Docking, Norfolk

Docking is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk and contains the highest point in North West Norfolk. It covers an area of 25.79 km2 and had a population of 1,150 in 469 households at the 2001 census, rising to 1,200 at the 2011 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Docking is close to the coastal resorts of Hunstanton, Heacham and Brancaster. Other surrounding villages include Bircham, Bircham Newton, Ringstead, Sedgeford, Stanhoe, Syderstone, and Burnham Market.

The small inland village of Docking can trace its origin back to Roman times. In the past it used to be known as Dry Docking as it had no water supply of its own. In the 1760s a well was sunk some 230 feet down which provided domestic water for the village at a farthing per bucket. The use of this well continued until 1936 when water was eventually piped into the village.

Governance
An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward had a population of 1,937 at the 2011 Census.



The village church is St Mary the Virgin which is mostly 14th and 15th century in date with Victorian restorations. There is currently a village archaeological project to locate the site of a lost priory believed to have been in the area during the 13th and 14th century.

RAF Docking
RAF Docking was a former Royal Air Force airfield open from 1940 until 1958. During the war it was a satellite airfield of RAF Coastal Command and home to several Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian AIr Force squadrons. Aircraft carried out Coastal Command patrol duties and meteorological flights. RAF Bircham Newton and RAF Sculthorpe were also nearby but are also now inactive. Bircham Newton now houses the Construction Industry Training Board.

Transport
Until 1952 the village had its own Docking railway station, on the line between King's Lynn and Wells. It was closed along with the rest of line as part of cutbacks of Britain's railways.

Notable residents

 * Saint Henry Walpole, Jesuit priest and martyr, born in Docking in 1558.
 * Rev. George Smith, defender of Rorke's Drift during the 1879 Zulu War, born in Docking in 1845.
 * Nick Aldis, Professional wrestler and 2008 Gladiator on the UK version of the show.