Wymondham

(pronounced win-dum)

    Market day:  Friday

    Farmers' market:  9am to 1pm 3rd Saturday in each month

    Early closing:  Wednesday

    Population (2001):  12,539

Wymondham is the largest town in south Norfolk (Wymondham was granted the charter for its Friday market by King John in 1204, but that is a century after the building of Wymondham Abbey).

The principal shopping area of the town is laid out around the Wymondham Market Cross which was itself a place of trade. Wymondham has a wide range of shops, many of them independent, as well as Waitrose and smaller branches of some of the multiples like Boots, McColls and Somerfield.

Amongst the idependent stores are The Marmalade Tree, which offers interesting gifts and items for the home, Dragonfly, with some nice ladies' clothing, Middleton's and First Footing independent shoe shops, Mervyn's Hot Bread Oven, a small branch of Jarrolds, the Norwich-based family-owned department store and George R Reeve, which sells a wide range of stationery and artists' requisites. Of course, there are also antique shops to be browsed and inns such as the Cross Keys and the 15th Century Green Dragon and tea rooms for refreshment.

The current building of Wymondham Market Cross, opened in 1618, now houses the Wymondham Tourist Information Centre and makes a fine setting for the Farmers' Market and other events held in the Market Place.

Wymondham was once a renowned centre for woodturning, which eventually evolved into brush making, an industry which lasted until the Briton Brush Company closed its factory there in 1983. The Wymondham Heritage Museum has a permanent brush making display.

Wymondham owes its prominence to the twin-towered Wymondham Abbey, founded in 1107, but not becoming an Abbey until the 15th Century.

The central octagonal tower was built by the monks, while the large western tower was built by the towns people. When the Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII, all of the Abbey domestic buildings were demolished as well as the eastern end of the Church, which had belonged to the monks. The western part was retained as the Parish Church, which function it still serves.

Wymondham Abbey makes a very special venue for some of the events in the Wymondham Music Festival, held each year in the early summer.

Perhaps the most famourt historical figure to be associated with Wymondham was Robert Kett, who, in 1549, led Kett's Rebellion, an uprising against social injustice, aimed at bringing attention to the economic problems faced by agricultural workers. Robert Kett, along with his brother William, was executed as a traitor when the rebellion failed.

Now the home of the award-winning Wymondham Heritage Museum, with many displays of local history, the 'bridewell' or House of Correction was opened in Wymondham some time between 1598 and 1619. In 1779 John Howard, the prison reformer, condemned the old building as "one of the vilest in the country" and the present building was erected by 1785. The first to be built to John Howard's recommendations, the building became a prototype for new prisons both in England and America.

The historic Wymondham railway station was built in 1845, on the Norwich to Ely line. Still providing a rail link with Norwich, Cambridge, London, the Midlands and the North-West, the award winning station has been restored and its buildings house the Brief Encounter themed restaurant and tea rooms, piano showroom, a railway museum and gift shop.

In fact, Wymondham has two stations. The other, Wymondham Abbey Station, marks one end of the railway line operated by the Mid-Norfolk Railway, which runs from Wymondham, through the Tiffey Valley via Hardingham and thence to Dereham.

Contact details

• Brief Encounter Tea Room 01953 606433
• Mid-Norfolk Railway 01362 690633
• Turners Piano showroom 01263 712244
• Wymondham Abbey 01953 607062
• Wymondham Heritage Museum 01953 606433
• Wymondham Music Festival 01953 601939
• Wymondham Tourist Information Centre 01953 604721

Guests say ...

"Found Holt, Aylsham and Wymondham all very nice - as England was 40 years ago without all the chain stores that dominate the high streets. Especially recommend Byfords in Holt for ready-prepared meals."     C&B L

"Wymondham is lovely and very friendly butcher at the bottom of the hill."
    -The M Family, Surrey