Watton, Norfolk
| Watton | |
| Norfolk | |
|---|---|
 Watton Clock Tower | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TF916008 |
| Location: | 52°34’17"N, 0°49’33"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 6,819 (2001) |
| Post town: | Watton |
| Postcode: | IP25 |
| Dialling code: | 01953 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Breckland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South West Norfolk |
| Website: | http://www.wattontowncouncil.gov.uk/ |
Watton is a small market town in Norfolk, at the crossroads of the A1075 Dereham to Thetford road and the B1108 Brandon-Norwich Road, about 25 miles west of Norwich.
The civil parish covers an area of 1,779 acres with about 6,800 inhabitants in 3,000 households.
The Domesday Book records that the village of Watton (or Wadetuna) had at that time a church and a manor house.
Wednesday market
A market is currently held every Wednesday, between 9 o'clock and 1 o'clock, although stalls are often seen on the high street well after this time. Like many Norfolk markets Watton market always has a wide variety of fresh sea produce available usually caught the previous day, and often has available such regional delicacies as samphire and fresh water crayfish.
The Lord of Watton Hall, John de Vaux, obtained a charter for a market to be held on Fridays. However the people of nearby Saham Toney complained to the King that the market was harming their own held on the same day. Their complaints were upheld and the charter was withdrawn. John de Vaux conveyed the manor to his brother Oliver, who was evidently on better terms with the King since he immediately obtained a new charter for a Wednesday market. The market centred on Market Square in front of Wayland Hall, and as it grew it spread westwards along High Street.
A market cross stood in the square supported by eight oak pillars. This cross was demolished in 1820 and replaced by a milestone showing the distances to neighbouring towns.[1]
Wayland Wood
The nearby Wayland Wood is the setting of the old English ballad The Babes in the Wood. First published in 1595, it tells the tale of two Norfolk children abandoned and left to die in the woods by their uncle. The legend is depicted on the town sign, which occupies a prominent position in High Street in front of the clock tower.
Wayland wood is a popular dog walking and relaxation spot (although dogs are banned this rule is unenforced). The wood is now a nature reserve, owned by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Clock Tower
The clock tower of Watton was built in 1679 by Christopher Hey, a wealthy mercer. The tower was built to hold a fire warning bell following the 'Great Fire of Watton' that destroyed more than sixty properties in 1674.[2] This early warning bell, known as 'Ting-Tang' sits in an ornate cupola on top of the tower.[1] The brick tower was rendered with cement and a new clock, donated by a local citizen, was installed in 1827. To commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935, a new clock face was installed.
The clock still runs, and the building now houses a tourist and local information centre.
Watton Airfield
Watton hosted a large RAF station for many years namely RAF Watton, and this had a major effect on the town. The RAF station ended its days as a Transport Command airfield and as a radar station, as well as providing housing for many RAF personnel and their families.[3] It is now only used for gliders and part of the old military land became the location for Wayland Prison.
The airfield is also used by the USAF from the nearby RAF Mildenhall for training, using C-130 Hercules aeroplanes for refuelling exercises and parachute training. It is also part of the Stanford Training Area (STANTA) and used for army training purposes.
Wayland Show
The annual Wayland Show is one of Norfolk's oldest agricultural events having been held for over 130 years. Held in August the show attracts crowds of more than 5,000 people[4] to see displays of livestock, fur and feathers. The event also features displays of classic cars, vintage tractors, gun dogs, falconry and horse and carriage rides amongst others and is held at the western side of Watton, with the show ground being accessed off Brandon Road.
Sports & Social Club
Watton's Sports Centre was built in three separate stages between 1973 and 1984. The first stage was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk in 1974, and consisted of a main games hall, bar area, committee rooms, changing rooms and a car park. The second stage contained two squash courts and a meeting room and was opened by the chairman of the National Playing Fields Association in 1976. The third phase was completed in 1983 using profits generated from stages one and two and provided facilities for five-a-side football, cricket nets, badminton and basketball. The centre is home to Watton United FC.
Watton and Griston Link
As part of the Sustrans Connect2 project proposals are in place to create a cycling and walking route between Watton and the village of Griston. The new route would follow the eastern boundary of Watton airfield and provide a shorter, traffic free alternative to the A1075.[5] A schematic map of the scheme has been published online.[6]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Watton, Norfolk) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Watton through the Ages by George Jessop - The History of Watton, Norfolk
- ↑ The Watton & Swaffham Times
- ↑ http://www.rafwatton.info/ RAF Watton History
- ↑ Watton and Swaffham Times - Text Only
- ↑ "Watton and Griston Link". Sustrans. http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/schemes/project_detail.php?id=74. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ↑ "Watton and Griston Link Schematic Map". Sustrans. http://carbon.sustransconnect2.org.uk/files/projects/74_pdf.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-07.