History of Swaffham

The town of Swaffham is believed to have existed as early as the Bronze and Iron Ages with excavations providing evidence to support inhabitance at this time. Although this is so, it was not known as Swaffham until Saxon times, shortly after the Romans left the area to defend their home city against the barbarians.

In medieval times, cows and sheep were auctioned off at the Saturday market (located at the centre of the town) and there is still a Saturday market to this day where you can purchase all sorts of things including clothes, gadgets and machinery.

There were Roman settlements on the site of Swaffham and many coins from the period have been found, some near Peddars Way. Peddars Way is an ancient track running from North to South of East Anglia, starting in Holme-next-the-sea on the North Norfolk coast, going through Norfolk, and ending in Suffolk.

The Pedlar of Swaffham

The town has a tale, partly fact, partly legend, about a local Pedlar, John Chapman, who had a dream and so went to London to seek his fortune. Legend has it that he was about to throw himself off Tower Bridge when a stranger told him about a dream where, in a distant village he had seen buried treasure. The pedlar recognised the strangers description as his own garden and swiftly returned home where he dug up two pots of gold from under a tree.

The pedlar then funded the building of the North Side of the church in Swaffham to show his gratitude, because of this the town's sign contains an image of him and church bench carvings supposedly depicting him and his wife.

Also in the town centre is the Market Cross (or Butter Cross). This was built in 1783 and has eight stone columns which supports a dome surmounted by the figure of Ceres, the Roman goddess.

Howard Carter, who was responsible for the unearthing of the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamen, once lived in Swaffham. More information about him can be found in the town museum.

Four miles north of Swaffham, in the village of Castle Acre, where a 12th century castle still remains. Castle Acre also has a Priory which is one of the finest monastic ruins in Britain and the 14th century church boasts a rare wine glass pulpit.