Ovington Village History
Ovington stands about 1+ miles to the north east of
Watton.
The Village consists of about 1500 acres, with a
population of 200. There are traces of a Roman encampment on
Ovington common to the north of the village and urns and Roman coins
have been unearthed in the village.
Ancient earthworks in the village are know variously
as Dane’s Graves and High Banks and at the latter, in 1838, seven
enamelled horse bronzes were discovered.Its name has been spelt
variously as Offingaston, Uvytone, Eaffington, Oviton and Offington,
which mean that it derived its name form being a “town of pasture
lying by the water”. It could also be that it was the settlement of
the descendants of Uffa or Offa. In the 17th century it was
pronounced Overton by the inhabitants.The Knights Templar of the
Commandery of Kerbrooke had lands here in 1221.
This was an extremely wealthy local organisation and
it was estimated that 10% of all the wealth in England passed
through Carbrooke (Kerbrooke) at that time.
Ovington area from 1790 map.
The common land shown was soon to be enclosed. Note
that the famous bends seem unchanged from this map! However, the
road north form the village follows the track to 
Water End Farm and
joins the "main" road a mile further.
Also that very few properties exist. Later maps show the existence
of one of the two post mills that were situated off the Street and
Carbrooke Road, a mile further on,
Right - The Church door Ovington Parish Church
Below - The Crown Inn before it was rendered over.. It is of brick and flint construction and was rebuilt by a consortium about 1850.
Note the stable front door which is still remembered
by some villagers and the barrels by the tree on the left. The
cellar access door was on the right side of the house. The Crescent
Estate was built on land belonging to the property. From a water
colour by an unknown artist.
Burial Registers
The Burial Register records are available here. They date from 1813 to 2000.
Burial
register 1813-1899
Burial Register 1900-2000
Buy the Village History
The Wayland Heritage project has reached the end of
its three-year research and writing exercise with the launch of
books outlining the history of the 13 Wayland villages. Rod has
researched and written the Ovington version, and if you are
interested in your Village history, copies of the attractively bound
book with accompanying DVD will be available for sale in the very
near future at a cost of £6.00.
Proceeds from the sale will assist in financing further copies. Rod explains, since the launch of the book several more interesting facts and stories have come to light, which may lead to either a volume two, or a reprint of the original, some time in the future. Should you wish to pre-order a copy then contact Rod at 31 The Street. 882246 or call in at the Wayland Partnership, Wayland House, High Street. Watton.