History of the village

The village gets its name from two sources: 1. The potteries that used to operate in the area (evidence of the area being used for pottery dates as far back as Roman times) 2. The Heigham part (pronounced locally as ‘Ham’) which comes from a mixture of homestead and hedge village.

As the hiring of boats to tourists became popular in the early 20th century, the village became one of the major hubs for visiting the Broads.

The iconic image of of the village is the famous medieval bridge over the river Thurne. The bridge dates back to 1385 and is a low-arched structure with a clearance of only 6’6” feet at its highest point.

Many of the larger hire boats cannot navigate it and even smaller cruisers need the bridge pilots to get safely through it. A source of entertainment for the locals both young and old for many a year has been watching  novices attempt to get their boats through the narrow opening.

Standing on the brow of the bridge you get good views down the river Thurne.

Amenities in the village

Near the bridge you will find Latham’s discount superstore, as well as a fishing tackle shop and gift shop.

Further into the village, on Bridge Road, you will find the Post Office and Premier stores The store sells a wide variety of items including food & drink, basic medicines and personal care products, newspapers, magazines and a small range of stationery supplies. You can find the store’s details and check opening times here (Postcode is NR29 5JB)

Across the A149 (on the more residential side of the village) you can find the village hall with its large car park, bowling green and children’s playground.

Further on, you can find the parish church of St Nicholas which dates to the 12th century.

Eating out in the village

The village is served by two pubs and several cafes

  • Norada Grill and Tavern (eat, drink, and sit by the river watching the boats go by) and
  • The Falgate Inn (further into the village and dating from the 1770’s. They serve food and drink and have a large garden and outdoor patio)
  • Bridge Stones Café
  • Flour and Bean
  • Bangers and beverages

Getting back to nature

Within the parish you have the Ludham/Potter Heigham Marshes which are part of a 251-acre nature reserve including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Also Higham Holmes nature reserve which stretches over 500 Acres and is part of the extensive Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes SSSI. It includes the neighbouring Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere which are classed as part of the Broads Special Area of Conservation

The Weavers Way passes through Potter Heigham and is a good place for a riverside walk. Please see https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/out-and-about-in-norfolk/norfolk-trails for more details of local walking trails

Fishing

The website https://fishthebroads.com/spots.php lists local fishing spots.In the local river you will find bream, perch, eels and roach. The fishing season on the Broads runs from the 16th June to the 14th March the following year.

If you’re planning to go fishing on the Norfolk Broads, you’ll need to pick up a licence from the Post Office first (The Post Office is handily situated within the Premier Stores at the top of Mill Road). Please make sure you get yours before you start fishing, as fishing without a licence is an offence for which you can be fined up to £2,500.

Cycling

The yearly Tour de Broads comes through the village and there are many picturesque and relaxing routes available. Please see https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/out-and-about-in-norfolk/norfolk-trails/cycle-routes for further route ideas.