THE HISTORIC VILLAGE OF TRUNCH, NORTH NORFOLK
The North Norfolk historic village of Trunch lies two miles from the East coast, close to the coastal resort of Mundesley. The nearest town inland is North Walsham, and the historic and fine city of Norwich is around 17 miles south of Trunch. The picturesque Trunch village centre features the medieval Church of St Botolph (see the new guidebook) and typical old Norfolk flintstone houses within a designated conservation area. Our neighbour villages are Swafield, Bradfield, Gimingham and Knapton (1 mile). Since 2012 Trunch church of St Botolph is a centre of Trunch, Swafield and Bradfield parish.
The name “Trunch” is older than written records. The derivation is possibly from a Celtic word meaning “a wood on a promontory”, which the topography would support. This would suggest a Romano-Celtic origin.
The village economy has always been based on agriculture and the population has never been large. The current level is double that in 1939. In mediaeval times Norfolk was the richest county in England, its wealth derived from wool. Many great churches were built in Norfolk in the 14th and 15th centuries, including that of Trunch. Some of the farmhouses and buildings of the village are also very old.
The village population is currently around 800, of whom almost sixty percent are of pensionable age. The layout of the village is unusual and interesting in that the farmhouses and farmyards are for the most part together cheek by jowl, whereas their fields are spread in a discontinuous patchwork across the surrounding countryside.
A post-war house-building expansion took place to the south and west of the older settlement, so Trunch today is a juxtaposition of ancient and modern, with the older buildings being the farmhouses and manorial buildings plus a cluster of smaller domestic properties around the church. Today, many of the remaining picturesque cottages in the centre of the village are modernised second homes, standing empty much of the year.
Trunch is surrounded by the North Norfolk protected area of outstanding natural beauty, and there are many public footpaths and quiet lanes, very inviting for (dog) walkers, bird watchers and conservationists.
Trunch offers a lot to residents and visitors. The village shop Corner Store also hosts a post office. You can spend a nice evening at the Crown Inn, Trunch village pub, which offers excellent beers and nice food. Alternatively, the Social Club also offers drinks and often Live Music.
Lots of exciting special events like the monthly concerts in St Botolph’s church, the annual Trunch Open Gardens & Scarecrow Festival, or the unique Trunchonbury Music Festival attract many visitors, and regular activities such as meetings of Trunch Friends or the Trunch Art Group take place in the spacious and welcoming Trunch Village Hall.
Trunch Village Society has various groups and activities under its umbrella, such as the Composting Group, the Garden Society , the Beekeeping Group and the Knitting & Stitching Group, and organises the annual Trunch Open Gardens & Scarecrow Festival.