Thetford Warren Lodge
Thetford Warren lodge,possibly built in the 14th century, was first used by gamekeepers and hunting parties, and later by warreners.
Rabbits which had been introduced into Britain by the Normans as a source of food and fur, became an important part of the local economy.
The ruin is all that's left of the lodge after a fire in 1935 destroyed the two wings that were attached to it, and some out buildings.
The surviving building has some interesting features. The mainly flint and mortar walls are almost a metre thick, and there is a hole above the doorway for dropping unpleasant things on unwelcome visitors.
Once a two-story building, it’s just a shell now, the stone stairs are still in place, and what remains of two open fire places.
With its thick walls and small windows, it provided some protection from poachers, although the thatched roof which has long since gone must have been a chink in its armour.
Once in open heathland the lodge is now in Thetford forest, the forest was planted relatively recently.
The Great War had caused a shortage of timber and the Forestry Commission was established in 1919 to replace and help secure future supplies of timber for the nation. The Forestry Commission made its first purchase of land in 1922 near Swaffham. The commission continued buying land for afforestation, acquiring the majority of land from landed estates. The forest now covers over 50,000 acres. In 1990, the forest was designated a forest park and attracts many thousands of visitors each year.
