Stow Bardolph
Stow Bardolph, sometimes simply referred to as Stow, is an estate and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, lying between King's Lynn and Downham Market on the A10.
It covers an area of and had a population of 1,014 in 421 households at the 2001 census, the population increasing to 1,230 at the 2011 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk. The parish includes Stowbridge and Barroway Drove.History
The village name evolved from the Old English stōw - place; a place of assembly; a holy place - to which was added the surname Bardolf. This was almost certainly because of connections with the Lords Bardolf of nearby Wormegay Castle.
The Stow Bardolph estate was purchased by the Hare family in 1553. The original Stow Hall was constructed in 1589 by Nicholas Hare, Master of the Rolls and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, but fell into disrepair and was demolished. The second Stow Hall was built in 1796, but this too fell into disrepair and was demolished. The last Stow Hall was built in 1874 and was demolished in 1994 when it was found to be beyond economic repair.
Holy Trinity Parish Church was extensively restored by John Raphael Rodrigues Brandon around 1850. A wax effigy of the upper body of Sarah Hare, who died in 1744, including lifelike face and hands, is displayed upright in a mahogany case in the Hare Chapel of the church. It is the only funerary effigy of its kind outside Westminster Abbey. There is a stained glass window to the memory of Victoria Cross recipient James Adams who was vicar here from 1896 to 1902.
The village is home to a Rare Breeds Centre called Church Farm which opened in 2004.Education
The old rectory serves as a preparatory school and Montessori nursery which opened in 1984. The rectory was previously a maternity home.Notable residents
