Living and Working in Hethersett 

Hethersett is a large village in the county of Norfolk, and offers country living with a close-knit community spirit, whilst being close to the metropolitan city of Norwich, providing the perfect balance between work and life for you and your family.

Considering a role at Hethersett Academy and thinking about living in the town or its surrounding areas? Here’s a little insight into what you can expect…

History 

The earliest description of Hethersett is noted in the Domesday Book account of 1086. Although the name ‘Hethersett’ is of Saxon origins, there is evidence to suggest that earlier settlements existed, including the discovery of Roman pottery, coins, and brooches found in the area.

Reminders of the village's heritage include its medieval church, St Remigius Parish Church, built of flints and local field stones dating mainly to the 14th century and restored in 1874, and Hethersett Old Hall, built in red brick in the late 18th-century and used as a school until 2019. 

Kett's Oak, an ancient oak tree is also located in Hethersett and is one of the 50 Great British Trees. This is considered to be the meeting place of Robert Kett and his followers in 1549 in what was to become Kett's Rebellion.

The village has won many awards over the years, particularly for its contribution to sports, including Active Norfolk Sports Village of the Year and Active Norfolk Sports Champion of Champions in 2011 and a London 2012 Olympics Inspire Award for outstanding contribution in support of the games. In 2013 Hethersett became the first village or town in the UK to receive a Prime Minister's Big Society Award for its outstanding contribution to the Olympic legacy and sport and fitness. 

Hethersett was also named Eastern Daily Press Pride in Norfolk Community of the Year for 2012 for villages and towns with populations over 5,000. The judges praised the village for its outstanding community spirit and can-do attitude. The village won the same award in 2006. 

The nearby city of Norwich is steeped in history, from its cobblestone streets and ancient alleyways [Elm Hill, Timber Hill, Tombland], beautiful heritage sites and medieval half-timbered houses [St Andrew's Hall, Dragon Hall, Strangers' Hall], and an Art Nouveau Royal Arcade built in 1899. Norwich Guildhall is the largest surviving medieval civic building outside London and the city has one of the grandest Norman Cathedrals in Britain. 

Norwich Castle was built in 1066 and took 20 years to complete. It remains at the peak of the city and houses an art gallery hosting regular exhibitions, and a museum with internationally important collections in archaeology, natural history, and regimental history. Nearby, the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell traces local history, including a re-created old pharmacy and exhibits on the textile industry.

Lifestyle

Hethersett offers community-based rural living with the benefits of busy, urban life nearby in the popular city of Norwich, around 20 minutes drive away, which is bursting with history, great food, arts and culture. 

Being a community of award-winners and advocates of sports, there are a number of facilities and clubs to take part in in Hethersett, including Crusaders Rugby Club, ESKA Karate Club, Hethersett Athletic Football Club, Norfolk Tai Chi and Hethersett Hawks Cycle Speedway Club to name a few. There is then an opportunity to rest and recover at the Park Farm Hotel & Leisure which includes a pool, spa facilities and offers treatments. 

Situated a 10 minute drive away from Hethersett is the University of East Anglia Sportspark, which is the UK's largest community sports venue. Football fans can enjoy home games with the Canaries at the Norwich City football stadium, famously supported by Delia Smith.

Those looking for creative inspiration will be spoilt for choice, with gallery and museum, the Sainsbury Centre just a 15 minute drive away from Hethersett, and nearby Norwich providing a number of art galleries, music venues, theatres, a National Centre for Writing, University of the Arts and a jam-packed programme of arts festivals and events throughout the year. 

Norwich also has a 900-year-old legacy as being a literary city, becoming England's first UNESCO City of Literature in 2012 - one of only 20 in the world.

Norfolk is a large farming county, and the surrounding areas benefit from the local produce on its doorstep, including cheese, meat, vegetables, and seafood from the nearby shores. These products are available to purchase at Norwich Market, one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in the country. As a result of the local plentiful produce on offer, Norwich is making waves in the culinary world, offering a plethora of great food options of all cuisines, and recognised as the most vegan-friendly city in UK. Whether you’re looking for restaurants, cafes and coffee shops or street-food, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Historically known as the “City of Ales” having once had more pubs than days of the year, Norwich offers a vast range of pubs and bars, including a number of micro-breweries and distilleries producing a variety of beers and gin. 

Across Norwich, you’ll find a large number of independent businesses, many selling handmade and second-hand items, from clothes, books and plants, to artisan coffee and vegan snacks, providing a genuinely unique shopping experience.

Travel and Transport Links

Hethersett has great transport links with regular and extensive bus routes to and from Norwich city centre and the nearby town of Wymondham, as well as a Park and Ride situated on the outskirts of the area. The village has easy access to several main roads including the A47, which runs from Suffolk to Birmingham, and the A11, which connects Norwich to London. There are train stations situated in Norwich and Wymondham, providing train lines to destinations including Cambridge, London and Stansted Airport. Norwich also has an international airport.

Norfolk benefits from 90 miles of unspoilt coastline and The Broads, only around 30 miles from Hethersett, offering close-by days out and local holiday spots in abundance. 

House Prices (Rightmove - October 2022)

Properties in Hethersett had an overall average price of £342,308 over the last year.

The majority of sales in Hethersett during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £449,892. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £275,294, with terraced properties fetching £205,200.

Want to know more about our school? We’re happy to have a chat - give us a call at 01502 525300. Take a look at our latest vacancies here.