Norfolk Day was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about our county – including its incredible heritage and beauty. That’s why, in the run up to that great day, I visited a number of villages in my constituency to ‘get under the bonnet’ of what is really going on, and to learn more about their great history and tradition.

I was delighted to be invited to visit Hoe which, given the retiring and hidden nature of the village, is largely unknown by those outside of the local area. However, it is in fact one of the most beautiful parts of Mid Norfolk, and rather important to our county’s world famous heritage.

The village is home to an ancient stone (referred to by the Norfolk Historic Environment Record as a ‘Glacial Erratic Boulder’) which local folk law considers to be the traditional centre point of Norfolk. Trevor Wood, Parish Chairman for Hoe and Worthing, hopes that by promoting the story of the stone, a broader conversation about its place in Norfolk’s world renowned heritage can be sparked – and I was fascinated to speak with him, and two of the local councillors, to hear anecdotes about the memories people within the village have of it.

Located in the middle of several lovely countryside walks, I would encourage anyone to get on their walking boots and head on out to see the stone first hand. Local landmarks, such as this stone, and their stories are tremendous assets to Norfolk and it’s important that we all work together to promote them and ensure that they are cherished by future generations also.

Photo: From left to right: Trevor Wood (Parish Chairman for Hoe and Worthing), Cllr Robert Richmond (District Councillor for Lincoln Ward), Cllr Bill Borrett (County Councillor for Elmham and Mattishall Division) and George Freeman (MP for Mid Norfolk)