| Docking was and still is a thriving North Norfolk village. It | | | | station next to the present day 'Railway Inn'. Take a |
| appears on the map as a 'centre point' branching in | | | | walk through the village and you will see lots of |
| every direction to the resorts and beauty spots of | | | | cottages named after the original tradesman or |
| North Norfolk. These include beautiful North Norfolk | | | | business that used to be there (banks, butchers, |
| beaches such as Hunstanton, Brancaster, Thornham, | | | | bakers, blacksmiths etc.). |
| Holme, Burnham Overy Staithe, Holkham Beach, Wells | | | | In World War 2, the UK and US Governments of the |
| and carrying on as far as Blakeney and Cley. The local | | | | time feared that a German invasion of Britain would |
| beach of Brancaster is just a five minute car ride | | | | likely come from the East Coast. For that reason, the |
| away. Stately homes nearby include Sandringham, | | | | RAF and USAF built aerodromes and bases in and |
| Houghton Hall, Holkham Hall. The charming market | | | | around Docking and the village became a meeting |
| town of Burnham Market (sometimes referred to as | | | | point and social venue for US and UK military |
| 'Chelsea-on-Sea'), with its range of exquisite | | | | personnel and civilians. Many US GIs married locals |
| independent shops for all tastes, is just a ten minute | | | | from Docking. Actors Richard Burton and Warren |
| car journey away. There are walks and hikes in all | | | | Mitchell were stationed here as was the footballer |
| directions starting from or near Docking. The Peddars | | | | Danny Blanchflower. |
| Way is very close by. | | | | After the war, the airbases fell into disuse and were |
| Docking is first mentioned in the Doomsday Book so | | | | eventually closed and the American servicemen and |
| its history stretches back a long time! Originally known | | | | women returned home. In the 1950s, the infamous |
| as Dry Docking, being on a hill with no natural water | | | | "Beeching" report decided to recommend that more |
| source and water having to be carried up to the village | | | | than half the railway network in the UK would be |
| from below, it was a centre of the local agricultural | | | | closed in a cost saving exercise. Docking Station fell |
| community and was renowned for its wool and other | | | | under the hammer and was sadly closed as a result |
| agricultural products. | | | | despite strong protests from the local Community. All |
| Great Eastern Railway (GER) constructed a railway | | | | that remains today of the Railway line is 'The Railway |
| line in the 1840s linking Kings Lynn Hunstanton to | | | | Inn', a beautiful Pub and restaurant. The station has |
| Wells-next-the-Sea on the coast and the line passed | | | | been replaced by a modern housing estate. |
| through the villages of Docking and Stanhoe on the | | | | Modern day Docking is perhaps unique in the sense |
| way. | | | | that it still has a thriving local Community. There is a |
| The construction of the railway provided employment | | | | school in the village frequented by children from |
| for the Docking villagers and we know that the original | | | | Docking and surrounding villages. There is a busy |
| row of terraced houses known then and now as | | | | Village Hall (Rippers Hall) where the Community meets |
| "Oddfellows Row" was built in 1850 and were | | | | often. There is a church, Doctors Surgery, Bowling |
| railwayman's cottages. | | | | Club, Darts Club, WI, etc. Residents and the |
| In the 1800s, Docking had an array of shops, including | | | | holidaymakers blend well together with visitors |
| banks, butchers bakers blacksmiths, post office, | | | | contributing to the local economy. Today, you can stay |
| several pubs as well as a village hall called 'Oddfellows | | | | on Oddfellows Row as one of the original cottages is |
| Hall' (now 'Rippers Hall'), church etc. There was a busy | | | | now let as a pretty holiday cottage. |