EAST DEREHAM

also called Dereham town, Breckland district, administrative and historic county of Norfolk, England, 16 miles (26 km) west-northwest of Norwich. The site of a 7th-century Christian convent, it was destroyed by invading Danes. The parish church, dating from the 12th century, contains painted Perpendicular-style ceilings, the former tomb of the church's presumed 7th-century founder, St. Withburga (in a ruined chapel), and the tomb of the 18th-century poet William Cowper. Cowper's house no longer exists, and its site is occupied by the Cowper Memorial Church. East Dereham is an agricultural centre, producing farm equipment and containing flour mills. In Swanton Morley, 3 miles (5 km) northeast of East Dereham, is an outstanding church (c. 1370), containing a large window commemorating the men of a nearby Royal Air Force station. Pop. (1991) 12,974.