Local guide

About Costessey

Costessey is a town and civil parish in South Norfolk, around four miles north west of Norwich. It includes Old Costessey, New Costessey and the residential area of Queen's Hills, and forms part of the wider Norwich urban area.

Place and landscape

The parish sits around the valleys of the River Wensum and River Tud. Norfolk Heritage Explorer describes Old Costessey as a more linear settlement following the River Wensum, while New Costessey occupies the south-eastern part of the parish. The area also includes open land, woodland pockets, the Longwater area, the A47 corridor and nearby Royal Norfolk Showground.

History

Archaeological records point to activity in Costessey from prehistory onwards, including flint finds and evidence of farming communities in later prehistoric and Roman periods. The name is commonly linked with Anglo-Saxon settlement, and the village appears in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Costessey Hall and local heritage

Costessey Hall is one of the best-known historic landmarks associated with the area. A Tudor hall was begun in the 16th century, later expanded in elaborate Tudor style, and eventually fell into ruin after the estate changed use in the 20th century. The remaining tower and the hall's outline still shape local memory, including the village sign.

Costessey today

Modern Costessey combines older village areas, suburban neighbourhoods, schools, churches, green spaces, community facilities, shops and services. Wikipedia lists the parish area as 12.39 square kilometres and gives a 2011 population of 12,463, although this figure is now likely far higher due to the newly built residential areas.