Watton, Norfolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watton |
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 Watton town centre |
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 Watton
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| Area | 7.20 km2 (2.78 sq mi) |
| Population | 7,202 (2011 Census) |
| • Density | 1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TF916008 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | THETFORD |
| Postcode district | IP25 |
| Dialling code | 01953 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Watton is a lively market town in Norfolk, England. It is located in the Breckland area. The town is about 25 miles (40 km) west-southwest of Norwich. It is also about 15 miles northeast of Thetford.
Watton is well-known for the annual Wayland Agricultural Show. This event is held in the western part of the town. It is one of the oldest one-day agricultural shows in all of England.
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History of Watton
The name "Watton" means 'Wada's farm' or 'Wada's settlement'. This tells us a bit about its ancient origins.
Long ago, around the time of Edward the Confessor, Watton had two main estates, called manors. Over many years, these manors were owned by different families. One important owner was Richard de Rupella in 1249. He was given the manor for his service as a knight.
A big fire happened in Watton on April 25, 1674. It destroyed sixty houses and many other buildings. The town was rebuilt after this disaster. Visitors in 1681 saw new buildings and even a new bowling green at the local "George" inn.
RAF Watton was a Royal Air Force base that opened on January 4, 1939. During World War II, from 1944 to 1945, it was used by a US reconnaissance team. The base stopped its operations in 1963. Part of the old camp was later sold in 1995 to build new homes.
Watton's Location
Watton is about 13 miles northeast of Thetford. It is also around 25 miles southwest of Norwich. The main roads meeting in Watton are the A1075 (which connects Dereham and Thetford) and the B1108 (which links Brandon and Norwich).
Nearby villages include Saham Toney to the northwest. Ovington is to the north, and Carbrooke is to the northeast. To the southeast, you'll find Griston.
Famous Landmarks
Watton's High Street features a special Clock Tower. It was built in 1679 by Christopher Hey, a rich local merchant. He built it after the great fire of 1674. The bell was meant to act like an alarm for nearby villages.
A new clock was put in the tower in 1827. In 1935, the clock face was updated to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. The tower was repaired in 2017 after a leak.
St Mary's Parish Church is located north of the main road. It was built between 1100 and 1135. The church shows both Norman and Gothic styles of architecture. It was first dedicated to St Giles, but later changed to St Mary in the 15th century.
The church was changed a lot in the 1840s. Its aisles were made wider to fit up to 480 people. The six bells in the round tower were paid for in 1899. In 2012, plans were announced for a big renovation of the church.
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Wayland Hall is also known as Watton Town Hall. This building is a local community meeting place. It was finished in 1853.
Local Culture
The Wayland Agricultural Show is a very old event in England. It has been running since at least 1880. The show takes place in western Watton. It features rare farm animals like cattle, pigs, and sheep.
You can also see many marquees and trade stands. There are displays of classic cars and vintage tractors. Fun activities include gun dog shows, falconry displays, and carriage rides. Many horse-riding events also take place. Up to 10,000 visitors come to the show every year. It used to be in August, but in 2019, it moved to the May Day weekend. This was because many families were on holiday in August.
Media in Watton
Local news and TV shows for Watton come from BBC East and ITV Anglia. Television signals are received from the Tacolneston TV transmitter.
For radio, you can listen to BBC Radio Norfolk, Heart East, and Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk & North Suffolk. The town's local newspaper is called the Watton and Swaffham Times.
Education in Watton
Wayland Academy is on Merton Road. It became an academy in August 2012. Before that, it was a community school. This meant it was directly controlled by Norfolk County Council.
Sports in Watton
Watton United F.C. is the local football club. It was started in 1888. In the 2015-16 season, the team won Anglian Combination Division Three. They also finished 3rd in Division Two in 2016–17. This helped them get promoted to Anglian Combination Division One.
Richmond Park Golf Club is located between Watton and Saham Toney. In 2019, plans were announced to turn the club into a fancy private resort. This would include a 60-bedroom hotel, a gym, a spa, and swimming pools.
Transport Links
A train station used to be in Watton. It was part of the Thetford & Watton Railway. The station opened in October 1869. However, it closed in June 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts, which closed many railway lines. The railway line itself closed in April 1965.
In 2018, over 900 local people signed a petition. They asked for a new train station and service in Watton. The A1075 is the main road that goes through Watton. It connects the town to Thetford and Dereham.
Images for kids
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Watton town centre
See also
In Spanish: Watton para niños
