Matlaske
| Matlaske | |
|---|---|
 Village sign |
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 Matlaske
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| Matlaske shown within Norfolk | |
| Area | 5.45 km2 (2.10 sq mi) |
| Population | 139 (parish, 2011 census) |
| • Density | 26/km2 (67/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TG1534 |
| • London | 136 miles (219 km) |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORWICH |
| Postcode district | NR11 |
| Dialling code | 01263 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Matlaske is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is 21.6 miles (34.8 km) North-north-west of Norwich, 9.3 miles (15.0 km) south-west of Cromer and 136 miles (219 km) north-north-east of London. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport. The parish of Matlask in the 2001 census, a population of 124, increasing to 139 at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North Norfolk.
The Ordnance Survey and North Norfolk Council Information spell the village name 'Matlaske' while the parish name is 'Matlask', without the ‘e’. The name comes from Old English and means 'Ash tree where meetings are held'. The village is located in the north west of the county and sits just outside the landscaped grounds of Barningham Hall.
Matlaske has an entry in the Domesday Book of 1085. In the great book Matlaske is recorded by the name of Matelasc, Matelesc or Matingeles. The parish is recorded as king's land in the custody of Godric; from Count Alan and Ribald.
During the summer of 1940 Matlaske became home to a satellite airbase to RAF Coltishall which is located 12 miles (19 km) south east of the village. By October 1940 two grass runways were in operation here. On 27 October Coltishall was bombed which instigated the Spitfires of No 27 squadron to be the first operational aircraft at Matlaske. Two days after the move Matlaske itself was attacked by the Luftwaffe when five enemy aircraft strafed the field causing slight damage to the parked Spitfires and causing some casualties to people. In November 1941Westland Whirlwinds of 137 squadron were moved from Coltishall to Matlaske. On 12 February 1942 the Whirlwinds were sent on an operation to prevent the Channel dash of the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen from Brest to the safety of German north sea ports. Four out of the six Whirlwinds were lost during the action. In September 1942 the airfield was offered to USAAF as base for one of their fighter groups, which was not taken up. In August 1944 the airfield was closed to flying. By September 1944 it was re-opened with No 150 Wing of the Second Tactical Air Force taking up residence using Mustang III’s. In October Spitfires where back on the base with 229, 453 and 602 Squadrons. They launched missions from Matlaske to the continent to try to destroy V-2 rocket sites. The last operational sorties were launched from Matlaske by the Spitfires of 453 squadron in April 1945. After the squadron left the base was deserted and was quickly given up by the RAF and was one of the first airfields to be handed back to farming. The old control tower still stands to this day and can be found to the east of the village on the Holt road.
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Wikipedia