Photo above of Downham Market In 1940's

 Downham Market probably had its origins as a Saxon settlement, sited around the elevated ground on which the St Edmunds church was built, and achieved Market status by the year 1050.

Downham was granted to the Abbey of Ramsey as early as the reign of Edgar (959-975 AD.). Confirmation of this is recorded during the reigns of Edward the Confessor, William 1 and King John in 1047 A.D., 1078 A.D. and 1200 A.D. (1) respectively.

The part of East Anglia in which it is situated is known as Hereward the Wake country, it being closely associated with the exploits of that worthy in his struggle against William the Conqueror.

The terrain, known as the Fens, is a vast flat plain that stretches from Cambridge to the coast and is considerably different today since the drainage operation to reclaim land for agriculture was finally completed in the nineteenth century, having been started in the first instance, many years before, by the Monks at Crowland Abbey.

However, it was not until the 17th century, at the hands of Cornelius Vermuyden, the celebrated Dutch engineer of the time who was employed by the Duke of Bedford, that any impact was made in this respect. Charles Kingsley described it to be similar, in the seventh century, to the forests at the mouth of the Mississippi on the swampy shores of the Carolinas.

The Town lies on the Roman Akeman Street and takes its name from a HAM (dwelling place) on a DUN or DOWN (hill). In the Doomsday book there are references to Duneham and Dunham, probably derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Dun or Dune meaning a hill and Downham has been called in times past, Dunharn, Donham, Douneham, Dounham, Dunarne.

In a similar vein, two villages close to the Town, Hilgay and Bexwell, have been known in the past as Helgaye and Bekyswell. Thus Dounham or Douneham, roughly translated, means an estate on a hill. The Roman road is said to have traversed through Hertfordshire from Cirencester in the South, to Cambridge, Ely and thence through Downham Market to King's Lynn. Certainly from Cambridge, the Al0 trunk road seems to have followed the path of this ancient route.

On Mayday or thereabouts in 1646,(each historian has his own favourite day) Charles 1 of England (Charles Stuart), escaping across the Fens after the Battle of Naseby, stayed at the Swan Inn, disguised as a Clergyman, awaiting news from his faithful servant Hudson regarding the manner in which the Scots would receive him. The Swan still stands today and is situated in the High Street in Downharn Market, but the present day construction is not the original building.

He is said to have gone to Snore Hall at Fordham and remained in hiding for a few days, and also to have sought refuge at Crimplesham. Having rested there for two or three days he set off on his fateful journey to the Scots at Southwell. During his reign, the present Bridge Street was known as King Charles' Way, but was also known as Cowgate Street before taking on its present title.In the sixth year of his reign, King John through the influence of the Abbot of Ramsey, granted Downham permission to hold an Annual Fair, and also the privilege of a gallows in the Town on which to hang criminals.

Since that time fairs have been visiting the Town, originally Statute Fairs for hiring servants, which were held at Michaelmas. However, over the years they have developed into amusement only and visit the Town after having started their annual tour at nearby King's Lynn on 14th February each year. The fair then divides and part of it visits Downham Market. A small fair also visits the Town on or near the original Michaelmas date.

It is said that Paradise lane (now Road) was so named by reason of the gallows being sited there, and that those poor souls about to suffer this fate were as close to Paradise, as they were ever likely to be, as they passed on. It is not clear when the gallows ceased to operate.

The Market for the Town was confirmed by Edward the Confessor, and was granted largely as a result of the efforts of the Abbott at Ramsey Abbey. Originally on Saturday, the present day market is now held on Fridays and Saturdays and passed into the control of the Borough Council in 1974 after the implementation of local Government Re-organisation.

The Batchcroft Charity dates from 1660, when the Reverend Thomas Batchcroft D.D., Master of Caius College, Cambridge, left £100 to be invested in land, the rents from this being used for charitable purposes among the poor.

At the inclosure of the Fen lands about one hundred acres, called the Hundred Acre Common, were vested with the Churchwardens of Downham Market, Wimbotsham and Stow Bardolph to be divided amongst the poor of the three parishes, after the expenses of drainage rates etc. had been paid.

