Hethersett Races
For many years Hethersett was famed for its regular races which attracted large crowds. Special trains ran from both Norwich and Fakenham and the London train stopped at Hethersett Station which was close to the racecourse.
The first recorded race meeting in the village may have taken place on 9th March 1875 and was organised by the 19th and 20th Hussars Regiment. This is not a definite date and races could have taken place earlier. Racing stopped for a time but then recommenced in 1904 under the auspices of the Norwich Hunt. These meetings continued until the outbreak of World War One.
The course was over 120 acres and was sold in 1927 to a Mr R. J. Read and a Hethersett Race Committee was set up to run the events. Their first meeting was on Thursday 8th March, 1928. The races attracted large fields and were well supported by local people. The final meeting before the Second World War intervened took place on Thursday 4th May, 1939. After the war the course was used by Norwich Staghounds for point to point races between 1953 and 1963 and meetings finally ceased in 1970.
It is likely that part of the A11 Dual carriageway is on land that would have been part of the racecourse. In the early days of racing it is likely that there was a wooden grandstand.
The first recorded race meeting in the village may have taken place on 9th March 1875 and was organised by the 19th and 20th Hussars Regiment. This is not a definite date and races could have taken place earlier. Racing stopped for a time but then recommenced in 1904 under the auspices of the Norwich Hunt. These meetings continued until the outbreak of World War One.
The course was over 120 acres and was sold in 1927 to a Mr R. J. Read and a Hethersett Race Committee was set up to run the events. Their first meeting was on Thursday 8th March, 1928. The races attracted large fields and were well supported by local people. The final meeting before the Second World War intervened took place on Thursday 4th May, 1939. After the war the course was used by Norwich Staghounds for point to point races between 1953 and 1963 and meetings finally ceased in 1970.
It is likely that part of the A11 Dual carriageway is on land that would have been part of the racecourse. In the early days of racing it is likely that there was a wooden grandstand.