Downham Market facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Downham Market |
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| Market town | |
.jpg) Clock Tower in Downham Market |
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 Downham Market
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| Area | 5.20 km2 (2.01 sq mi) |
| Population | 9,994 (2011 Census) |
| • Density | 1,922/km2 (4,980/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TF611032 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DOWNHAM MARKET |
| Postcode district | PE38 |
| Dialling code | 01366 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Downham Market, often called Downham, is a lively market town in Norfolk, England. It sits on the edge of a flat, low-lying area called the Fens, right by the River Great Ouse. It's about 11 miles south of King's Lynn and 30 miles north of Cambridge.
In 2011, about 9,994 people lived here in 4,637 homes. The town covers an area of about 5.2 square kilometers.
Downham Market has always been an important farming hub. It grew as a place where farmers from the Fens could sell their produce, especially after a bridge was built over the River Ouse. In the Middle Ages, it was famous for its butter market and big horse fairs. Today, you can still find a market here on Fridays and Saturdays.
Some of the town's famous buildings include its old medieval church, dedicated to St Edmund, and a Victorian clock tower built in 1878. The town is also known as a place where King Charles I hid after a big battle. In 2004, the town improved its Market Place, moving the market to the town hall car park. The town's special sign shows the crown and arrows of St Edmund, along with horses, to remember its history of horse fairs.
A heritage center called Discover Downham opened in 2016 in an old fire station. Downham Market is also linked with Civray, Vienne, a town in France, as part of a twinning program.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Downham Market" means "Hill homestead or village" with a market. The town is built on a raised area that looks out over the River Great Ouse.
How the Town is Run
Downham Market is part of the King's Lynn and West Norfolk district for local government. The town also has its own council. It is part of the South West Norfolk area for choosing a Member of Parliament.
Town's Economy
For a long time, Downham Market was a key trading spot for the farms around it. It had famous horse fairs and weekly markets for livestock and butter. There were also several places that made malt for brewing beer.
Before the railway arrived in 1846, the area by the river was mostly farmland. Warehouses for river transport were located in Downham West. When the railway came, the town quickly grew with new industries and homes.
A steam mill, now called Bird's Mill, was built by the railway and is still used today. Other businesses grew as the railway became important for storing goods, loading animals and products, and building homes for railway workers.
Today, Downham Market has grown a lot with new houses. Many people who live here travel to Cambridge for work. The town still has its market on Fridays and Saturdays.
Famous Places
Town Clock
The Town Clock was put up in 1878 by William Cunliffe. It's a special building, listed as Grade II, which means it's historically important. Made of cast iron, it was first bronzed with gold details. Later, it was painted green, and now it's black and white after being restored in 2004.
War Memorial
The town's war memorial stands where London Road and Church Road meet. It was dedicated in October 1921 to remember those who died in World War I. Local people paid for it, and a local stonemason built it. It first listed 73 local service members from the First World War, and later names from World War II were added. In 2005, Evelyn Irene Murrell, who died in 1918 while serving in the WRAF, was also added. The memorial has the town's symbol, the crown and arrows of St Edmund, to whom the church is dedicated.
Other Notable Buildings
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Downham Market is sometimes called the "Gingerbread Town." This is because many of its buildings, some from medieval times, are made from a special local stone called carrstone, which has a warm, reddish-brown color.
St Edmund's Church is a great example of this stone. It's the only building in Downham listed as Grade I, meaning it's very important. The church stands in a high spot, looking over the flat Fenlands. The church, like the town, probably started in Anglo-Saxon times but was rebuilt in the 13th century and changed a lot in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Old Court House, on London Road, was where judges made decisions for the Clackclose area starting in 1861.
The Castle Hotel is also a Grade II listed building and has a unique roof that looks like castle battlements. It was mostly built in the 18th century, but parts of it might be even older. In the past, people stayed here for hunting, shooting, and fishing. The hotel closed in 2020 and is now being turned into flats.
Downham Market Town Hall, on the west side of the old Market Hill, was built by public donations in 1887-1888.
Across from the Town Hall is the Crown Hotel, an old coaching inn. Inside its arched entrance, you can still see steps that helped horse riders get on their horses. Before the Court House was built, judges met here. In May 1816, it was the site of protests where angry farm workers demanded better wages.
The 18th-century Dial House, on Station Road, was a private school for boys in the 1860s. It gets its name from a sundial painted high on its wall. Today, it's a bed and breakfast.
Getting Around
By Train
Downham Market has its own Downham Market railway station. It's on the Fen Line, which connects London and King's Lynn. The station opened in 1846. Trains run hourly to London Kings Cross and King's Lynn.
The town's signal box, which controls train signals, is one of only five rare ones in the region to be listed as Grade II. It was built in 1881.
By Bus
Buses run from Downham Market on Mondays to Saturdays. You can take buses to places like Southery, King's Lynn, Fincham, and Swaffham. There are no bus services on Sundays.
By Road
Downham Market is on the main A10 road, which goes from London to King's Lynn. The A1122 road, which runs east to west, passes south of the town.
By River
The River Great Ouse and the Great Ouse Relief Channel flow along the western edge of the town.
The Great Ouse Relief Channel became open for boats in 2001. There are places to moor boats near the Station Road bridge. The river is a popular spot for boating and swimming.
Schools in Town
Downham Market has two primary schools: Hillcrest Primary School and Nelson Academy.
Nelson Academy, on Nursery Road, was first called Clackclose Community Primary School. It opened in 1873. It's named after Lord Nelson, who, according to local stories, went to his first school in Downham Market.
Hillcrest Primary School is on Bexwell Road. It opened in 1980. In 2018, the school started building a new nine-classroom building.
Downham Market Academy is a secondary school and sixth form for older students. It opened in 2013. Teaching happens at two sites: the main Bexwell campus for students aged 11-16, and the Sixth Form campus for students aged 16-18 who are studying for A-levels.
Downham Preparatory School and Montessori Nursery is a private school for children from three months to 13 years old. It was started in 1984.
The Priory Centre in Downham Market is home to the town's library.
Local Media
You can get local news and TV shows from BBC East and ITV Anglia. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Norfolk and Heart East. Newspapers that cover the town are the Lynn News, Your Local Paper, and the Eastern Daily Press.
Sports and Fun
The War Memorial Playing Fields have a playground for children, tennis courts, and a sports court. A local non-league football club, Downham Town, plays here.
The Willows nature reserve was once a place where bricks were made.
The Jubilee Community Centre, on Howdale Road, hosts workshops, classes, childcare, and community events. It also has a large field next to it.
The Downham Market Heritage Centre has interactive displays about local history. It also offers free Wi-Fi, an internet café, and a small library for research.
Famous People from Downham Market
- George William Manby (1765–1854), who invented the Manby mortar and an early fire extinguisher, went to school here.
- George Henry Dashwood (1801–1869), a historian who studied old things, was born in the town.
- Golding Bird (1814–1854), a doctor who became an expert on kidney diseases.
- Jim Russell (1920–2019), a former racing driver.
- Patrick Holman (1945–), a cricket player, was born in the town.
- Richard Murphy (1958–), an expert in economics.
- Liz Truss (1975–), a former Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk and a former British Prime Minister.
See also
In Spanish: Downham Market para niños
Images for kids
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Fire Station in 2006, now a heritage centre
