1920s - 1950s
How CPRE Norfolk was Formed
The Campaign to Protect Rural England was founded in London by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in 1926 and soon became a national body of recognised influence. County branches soon started to appear to support CPRE's work at a local level and on November 29th, 1933 a county meeting was held at The Stuart Hall to form the Norfolk branch. In the 1930's the branch worked on problems with advertising hoardings, litter and the disappearance of hedgerows in rural areas. The abandonment of old cottages and barns was also reported, as well as road widening and tree felling along previously quiet country lanes. The branch also drafted a paper to guide the reconditioning of timber framed and clay lumped cottages. By 1939, 506 members had been recruited, each paying a subscription of 2s.6d (approximately 10p).
Post-War Years
After the war, the branch was reactivated and first began to influence the design and setting of local authority housing. The branch actively supported rural housing schemes such as the Blakeney Neighbourhood Housing Society which bought and repaired vacant cottages for re-let to local villagers. By the 1950s, population drift to the towns and increasing size of farm holdings meant that there were hundreds of farm cottages left abandoned and uninhabitable. The branch spoke of 'dying villages' and of concern for Norfolk's legacy of outstanding medieval churches, many of which were now underused and in need of proper maintenance.
Campaigning for the Broads National Park
Better protection of the Norfolk Broads was also on the agenda and there were calls to designate the Broads as a National Park. An expansion of the tourist industry had not only threatened the tranquillity of the Broads but also its very ecology and our members were involved in discussion over protection of this very valuable area. The branch also supported a programme to rescue many of the derelict wind and water mills across the county.
Links and Further Information
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