The rural Parish of Keswick and Intwood came into existence in Saxon times and on 23 October 1598 were united ecclesiastically under a Deed of Consolidation.
Situated some three miles south of Norwich city centre they extend to 552 hectares (1,364 acres) and in 2001 had a population of 431, split as 200 males and 231 females in 248 households with 360 having electoral voting rights. Keswick accounts for 93% of the population of which 67% reside at Keswick New Hall which comprises 186 residences, many tenanted, as is the Hall itself being occupied by some nine small office type businesses.
Intwood has only thirteen households with no amenities or utilities apart from electricity and telephone lines. Each part of the Parish has a church and Keswick has a small Reading Room. The Parishes are unique compared to many Norfolk villages as they do not have any public amenities such as shops, post office or public house. The Parish manages adequately due in the main to its close proximity to the city of Norwich and amenities in the neighbouring Parishes.
Keswick and Intwood is:
- within a mile of the A47, Norwich’s Southern by-pass affording excellent East to west links and a similar distance from the two main roads leading south from Norwich, namely the A140 to Ipswich and the A11 to Thetford and London;
- close to two Park and ride facilities one on the boundary of each village with traditional bus services passing through the parish;
- near to shopping facilities – on the eastern boundary there is a large supermarket open 7 days a week for 24 hours (apart from Sunday) and nearby there is another supermarket, estate agents, home furnishing and other typical high street outlets; and
- has doctors and school facilities available nearby.