Riddlesworth

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This article is about the parish. For the race, see Riddlesworth Stakes. For the racehorse, see Riddlesworth (horse).

Riddlesworth
School Church - geograph.org.uk - 242864.jpg
St Peter's Church at Riddlesworth Hall School
Riddlesworth is located in Norfolk
Riddlesworth
Riddlesworth
Location within Norfolk
Area8.26 km2 (3.19 sq mi)
Population147 
• Density18/km2 (47/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTL966819
Civil parish
  • Riddlesworth
District
  • Breckland
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDISS
Postcode districtIP22
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°24′02″N 0°53′22″E / 52.40055°N 0.88951°E / 52.40055; 0.88951Coordinates: 52°24′02″N 0°53′22″E / 52.40055°N 0.88951°E / 52.40055; 0.88951

Riddlesworth is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It covers an area of 8.26 km2 (3.19 sq mi) and had a population of 147 in 48 households at the 2001 census.[1] For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland.

Riddlesworth Polish Camp and memorial.

During the Second World War, part of Riddlesworth Park was given over to a British Army camp for British troops. In 1946 this camp was redesignated as one of the nearly 150 Polish resettlement camps. These camps were set up under the 1947 Polish Resettlement Act to receive the nearly 250,000 Polish troops and displaced Poles stationed all over Europe at the end of the war.[2] Riddlesworth Camp was one of five set up in Norfolk to receive 4,500 troops and housed the 3rd Heavy Machine Gun Battalion of the 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division. This unit had fought through Italy at all the major battles against German forces and had distinguished itself at the Battle of Monte Cassino in May 1944. The majority of the Polish troops from this camp decided to stay in England after 1948 and were gradually found jobs in the locality and made new lives for themselves never to return home to Poland.[citation needed]

The Ambassador for The Republic of Poland Mr Witold Sobkow at the unveiling in April 2016.
The Ambassador for The Republic of Poland Mr Witold Sobkow and guests at the unveiling in April 2016.
Mr robert Clegg and Mr Philip Bujak.
Mr Robert Clegg Chairman of Riddlesworth Parish Council and Mr Philip Bujak who led the Memorial project.
The memorial unveiled April 2016
The memorial unveiled April 2016

In 2017, a permanent memorial to the Division was unveiled by the Polish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr Witold Sobkow. The memorial was designed and built by local people with the support of the Parish Council. The project was led by Mr Philip Bujak whose father, having served with the Division in Italy, came to Riddlesworth in 1946.

Mr alfred Zelke the last surviving soldier from Riddlesworth camp.
Mr Alfred Zelke the last surviving Polish soldier from Riddlesworth camp.

Riddlesworth Hall School

It is home to the Riddlesworth Hall School, a listed Grade II former country house, built in 1792 and subsequently reconverted into a private school, where Diana, Princess of Wales was a pupil.[3] Set in large grounds, the school was acquired by the Confucius International Education Group in 2015 and caters for children from the age of 7.

Cottages

Notes

Polish troops from 3rd Carpathian Division arrive at Brandon in 1947.
Alfred Zelke, last survivor of the Polish Camp at Riddlesworth.
Alfred Zelke, last survivor of the Polish Camp at Riddlesworth.

References[]

  1. ^ Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  2. ^ Polish Resettlement Camps in the UK
  3. ^ British Listed Buildings: Riddlesworth Hall School
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