Downham Market

Coordinates: 52°36′N 0°23′E / 52.60°N 0.39°E / 52.60; 0.39

Downham Market
Downham Market  Downham Market shown within Norfolk
Area	5.20 km2 (2.01 sq mi)
Population	6,730 (2001 Census)
- Density	1,294 /km2 (3,350 /sq mi)
OS grid reference	TF611032
District	King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
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	South West Norfolk
List of places: UK • England • Norfolk

Downham Market is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It lies on the edge of the Fens, on the River Great Ouse, some 20 km south of the town of King's Lynn, 60 km west of the city of Norwich and the same distance north of the city of Cambridge.^[1]

The civil parish has an area of 5.2 km² and in the 2001 census had a population of 6,730 in 3,258 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.^[2] It is part of South West Norfolk parliamentary constituency.

It was an agricultural centre, developing as a market for the produce of the Fens with a bridge across the Ouse. During the Middle Ages, it was famed for its butter market and also hosted a notable horse fair.

Notable buildings in the town include its mediaeval parish church, dedicated to St Edmund, and Victorian clock tower, constructed in 1878. The town is also known as the place where Charles I hid after the Battle of Naseby. The town has recently undergone a regeneration project on the Market Place, moving the market to the town hall car park. The decorative town sign depicts the crown and arrows of St Edmund with horses to show the importance of the horse fairs in the town's history.

Transport

Downham Market railway station

Downham Market railway station, which serves the town, is on the Fen Line from London to King's Lynn.

Education

There are two primary schools in Downham Market: Hillcrest and Clackclose. The town has one High School, Downham Market High School and a sixth form college, Downham Market College.

Notable residents

• Isaac Casaubon (1559–1614), classical scholar and philologist, spent time in the town.
• George William Manby (1765–1854), inventor of a lifesaving rocket and the first modern form of fire extinguisher, was educated in the town.
• George Henry Dashwood (1801–1869), antiquary, was born in the town.
• Father Oswald Baker (1915–2004), controversial Catholic priest, lived in the town.
• Patrick Holman (1945-), cricketer, was born in the town.

See also

• Downham Town F.C.

References

1. ^ Ordnance Survey (1999). OS Explorer Map 236 – King's Lynn, Downham Market & Swaffham. ISBN 0-319-21867-8.
2. ^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved December 2, 2005.

External links

• Information from Genuki Norfolk on Downham Market.
• Downham Market Town Council