The St. Winnold's Fayre, so named because it was held on St. Winnold's Day, used to be a prominent feature in Downham Market and was one of the largest Horse Fairs in the country. The Fair, which originated between the villages of Boughton and Wereham, was moved into the Town early in the nineteenth century from the Manor of Winwall in Wereham. Dealing would take place in the streets as well as on the Howdale.

Many thousands of horses were supplied to the Armed Forces from this source during the first World War.

The tidal river Great Ouse flows by the outskirts of the Town and a large Butter Market was held near the river every Monday in the early nineteenth century. Large quantities (3,000 firkins) of butter were transported by water to Cambridge, and thence to London as Cambridge butter. Both the Butter Market and the Fayre (the horses ranged on each side) are to be found represented in the Town Sign, situated on the West side of Church Road, opposite the junction with Howdale Road.

The remains of the town Green is still evident at this end of the Town in Railway Road where the road has a double bend, near the builders merchants. Cattle were allowed to be tethered there when brought up for selling or in times of flood on their pasture. Iron gates spanned the road and were closed to prevent the cattle wandering into the Town. On the opposite side of the road to the Green, stands the Old Maltings, now a garden centre. The malthouse building, which was late seventeenth century, produced the malt from the barley coming from the Fens, which would be sent to King's Lynn for export. Maltster's House, now Dial House, joins the Maltings and the chimney-like ventilator is still evident at the end of the building. Dial House became a Quaker school in the year 1811, and the Quaker burial ground extends into the garden of the local library.

Birds Mill (now Heygates) was built with a view to making use of the railway, which came to Downham in 1847. This method of transport was used extensively for getting sugar beet to the beet processing factory at Wissington, for moving goods to London and to the port at King's Lynn.

The Town Hall is mid Victorian and was erected as a jubilee memento in 1887. It is a building of white and moulded brick, relieved by brown carrstone panels in the Renaissance style, and designed by a firm of London architects for the Town Hall Company, who raised the capital (£1,700) to cover the cost of construction by public subscription, and came from people in all walks of life.

In 1836 a workhouse was erected at a cost of £5,000 and was of similar construction in white brick and carrstone. The existing High Haven Council home for the elderly in Howdale Road, now stands on the site of the old workhouse.

The County Court Hall, more recently a Magistrates Court. is situated on London Road between the junctions of Howdale Road and Ryston End. It was erected before the turn of the century and financed jointly by the parish and the Court Treasury. The reorganisation of the Courts in the area has led to the local Magistrates sitting in King's Lynn and the building now has an alternative use.

The Town Clock, built by William Cunliffe of London, is of Gothic design where the main construction of the base and the column above is octagonal. This supports a rectangular clock chamber having four dials. The roof is relieved by tracery and attempts have been made in recent years to prevent the elements gaining ingress through the gaps and playing havoc with the mechanism, which unfortunately is not original and was replaced several decades ago by a synchronous electric motor. The clock, at a cost of £450, was presented to the town by a local businessman, Mr. James Scott, in 1878 and stands at the junction of High Street and Bridge Street on the corner of the Market Place. 

 

 

Downham Market Town Clock 1930's 

 

 

Rare Colour Scene of the Clock at Downham Market when the Streets were cobbled

 A Farmers Market in the Market Place early 1900's

The Market Place Downham Mkt 1930's !

 

 Downham Market Clock in 2005

The Church dates from the 15th Century. The earlier construction was probably of wood, but the material used in the present building came from the carrstone quarry on the Howdale, whilst the corner stones and window surrounds came from Barnack, near Peterborough. There is a small shaft set in the outside wall of the north chapel which is probably a reminder of the original Norman construction. On the South side, by the priest's door, is an embedded crucifixion, perhaps the remainder of a churchyard Cross. The Crown and Arrows of St. Edmund will also be found inscribed on the Town Sign, referred to earlier.

