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184:
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31:
621:
426:
391:
336:
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Several concrete public works of art can be seen along the way, as a constant reminder of the line's connection with the concrete industry and of its last days as a freight line, carrying concrete products. Also on view are hand crafted benches and places to rest; many of these memorials are to
632:
Concrete sculpture at
Lenwade inscribed with the words: "Figure in a landscape 7¾ miles from Reepham with disused railway and gravel pits contemplating the history of industry and their back turned on the old concrete works, which once produced beams for motorway bridges but now crushes
641:
The route is marked by steel benches, fabricated from flat-bottomed rail at intervals of 1 mile starting from the site of
Norwich City station. Each bench is to a different design, often with the rail twisted or bent, but always with a flat length at sitting height.
234:
network. It is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Its total length is 24.6 miles (39.5 km). It has a mixture of surfaces: tarmac, compacted gravel and earth. The name of the route originates from the chief engineer and manager of the
493:, so that trains were not obstructed and to lessen the risk of fire. When the railway closed, such management ceased and a wide variety of plants colonised the track; this has made it the diverse habitat for wildlife that it is today.
367:. The tree-lined River Wensum can be seen to the east, as the path passes through the open country side of the Wensum Valley. The river is crossed by means of an A-frame bridge (there are only three in Norfolk), before arriving at
612:, which are colonising many of the concrete structures and bridges along the track. The way is an important area for insects, birds and small mammals because of the variety of wild plants that are found.
122:
78:
727:
489:
While the railway line was in use, trackside vegetation would have been partly controlled. The vegetation would have been cut regularly or sprayed with
291:. The lines were never profitable. Freight services were largely based on farm products and the line closed to passenger traffic in 1959.
449:, where the preserved station and engineering shed can be found. Following an easterly course, the path passes close by to the village of
906:
819:
375:
is now an industrial estate; the path follows a gravel path before crossing a minor road and entering a deep cutting to cross the busy
829:
236:
355:. Travelling in a northerly direction from the junction of Marlpit Lane and Hellesdon Road, through the site of the former
280:
658:
Apart from the main trailheads at
Norwich and Aylsham, the trail can be accessed at various points throughout its length.
568:
To the north of
Drayton, the way passes over a variety of soil types. On the chalky soils, typical plants found are the
857:
446:
438:
264:
348:
268:
911:
398:
The tranquil path passes through extensive mixed woodland of the
Mileplain plantation to cross the Wensum below
901:
708:
284:
260:
321:
252:
411:
240:
649:
Steel zip sculpture/bench, located 1 mile north of the site of
Norwich City station on Marriott's Way.
703:
356:
683:
414:
can be viewed; the way can be accessed close to a car park and picnic area. After passing through
474:
434:
372:
305:
585:
227:
824:
276:
669:
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between
Hellesdon and Drayton, over 100 species of vegetation have been recorded including
403:
304:
network. Its construction was to maintain the important movement of concrete products from
8:
546:
534:
844:
791:
834:
506:
402:. To the east of the way, the circular Winch's Way can be accessed which links to the
445:. The way carries on to Themelthorpe and follows the curve to the important stop of
896:
549:. Closer to the river, the soil becomes heavier and wetter and vegetation includes
478:
450:
442:
368:
272:
188:
839:
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384:
36:
779:
676:
689:
558:
462:
267:, which was taken over by the M&GNJR in 1893 as part of a line that ran to
422:
can be seen to the west of the way and water filled gravel pits to the east.
890:
872:
859:
542:
530:
441:. The (NCN) leaves Marriott's Way to follow a short cut along quiet lanes to
344:
138:
124:
94:
80:
316:
At
Norwich, the path begins to the north of the Barn Road and Barker Street
538:
510:
329:
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223:
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After crossing a footbridge, the industrial landscape gives way to the
231:
203:
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which forms a boundary with the 12 acres (4.9 ha) Train Wood.
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commons. After reaching a country lane, the privately-owned former
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40:
30:
620:
597:
470:
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219:
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59:
275:. The Themelthorpe to Aylsham line was completed in 1893 by the
609:
562:
433:
Crossing the Wensum for the last time, and close to the former
251:
The path uses the trackbeds of two former railway lines: from
605:
601:
573:
550:
526:
415:
263:. The Themelthorpe to Norwich line was built in 1882 by the
628:
16:
Disused railway, now bridleway, between
Norwich and Aylsham
849:
755:
522:
387:, a large housing estate built in the late 20th century.
230:(NCN) (Route 1) and the red route of Norwich's Pedalways
308:; once production ceased in 1985, the line was closed.
351:
before crossing the Wensum over the A frame bridge at
320:
roundabout; much of this area was part of the former
888:
608:are the more dominant species. Also of note are
501:In the Wensum Valley, immediately above the
756:"Friends of Trainwood & Marriott's Way"
328:, follows approximately the course of the
300:, believed to be the sharpest bend on the
294:In 1960, the two lines were joined by the
661:
533:. Many wild flowers can be found such as
850:Norwich and Norfolk Naturalists' Society
644:
627:
619:
469:before reaching the end of the trail at
437:which is now privately owned, and on to
424:
389:
334:
279:to provide a link to its other lines at
271:; this line gave a through route to the
237:Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
182:
324:. The path, which is also known as the
889:
615:
418:woods, the large industrial estate of
243:, who held the position for 41 years.
