When King Canute founded St. Benet's Abbey in the 11th century he endowed it with several manors and so the village of Ludham on the River Thurne came into being.
Although the oldest parts of the current church of St. Catherine only dates back to the 14th century there is evidence that an earlier church stood here back in the 11th century.
Legend tells of a dragon that terrorised the village of Ludham. The dragon made a lair of tunnels under the churchyard and across to the main street. Whilst the dragon was out basking in the sunshine one day a young fellow blocked the entrance to its tunnel. Enraged, the dragon flew off to St. Benet's Abbey and after smashing its tail against the wall, vanished, never to be seen or heard of again!
Ludham today is a thriving village community split by the A1062 running through it with the main residential area to one side and the beautiful Flintstone church of St. Catherine and the staithe to the other.
The village has good shops including a high quality butchers, a pub, tea rooms and a petrol station. The village staithe gives access to Womack Water and then onto the River Thurne. At the staithe where mooring is stern on only there is a lovely grassed area perfect for picnics and watching the boats come and go. Facilities at the staithe include a boatyard offering fresh water, pumpout, diesel fuel and Calor gas and small shop offering basic provisions and gifts. for the angler there is a small shop offering general tackle and bait.
Along Womack Water in a secluded dyke you will find the famous Hunters boatyard which still operates traditional Norfolk sailing yachts with no engines and no electricity. Adjacent to Hunters Yard is the Norfolk Wherry Trust, home to the Wherry Albion, an imposing black sailed trader and the oldest Norfolk Wherry in existence.
