Market Towns In Norfolk

R ural England is rightly          church holds lunchtime music       famous for its market towns     concerts. The town also has a      as they are often the life      museum of local life, with         blood of the local community.         stories and history of Diss and    Norfolk has some of the UK’s most     the people who have lived there.   interesting and historical small                                         towns and they offer                  The market town of Alysham also    holidaymakers a great way to get      has a very long and chequered      to know the local area.               history. The town predates Norman                                        times, and its layout is of        Norfolk has good range of large       national importance because of     and small market towns, each with     its unusual narrow alleys, or      their own individual identity. In     ‘lokes’ as they are locally        the south of the county is the        known, and over 200 listed         town of Diss, which borders the       buildings. If you venture just     county of Suffolk. The major          outside the town, Blickling Hall,  attraction in the market place,       a National Trust property, is      at the heart of the town, is the      well worth a visit. This very      Parish Church of St Mary the          attractive Jacobean house, with    Virgin. Sitting slightly above        extensive gardens, has been used   surrounding buildings, the Church     as a location for a range of       can be seen for miles around and      films and also plays host to open  has stood on its current site         air concerts throughout the year.  since 1290 – making it one of the                                        oldest in the county. Over the                                           years the church has undergone a      Wymondham, which used to be on     number structural changes, but        the main London to Norwich route   visitors can still see fine           during the middle ages, is one of  examples of gothic architecture.      the county’s prettiest towns. The  During the summer months the          town boasts a fantastic Abbey,     traditional Market Cross and          dates back to 1200. But the town   medieval streets. It’s real claim     is probably most famous for its    to fame however is that it was        racecourse which hold events       the birthplace of the Kett’s          throughout the year and attracts   rebellion, as the famous oak tree     the some of the worlds best        where the plot was hatched stands     jockeys.                           just outside the town.                                                                                         The town of Swaffham has recently  Downham Market, a short drive         been made famous by the new        from the historic port of King’s      Stephen Fry drama ‘Kingdom’. The   Lynn, dates back to Saxon times.      popular ITV drama has shown the    The town has a wealth of              town in all its glory and has      interesting historic buildings,       included views of the large        including the unique gothic           market place and the recently      designed black and white clock        restored Assembly Rooms. The town  tower which is made from wrought      is also famous for its two large   iron. Downham is also famous for      wind turbines at the Ecotech       the events that are held in the       Centre – which is a great place    town. These include its annual        to visit.                          music festival, St Winnold’s                                             Fayre, and a water festival with      Holt is possibly the jewel in the  Dragon Boat Racing and sailing        crown of Norfolk towns, and as a   displays on the local rivers.         result has become one of the most                                        fashionable places to visit in     Fakenham, once voted the best         the UK. The town has a great       place to live in the UK, is in        array of local shops, top quality  the heart of rural Norfolk. The       delicatessens, butcher and         town, like so many others in the      fishmongers. It is also home to    area, has a rich history and          the Norfolk institution Bakers     includes a market square which        and Larners – a very upmarket      department store.                      About the Author: So whether you are looking for history, events, following in the footsteps of celebrities, or hanging out with the in crowd, Norfolk’s market towns have something to offer everyone. For more details, please visit - http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/norfolk/norfolk-market-towns.aspx Published At: www.Isnare.com