Discover Downham Market, Norfolk: a historic town where King Charles I sought refuge after the English Civil War.
Downham Market, located in Norfolk, has medieval roots and Victorian buildings. It also provided shelter for King Charles I after he lost the English Civil War.
The town sits on the edge of the Fens and was once a vital market, being one of Norfolk’s oldest. Downham Market was known for butter and horse markets. People call it “Gingerbread Town” because many buildings use distinctive carrstone.
King Charles I hid in The Swan Inn. He disguised himself as a clergyman on May Day in 1646, after losing the Battle of Naseby, to avoid capture. The king even got a haircut in Downham Market, but a barber commented that it was a rough cut.
Charles changed his look and then tried to escape, hoping the Scottish army would protect him from Parliament. Ultimately, he went to Newark and gave himself up on May 5th, 1646. The Scots then handed him to Parliament, receiving £100,000 for it.
Charles was imprisoned for three years as Parliament argued about his fate. He briefly escaped on the Isle of Wight in 1647, but they quickly recaptured him.
After failed talks and another civil war, Charles was tried. He faced charges of high treason in 1649, leading to a death sentence. Charles died on January 30th, 1649, executed outside Whitehall in London.
Downham Market’s history stretches back over 2,000 years, and the town still features many historical landmarks. The black and white clock tower stands in the market square, built in 1878. The town hall finished construction in the late 19th century.
St Edmund’s Church, the medieval parish church, overlooks the town and has been a key landmark for centuries.
House prices are affordable in Downham Market. Rightmove says the average price last year was £262,952. Detached homes sold for £316,392, semi-detached properties fetched £223,712, and terraced houses averaged £213,711.
The town is near Cambridge and King’s Lynn, making it a popular commuter location. It has good transport links, including a railway station.
The Fen Line offers direct services to London. A market runs on Fridays and Saturdays. Local historian Kathleen Wiseman stated the town has been touched by many events in history.