Carbrooke is a small agricultural village in Norfolk, with a surprising & fascinating history, with influences through the centuries from around the world.
This photo shows Newtons shop – General stores and Draper, with the White Hart Pub behind.
Carbrooke was a self-sufficient village, and through the years has had shops and tradesmen to serve the community. Watton the closest market town, is just a 30 minute walk should anything more substantial be required, but it is difficult to see what that might be when Carbrooke could boast a Mill, Pubs, Post Office, Butcher, Baker, Thatcher, Blacksmith and Wheelwright, a Constable, also Tailor, Bricklayer, Plasterer, and Carpenter. In the early 1900’s there was even a hairdresser and fried fish shop!
With the passing of the years most of these trades have left the main village, but we have a supermarket, takeaway, and charity shop within the parish on the Norwich Road. Many tradesmen still live in Carbrooke, and may operate a business from home, or travel further afield to work.
Mills
There have been a number of Mills in Carbrooke over the years, a necessity in keeping the population fed, and making use of the simple power supplies: – wind and water. This link leads to more information and history about Carbrooke mills.
Sand and Gravel has been extracted from the gravel pits between Summer Lane and Mill Lane for many years, originally by Minns an old Carbrooke family, now 4LeafAggregates and Frimstone /Mick George It was used for road building and repair and building hoggin, also known as ‘marl’, and the ‘marl pit’.
Carbrooke Pubs
There were 4 pubs in Carbrooke, follow this link for more information about them, and Norfolk Pub History website which includes Carbrooke Pubs www.norfolkpubs.co.uk
Last updated 10.09.20