Dereham

52º41N 0º56E, pop (2000e) 15 300. Town in Norfolk, E England, UK; 25 km/15 mi NW of Norwich; birthplace of Brian Aldiss, George Borrow, William Hyde Wollaston; Church of St Nicholas with 16th-c bell tower and the tomb of William Cowper; reputedly St Withburga (d.743) was buried in the churchyard, her relics stolen (10th-c), and a healing spring appeared at the site; Bishop Bonner's cottage (16th-c); agricultural machinery, iron.

East Dereham, also known simply as Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles (25 km) west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles (40 km) east of King's Lynn. The town should not be confused with the Norfolk village of West Dereham, which lies about 25 miles (40 km) away.

The civil parish has an area of 21.51 km² and in the 2001 census had a population of 15,659 in 6,941 households.

The town lies on the site of a monastery founded by Saint Withburga in the seventh century. A holy well in the town supposedly began to flow when her body was moved from the town to Ely.

Notable buildings in the town include the pargetted Bishop Bonners Cottage, built in 1502, the Norman parish church, a windmill and a large mushroom-shaped water tower. The town also hosts the headquarters of the Mid-Norfolk Railway, which runs trains over a 11.5 mile railway to Wymondham, as well as owning the line 6 miles north to North Elmham and County School Station.

Famous people from the town include George Borrow, Brian Aldiss, Beth Orton and William Hyde Wollaston.

Dereham was the home to the "Metamec" clock factory. The Fruehauf trailer company was a major employer in the town for many decades. The town also boasted several large maltings.

Dereham labels itself "The Heart of Norfolk" due to its central location in the county. A section of this road, towards King's Lynn was built along the former railway line towards Swaffham and King's Lynn. There are two high schools in the town, Neatherd High School and Northgate High School. Also of note is the well-achieving Dereham Sixth Form College, which serves as the main 6th form centre for both aformentioned high schools as well as an alternative destination for many other school leavers, sometimes as afar as Reepham.

Since 1983 Dereham has been twinned with the town of Rüthen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

On 26 April 2006, bird flu was reported - after dead birds tested positive.