Watton: Market, Nature and History

Watton brings together a range of themes to help you plan your stay: a regular market, prominent buildings, local collections and scenic places. The Wednesday market adds a regular weekly highlight. Church architecture and exhibitions offer ways to explore the town’s history, while Wayland Wood and Loch Neaton bring in different nature and landscape themes. You can shape your stay around whichever of these aspects interests you most.

Wednesday Market and Historic Traces

Watton’s market takes place every Wednesday and offers a wide range of goods. If you want to include market day in your plans, Wednesday is the relevant day of the week; check the market details before you travel. The market’s history is also tangible: its market charter was granted during the reign of King John, between 1190 and 1216. The recurring Wednesday market and the medieval charter connect the town’s present-day rhythm with a long-standing historical link.

Church, Gallery and Local History

St Mary’s is a church in the town centre, with a Norman round tower and wide Victorian aisles. The different architectural styles give you specific features to look out for as you view the building. Inside, there is also a wooden poor box bearing the inscription “Remember the Poore 1639”.

St Mary’s was regularly open on Wednesdays and Thursdays on a seasonal basis; at other times, access could be arranged with a key. Check current access arrangements before visiting. This distinguishes the historic opening arrangements from whether a visit is currently possible.

The Wayland Dragonfly Gallery is a gallery and visitor information centre in Wayland House on Watton’s High Street. It is run by a non-profit community organisation. There is an exhibition there during most months of the year; the programme may change. If you want to include the gallery in your stay, check in advance which exhibition is currently on view.

Museum 4 Watton covers the history of the RAF and USAF, the “Crab and Winkle Line” railway, local businesses and Watton’s social history. Other exhibition topics include local coins, among them a gold coin of the Iceni and medieval and later coins. Loch Neaton is also among the subjects covered. The museum therefore brings military, economic, social and numismatic aspects together.

Other historic buildings offer specific dates and functions to help put them in context: Wayland Hall is a civic building erected by E. B. Lamb in 1853. The Clock Tower is a lock-up and clock tower dating from 1679; its clock dates from 1825 and its wooden cupola from 1820. The different dates refer to different parts of the Clock Tower, so they should not be read as a single construction date.

Landscape and Leisure Activities

Wayland Wood lies just south of Watton and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Loch Neaton was created as a recreational area from a gravel pit west of the railway line, with a large pond at its centre. The town acquired the site in 1906. This sequence distinguishes the creation of the site from its later acquisition by the town: 1906 refers to the purchase of the site.

The Watton Sports & Social Club offers outdoor football pitches, an AstroTurf pitch and an all-weather pitch. Indoors, there are badminton, squash and snooker facilities, as well as sports halls for indoor football, basketball, netball and table tennis. If you want to use any of these facilities, check availability before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Dereham, Whissonsett, Costessey, Hempstead, Hevingham, Yaxham, Attleborough, Tivetshall St. Margaret.

For the main travel overview: Norfolk.