Sometimes called The Gingerbread Town

The Crown Inn, a Grade II listed building off Bridge Street in the centre of Downham Market has had a long history as a coaching inn with records of licencees dating back to at least 1758. Though while unlike the older Swan Inn it doesn't seem to have the links to royalty (The Swan Inn is reputed to have been patronised by King John in 1216 and Charles 1 in 1646), the Crown Inn has been the centre of other historical events in Downham Market. On the 20th May 1816 The Crown Inn was the centre for the Downham Market Riots, one of the bread riots that took place in East Anglia as a result of increased commodity prices and a number of other causal factors. Prior to the Downham Market riots, others had occurred on 16th May 1816 occurred in Bury St Edmunds, Brandon, Hockwold, Feltwell and Norwich. Between 7AM and 8AM on the morning of the 20th May 1816 a group of around 60 congregated in Southery, as this group marched towards Denver farm workers were pressed into joining...

Hot on the heels of St George, dragon-inspired legend of a different kind comes to Downham Market on Sunday 13th August with the staging of the spectacular Downham Market Water Festival and Dragon Boat Event at Hythe Bridge, Downham Market. This exotic Chinese festival has an ancient history and is a re-enactment of a tragic event that took place more than 2000 years ago in the kingdom of Chu . Legend has it that falsely accused of treason and exiled by jealous rivals in the government, despairing warrior poet, Qu Yuan, through himself into the Mi Lo River. Local fishermen rowed out to save the drowning poet and tried to rescue him from vicious fish by beating the water with their paddles. But their attempts failed and every year in Hong Kong a Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival is held as a mark of respect for the fishermen’s frantic efforts and to commemorate the tragic death of Qu Yuan. The dragon boat’s fierce looking dragon’s heads were added later to ward off evil spiri...

In the first of a series on the retail centre of Downham Market, this article looks at the High Street. High Street? The name High Street is the most common street name in the United Kingdom, with 5,410 being identified by a statistical analysis in 2009. An the USA and parts of Canada the name Main Street is similarly used. But what does the name High Street mean?  The name High Street is the metonym for the focal point in a town or city that is the primary focal point businesses, shops and stalls, and Downham Market is no different. Situated to the east of the town hall, our High Street runs north-south, split by Bridge Street at the Town Clock the one way system forks along to Lynn Road to the north and Priory Road to the south. And access is additionally gained from Paradise Road, Wales Court and Rampant Horse Lane. A historic street the high street contains a some historic 'Gingerbread' buildings, an historic coaching inn where Charles I is reputed to have hidde...

As we reach the end of July and the beginning of the schools summer holidays Downham Market has only weeks until its annual Water Festival on the 13th August 2017. This will be the Eleventh year that the event has been run and again we look forward the fun on and in the Great Ouse Relief Channel. But why not come and take part? We still have space for Dragon Boat teams, and with our waterside partners at Gable Events for the entry fee will provide a boat, paddles, drum, bouyancy aids and safety equipment. All you need is a team of 11, and you can compete for the glory of winning, or at least not getting (that) wet.  If you can't make a team of 11, let us know as we are looking at putting together a scratch team on the day.  Mums, did you know that DADS may be having a team? Surely you can do beat them? If you don't fancy racing, we are always looking for volunteers to help out on the site during the day. Own a stall? Want a stall for the day? then also let...

Downham Market Town Hall  Downham Market Town Hall, raising the flag for armed services day Placed between the market place and the town square, the Town Hall may be overlooked as a great community building. It ties with the community go beyond this multi-roomed venue being used for entertainment, civic and community events and even surgeries for the local Member of Parliament. The Town Hall was funded by capital raised through public subscription from people of the community from all walks of life and was erected as a memento of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and completed in 1888 The Foundation Stone  The badly weathered foundation stone Laid in 1887, 130 years ago the foundation stone celebrates the building of this civic building, and bears the names of William Amhurst Tyssen-Amherst, the MP of the area at when the Town Hall was built, George Flower Wood who was chairman of the Town Hall Company, J. Johnson the architect and the Bennett brothe...

I was perusing one of Downham Market's fine charity shops the other day and came across an AA Touring Guide from 30 years ago, but what did it say of Downham Market and does it still apply today? A small, congested market town?  I believe it is fair to say that the town remains 'congested' due to its historic structure with narrow roads in the centre of town. And yet the town has expanded significantly in the last 30 years, doubling in the number of residents.  A brief history of the Fens Drainage? Cornelius Vermuyden was indeed a Dutch engineer involved in the the drainage of the fens, this much is true but he wasn't the the engineer who started the drainage.  Evidence shows that early attempts to manage the Fens were made by the Romans, with constructions such as the Fens Causeway between Denver and Peterborough and Car Dyke suggesting they must have been well aware of the limitations of the Fens, with some evidence of Roman era agriculture, drainage hav...

In the first of a series of articles providing an overview on the various standing committees of Downham Market Town Council, we start with the roles and responsibilities of the Community Development Committee. This committee through it's various sub committees and working parties is involved in organising, running and supporting major events including the Downham Market Water Festival (Dragon Boats still available for teams - Contact Martin or Nikki), the Halloween fun day and the Christmas lights switch plus smaller events such as craft fairs, music on the town square. So, what are the official the role and responsibilities of the Community Development Committee? The Community Development Committee shall pro-actively investigate and promote opportunities for the benefit and development of the whole community Particular focus should be given to supporting organisations and groups from within the community seeking to develop new projects and ideas. Representati...