Watton, Norfolk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Watton | |
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| Population | 6,800 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Breckland |
| Shire county | Norfolk |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WATTON |
| Postcode district | IP25 |
| Dial code | 01953 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | South West Norfolk |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Norfolk | |
Watton is a market town of approximately 6,800 inhabitants (2001 census) in the Breckland district of the English county of Norfolk.
The Domesday Book records that Watton (or Wadetuna) featured a church, manor house and Anglo-Saxon settlement.
Watton is twinned with the town of Weeze, Germany.
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[edit] Wednesday Market
A market is currently held every Wednesday. Between 1200 and 1204 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 Their complaints were upheld and the charter was withdrawn.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.
[edit] 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 the High Street in front of the Clock Tower.
[edit] Clock Tower
The Clock Tower of Watton was built in the late 1670s by Christopher Hey, a wealthy mercer. The clock is still working today and the building is home to a Tourist and Local Information Centre.
[edit] Watton Airfield
Watton hosted a large RAF base for many years, and this had a major effect on the town. The RAF station ended its days as a transport command base and as a radar station, as well as providing housing for many RAF personnel and their families. Part of the old military land became a prison (Wayland).