738:
736:
576:and chalk grassland species such as
13:
907:Long-distance footpaths in England
733:
246:
14:
923:
813:
461:. To the north, the way links to
265:Lynn and Fakenham Railway Company
682:
668:
653:
359:, the way soon crosses the tiny
29:
704:Official Norfolk Trails website
481:, a walking and cycling route.
797:
785:
773:
748:
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638:cyclists and other way users.
394:Bridge at Mileplain plantation
1:
714:
709:Recreational walks in Norfolk
322:Norwich City railway station
7:
840:Peter Boggis-Marriott's Way
697:
412:Attlebridge railway station
187:The way in summer close to
150:Aylsham (Aylsham trailhead)
106:Norwich (Norwich trailhead)
51:39.5 km (24.5 mi)
10:
928:
804:Marriott's Way information
782:Retrieved 21 November 2008
745:Retrieved 21 November 2008
484:
806:Retrieved 31 January 2023
357:Hellesdon railway station
259:and from Themelthorpe to
173:
162:
66:
55:
47:
28:
23:
439:Whitwell railway station
311:
794:Retrieved 27 April 2015
730:Retrieved 27 April 2015
475:Aylsham railway station
473:; directly opposite is
447:Reepham railway station
435:Lenwade railway station
373:Drayton railway station
349:Sweetbriar Road Meadows
306:Lenwade railway station
226:. It forms part of the
912:Rail trails in England
820:Norfolk County Council
662:Marriott's Way gallery
650:
634:
625:
430:
395:
340:
228:National Cycle Network
191:
648:
631:
623:
596:. On the sandy soils
457:and then crosses the
428:
393:
338:
277:Great Eastern Railway
186:
902:Footpaths in Norfolk
39:village green, near
869: /
830:Marriot's Way guide
675:Concrete mile-post
616:Public works of art
586:bird's-foot-trefoil
214:, England, between
134: /
90: /
873:52.6626°N 1.2297°E
651:
635:
626:
431:
396:
341:
339:The A Frame bridge
297:Themelthorpe Curve
192:
139:52.7909°N 1.2541°E
95:52.6357°N 1.2873°E
728:Norwich pedalways
383:. To the west is
181:
180:
166:Hiking, cycling,
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780:'A Frame bridge'
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686:
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547:meadow saxifrage
535:shepherd's purse
479:Bure Valley Path
269:Melton Constable
241:William Marriott
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878:52.6626; 1.2297
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429:Sign at Lenwade
385:Thorpe Marriott
371:. The original
318:Inner Ring Road
314:
249:
247:Railway history
149:
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144:52.7909; 1.2541
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100:52.6357; 1.2873
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37:Thorpe Marriott
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814:External links
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772:
747:
743:Marriott's Way
732:
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690:Level crossing
688:
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617:
614:
559:marsh marigold
486:
483:
463:Blickling Hall
313:
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248:
245:
239:(M&GNJR),
196:Marriott's Way
179:
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160:
159:
70:
64:
63:
57:
53:
52:
49:
45:
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34:
26:
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24:Marriott's Way
15:
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654:Public access
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543:white campion
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345:water-meadows
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285:County School
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835:Horse riding
799:
787:
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763:. Retrieved
759:
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723:
657:
640:
636:
624:Wooden bench
567:
539:ox-eye daisy
511:guelder rose
500:
496:
495:
488:
432:
397:
342:
330:River Wensum
326:Railway Path
325:
315:
302:British Rail
296:
293:
289:North Elmham
257:Themelthorpe
250:
224:Themelthorpe
195:
193:
168:horse-riding
18:
876: /
845:Winch's Way
792:Winch's Way
578:wild carrot
503:flood plain
467:Weavers Way
404:Swannington
400:Attlebridge
379:, close to
287:, close to
142: /
98: /
35:The way at
891:Categories
861:52°39′45″N
715:References
692:at Lenwade
519:blackthorn
491:herbicides
459:B1149 road
455:B1145 road
377:A1067 road
232:cycle path
204:cycle-path
148: (
126:52°47′27″N
104: (
82:52°38′09″N
68:Trailheads
864:1°13′47″E
760:Trainwood
582:self heal
515:wild rose
408:Alderford
365:Costessey
361:River Tud
353:Hellesdon
210:in north
208:bridleway
129:1°15′15″E
85:1°17′14″E
62:, England
825:Sustrans
698:See also
590:knapweed
570:sycamore
521:, scrub
507:hawthorn
381:Taverham
273:Midlands
200:footpath
177:All year
56:Location
41:Taverham
897:Norwich
765:1 April
610:lichens
598:bracken
594:mullein
485:Ecology
471:Aylsham
453:on the
451:Cawston
443:Reepham
420:Lenwade
369:Drayton
347:of the
281:Wroxham
261:Aylsham
253:Norwich
220:Aylsham
216:Norwich
212:Norfolk
189:Cawston
117:Aylsham
73:Norwich
60:Norfolk
563:willow
174:Season
48:Length
633:cars"
606:gorse
602:birch
574:birch
555:elder
551:alder
531:broom
527:gorse
497:Today
416:birch
312:Route
198:is a
767:2018
604:and
592:and
561:and
545:and
529:and
477:and
465:via
406:and
283:and
222:via
218:and
206:and
194:The
523:oak
363:at
255:to
163:Use
893::
758:.
735:^
600:,
588:,
584:,
580:,
572:,
565:.
557:,
553:,
541:,
537:,
525:,
517:,
513:,
509:,
202:,
769:.
152:)
108:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
