# Caston

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Village and civil parish in Norfolk, England

This article is about the village. For the surname, see [Caston (surname)](/source/Caston_(surname)).

Human settlement in England

Caston Church of the Holy Cross Caston Location within Norfolk Area 6.37 km2 (2.46 sq mi) Population 480 (2021) • Density 75/km2 (190/sq mi) OS grid reference TL955978 Civil parish Caston District Breckland Shire county Norfolk Region East Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town ATTLEBOROUGH Postcode district NR17 Dialling code 01953 Police Norfolk Fire Norfolk Ambulance East of England UK Parliament Mid Norfolk List of places UK England Norfolk 52°32′35″N 0°52′59″E / 52.543°N 0.883°E / 52.543; 0.883

**Caston** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parish) in the [English county](/source/English_county) of [Norfolk](/source/Norfolk). It is 3 miles (4.8 km) south-east of [Watton](/source/Watton%2C_Norfolk), 5 miles (8.0 km) north-west of [Attleborough](/source/Attleborough), and 18 miles (29 km) west of [Norwich](/source/Norwich).

At the [2021 census](/source/2021_United_Kingdom_census), the village had a population of 480, an increase from 443 at the [2011 census](/source/2011_United_Kingdom_census).[1]

## History

Village sign

Caston's name derives from the [Old English](/source/Old_English) for "Catt's enclosure", with Catt, referring to wild cats, probably being a nickname.[2][3] In the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book) the village is recorded as a settlement of 57 households in the [hundred](/source/Hundred_(county_division)) of [Wayland](/source/Wayland%2C_Norfolk); a church and a mill were recorded. It was divided between the estates of [William the Conqueror](/source/William_the_Conqueror) and [William de Warenne](/source/William_de_Warenne%2C_1st_Earl_of_Surrey).[4]

The three-tiered base of a medieval stone cross close to the church is the remains of a cross which is thought to have been a waypoint for pilgrims travelling to [Walsingham Priory](/source/Walsingham_Priory). The shaft was removed in the 19th century by which point it had become dangerous. The remains are a [scheduled monument](/source/Scheduled_monument).[2][5]

During the sixteenth century, Caston was the residence of Edward Gilman, who was one of the earliest recorded ancestors of [Abraham Lincoln](/source/Abraham_Lincoln).[6]

By 1848, the village had a population of 513.[7] [Caston Windmill](/source/Caston_Windmill) was built in the nineteenth century for Edward Wyer. Today, the mill is in private ownership and is [Grade II listed](/source/Listed_building).[8][9]

## Amenities

The Church of the Holy Cross dates from the 13th century, although an older church probably stood on the same site. The building has been Grade I listed since 1958.[2][10] The church was heavily restored in 1850s and features several medieval stained-glass roundels which were re-set after damage during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War). The church also has a grand candelabra, believed to have come which originally from [Hampton Court Palace](/source/Hampton_Court_Palace) via [Cheshunt](/source/Cheshunt) in [Hertfordshire](/source/Hertfordshire).[2][11]

Caston school is a [voluntary aided](/source/Voluntary_aided) primary school. It serves the village and surrounding area. After leaving primary school, children usually transfer to [Wayland Academy](/source/Wayland_Academy%2C_Watton) in Watton.[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Caston (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location"](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/breckland/E04006101__caston/). *www.citypopulation.de*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nhe_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nhe_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nhe_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nhe_2-3) Aldridge P (2005) [Parish Summary: Caston](https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?TNF323), Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 16 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Key to English Place-names"](http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Caston). *kepn.nottingham.ac.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Caston | Domesday Book"](https://opendomesday.org/place/TL9597/caston/). *opendomesday.org*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["MNF5775 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer"](https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF5775). *www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Abraham Lincoln Family Group | Edward Gilman | Ahnentafel No: 516 (7637)"](https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=7637+abraham+lincoln&ahnum=516). *famouskin.com*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lewis_7-0)** ["Caston - Catterick A Topographical Dictionary of England"](https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp531-534). *British History Online*. S Lewis, London 1848. Retrieved 22 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Norfolk Mills - Caston tower windmill"](https://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/Windmills/caston-towermill.html). *www.norfolkmills.co.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Caston mill and granary](https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF5771), Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 16 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["CHURCH OF HOLY CROSS, Caston - 1076784 | Historic England"](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1076784?section=official-list-entry). *historicengland.org.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Norfolk Churches"](http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/caston/caston.htm). *www.norfolkchurches.co.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Caston Church Of England Primary Academy](https://csapps.norfolk.gov.uk/schoolfinder/schoolinfo.asp?govid=2231), Norfolk Schoolfinder, [Norfolk County Council](/source/Norfolk_County_Council). Retrieved 16 October 2025.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Caston](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Caston).

v t e Civil parishes of Breckland Ashill Attleborough Banham Bawdeswell Beachamwell Beeston with Bittering Beetley Besthorpe Billingford Bintree Blo' Norton Bradenham Brettenham Bridgham Brisley Bylaugh Carbrooke Caston Cockley Cley Colkirk Cranwich Cranworth Croxton Didlington Dereham East Tuddenham Elsing Foulden Foxley Fransham Garboldisham Garvestone, Reymerston and Thuxton Gateley Gooderstone Great Cressingham Great Dunham Great Ellingham Gressenhall Griston Guist Hardingham Harling Hilborough Hockering Hockham Hoe and Worthing Holme Hale Horningtoft Ickburgh Kempstone Kenninghall Kilverstone Lexham Litcham Little Cressingham Little Dunham Little Ellingham Longham Lynford Lyng Mattishall Merton Mileham Mundford Narborough Narford Necton New Buckenham Newton by Castle Acre North Elmham North Lopham North Pickenham North Tuddenham Old Buckenham Ovington Oxborough Quidenham Riddlesworth Rocklands Roudham and Larling Rougham Saham Toney Scarning Scoulton Shipdham Shropham Snetterton South Acre South Lopham South Pickenham Sparham Sporle with Palgrave Stanfield Stanford Stow Bedon and Breckles Sturston Swaffham Swanton Morley Thetford Thompson Tittleshall Tottington Twyford Watton Weasenham All Saints Weasenham St Peter Weeting-with-Broomhill Wellingham Wendling Whinburgh and Westfield Whissonsett Wretham Yaxham See also Broadland Great Yarmouth King's Lynn and West Norfolk North Norfolk South Norfolk

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