This booklet traces the fascinating history of this Norfolk market town from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the rapidly expanding community of today.
Watton: A Place of Considerable Thoroughfare traces the fascinating history of this Norfolk market town from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the rapidly expanding community of today. First recorded in the Domesday Book, Watton developed around its medieval market, which became the heart of local trade and attracted merchants, craftsmen and visitors.
The booklet explores the people, businesses and industries that shaped the town, from medieval cloth and grocery traders to butter factors, maltsters and brewers. It tells the story of the devastating fire of 1674 and the building of Watton’s iconic Clock Tower, while examining everyday community life, education, religion and the care of the poor.
Later sections chart Watton’s Victorian growth, the arrival of the railway, the development of RAF Watton, two world wars and the transformation of the town since 1945. Rich in detail and local characters, this is a story of a resilient market town shaped by trade, enterprise, community and continual change.
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