Sounding Alley, which connects Church Road to the High Street is so called because of the one time presence of the old Thetford bell casting foundry. This was revived in 1750 by Thomas Osborn and continued casting until 1833.  

 

 

Admiral Lord Nelson

It is said that Lord Nelson attended his first school in Downham Market but the sites of the school he attended vary between authors.

The Eastern Electricity building in Bridge Street is favoured by some, the site of the old stables at Trafalgar House by others.

The Bank House in Bridge Street is another choice as well as the Furniture shop next door, known as Nelson House. This latter has also been suggested as the Nelson family residence for a short period, as well as being a school.

One common factor has persisted however, that of the schoolmaster's name, a Mr. Noakes (who has also been known as Mr. Nook and Mr. Nooke). It is said that this gentleman lived at Bank House and had at one time taught at Nelson's birthplace.Mee states categorically that Horatio Nelson attended school in the Town before going on to Norwich, but nothing that Nelson wrote himself has yet been uncovered that corroborates this.

 

 Captain George Manby 

Another famous person connected with the town also makes reference to Lord Nelson. This was Captain George Manby, the inventor of the famous rocket lifeline method of saving shipwrecked mariners, who was born in Denver.

He says he remembers Lord Nelson from his schooldays in Downham Market, and that the young Nelson used to make paper boats and sail them down the gully that carried the waste water down the centre of the street from the Town pump.

It is worth noting that it is because of letters Manby wrote to The Norfolk Archaeological Society, relating a friendship with Nelson, that resulted in the belief that Nelson went to school here in Downham Market. Nelson was seven years older than Manby and joined the Navy as soon as he reached the age of twelve.

The attractive market place is immediately identifiable by the splendidly unusual black and white clock. The town retains a really intimate feel, characterised by many fine historic buildings. 

Inculded are photographs of the old market town and and places the the R.A.F. Personnel stationed at Bexwell would visit when off duty. 

In the town, popular place were visited regular such as the Crown Hotel, Castle Hotel, Slys Cafe and the Town Hall. The surrounding villages like Denver, Hilgay, Stow Bridge, Crimplesham, Wimbotsham and Stow Bardoph all had popular place to visit. 

The Castle Hotel in  the 1940's Downham Market

 

The Railway Station at Downham Market in 1940's

Looking down the High Street from the Clock end of Downham Market in 1940's

 Harry Reeds in early 1940's

The Hare Arm's at Stow Bardolph 3 Miles from the Old Airfield on the A10 from Downham Market, Still there today serving up great Ale & Beers and Hot Food.

Sly's Cafe at Downham Market in 1944, In the late 1970's it was known as Waggs Cafe

 

 

 Town Hall at Downham Market 2002

 

 

The Union Building Downham Market Early 1900's

The Crown Hotel in 2002

In the summer of 1942, R.A.F. Downham Market was built to Class A specification, initially to serve as a satellite for Marham.

The airfield site was directly north-east of the small town of the same name, between the A10 and A1122 roads as existed at that time, with the usual technical and operational buildings adjacent to the former.

The public road from Wimbotsham to Crimplesham across the north of the site was closed. Messrs W & C French were the main contractors.

The lengths of the three concrete runways were 09-27 at 1,900 yards and 16-34 and 03-21 both at 1,400 yards.

The 36 pan hardstandings were put down but two were lost when a Bl hangar was built in the northwest corner of the airfield, west of runway head 16.

Six T2 hangars were erected during 1942-43, three being for glider storage.

Two were off the north side between runway heads 21 and 27; two were on the west side between 09 and 16 and south of the Bl hangar; a single T2 lay to the south-east between runway heads 27 and 34, and another on the technical site between runway heads 03 and 34 alongside the Downham Market road.

The bomb stores were in Lough Covert.

The dispersed camp, consisting of seven domestic and two communal sites for 1,719 males and 326 females was to the south of Bexwell Hall, requistioned at an early date for an officers' mess. 

The Airfield Under Construction by Messrs W & C French July 1942

R.A.F. DOWNHAM MARKET JULY 1942 TO DECEMBER 1946