Official Visitor Website
Back to Breckland & Thetford Forest Breckland & Thetford Forest

Swaffham

The name of the town derives from the Old English Swǣfa hām = “the homestead of the Swabians”; some of them presumably came with the Angles and Saxons.

By the 14th and 15th centuries Swaffham had a flourishing sheep and wool industry. As a result of this prosperity, the town has a large market place. The market cross here was built by George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford and presented to the town in 1783. On the top is the statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of the harvest.

Description
Description

Swaffham is an attractive, family friendly Norfolk market town which sits at the very northern point of the Brecks, an area of outstanding tranquillity and beauty which stretches across Norfolk & Suffolk.

Swaffham’s fine Georgian buildings are a reminder that this town has long been a commercial centre – reputed to be a one-time favourite of Lord Nelson. Amongst its more famous sons was Howard Carter, the Egyptologist who discovered Tutankhamun, celebrated in the excellent town museum. There is a bustling Saturday Market and twice monthly Farmer’s Market. The church of St Peter and Paul, is one of the finest medieval churches with its magnificent double hammer-beam angel roof and carvings depicting the Pedlar of Swaffham, John Chapman.

Swaffham has featured in dramas such as Dad’s Army, Love on a Branch Line, Hello Hello and, most recently, Kingdom with Stephen Fry.

Visit the EcoTech centre and climb up the 300 steps inside the wind turbine to enjoy the superb views as far as Ely Cathedral and enjoy their organic gardens.
The Brecks Food and Drink festival held in Swaffham on the 14th, 15th and 16th September is set to be even better than before! Local restaurants, attractions, retailers and schools come together in Swaffham as part of the increasingly popular month long Norfolk Food Festival.