In 2015, Swaffham market celebrated 800 years of trading. Over the last few of months of 2018, specialist restoration of our distinctive town centre landmark has been beautifully completed.
To be fair, no one really knows when the market began! Perhaps it had evolved from the days of barter amongst early settlers; perhaps an enterprising Saxon or Norman businessman had set up a stall one day?
But what we do know that on 22nd June 1183 during the reign of King John, it very nearly didn’t survive at all because the King issued a writ that the market in Swaffham must cease if it interfered with the one at nearby Dunham. Thankfully history would prove him to be wrong!
The original market cross was built in 1575, as Swaffham prospered and it became the “place to be seen”, the Gentry flocked to enjoy the air!
In 1783, Lord Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford built and gifted the town a new elegant market cross, the Butter Cross, so named because butter (Cambridge Butter) was collected here in great quantities to be sent to London.