The annual Worstead Festival held in this compact Norfolk village is fast approaching its half centenary. For a weekend in July this small community of around a hundred souls plays host to live entertainment, exhibitions and over one hundred and fifty stalls, threaded throughout the village.  

The name Worstead is more commonly associated with a type of cloth which was woven in the village during the middle ages by Flemish weavers who migrated to England during the reign of Edward II, resulting in the early fourteenth century as Worstead being listed as the 19th wealthiest town in Norfolk. Nowadays old weavers houses shelter in the shadow of its truly huge church, denoting the prosperity that this village once had. 

Inside the church are a number of reminders to Worsteads past weaving industry,  brasses on the floor of the church tell the story of Worstead weavers like Tom Watt who died on 16th August 1506. On the outskirts of a town is Worstead Station whose line runs between the seaside town of Sheringham and the historic city of Norwich.

For a good range of shops there is the market-town of North Walsham with its large supermarket and local shops and facilities including a ten-pin bowling and swimming pool, also accessible by train from Worstead. 

Have a look at the wonderful hammerbeam roof inside the church of St. Mary.

William Paston 1378-1444 wrote to his cousin Robert ' I shall make my doublet all Worstead, for the glory of Norfolk'.