry out the restoration work.  At the end of the day the monk would return by the same route. One evening returning to the Abbey, the monk found to his horror that his fellow monks had been murdered, by the Kings troops as part of the dissolution of the monasteries, ordered by Henry VIII. Devastated, he remained in the ruins of his beloved Abbey living like a hermit. When he died the local residents buried him in the churchyard of St. Helens, but he still returns to his work at Ranworth Church, accompanied by his little dog.

Near the church is a large nature reserve, which winds its way through woodland to a Norfolk Wildlife Conservation Centre; a floating thatched building right on the edge of the Broad which has information about the Broads and their history. Inside, the centre has plenty of things to see and do, such as models of local scenes depicting peat digging, thatching and duck shooting. There are also views out through purpose built windows with binoculars and telescopes on the upper windows for bird watching. The centre also has a shop and a ferry boat operates between the centre and Ranworth main staithe (seasonal).

SUGGESTED WALK: Ranworth and South Walsham Broad (2 miles approximately)

For an enjoyable short walk, take the track that leads away from Ranworth village staithe heading East. This track leads out of the village along the edge of the Broad and turns into a path that follows the edge of South Walsham Broad, before coming out on the road back into Ranworth.

You may also like to visit the nearby Fairhaven Woodland and Water Gardens, which comprises of 53 hectares (131 acres) of beautiful ancient woodland, water gardens and a private broad at South Walsham.

Ranworth summary of what to SEE and DO

Antiphoner

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