WYMONDHAM

Wymondham is an attractive, historic Norfolk market town with its red roofs and the massive towers of the Abbey church set against green fields of the Tiffey Valley. While Wymondham has changed with the times, it has maintained its market town atmosphere with an attractive town centre, some outstanding old buildings, a good range of shops and other facilities. Like many East Anglian towns, Wymondham earned its wealth from wool, but another industry which survived in the town was the making of small wooden objects - spoons for example - and some of the streets of Wymondham take their name from this, such as Spooner Row. Wymondham has a magnificent, twin tower Abbey, founded in 1107 by William d'Albini and has been adapted over the centuries. Finally, make sure your do not miss Wymondham railway station - which has been restored and its buildings house a museum, gift shop, themed restaurant and tea room.

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We start our tour of Wymondham in the centre of town at the Market Cross. This cross was built in 1617 at a cost of £25! and yet repairs in 1989 cost £95,000! Set out around the Market Cross is Wymondham main shopping area, containing some lovely mid-seventeeth century properties and narrow medieval streets.

At the lower end of town is Becket's Chapel, which was founded in 1174 by William d'Albini, son of the founder of the Abbey. It was used as a grammar school in 1559 and then as coal store from the early 1800's. It is now houses the Wymondham library.

There are plenty of facilities in Wymondham town centre for a refreshment - from pubs to tea rooms.

Moving away from the main shopping street towards Beckets Chapel, we come to the Wymondham town sign. This sign depicts scenes from the Wymondham past wood turning industry.

Moving down towards Wymondham Abbey, we come to The Green Dragon Pub. This late fifteenth century building, standing next to the Abbey gate, once served as a hostelry for Abbey visitors. It is the oldest inn in Wymondham, with Tudor windows from the sixteenth century. Well worth a swift pint to take a look inside!

Wymondham Abbey was founded in 1107 by William d'Albini and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Alban, this was later changed to St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury.

When built, the church was intended to serve both Benedictine Monks and the parishioners of Wymondham. However, quarrels between the two groups over issues such as bell ringing lead to each faction building their own tower!

The parishioners built the great west tower ...

and the monks built the east tower (now a ruin).

At the Dissolution in 1538 the Abbey church was granted to the people of Wymondham and a wall was built blocking up the Monks tower! Sir Ninian Cooper designed a great gilded screen, and dedicated it to the young men who had fallen in the First World War.

Adjacent to the Abbey is the Abbey Hotel ...

and this lovely cottage - called "Bell Cottage".

And finally, do not miss Wymondham railway station. Built in 1845 and on the Norwich to Ely line, the station once employed over 100 staff! The station still links Norwich, London, Cambridge and the Midlands with train services. This award wining station has been restored and one of its buildings houses a railway museum. There is also a "Brief Encounter" themed restaurant, complete with stations masters lounge (can be hired out) and a tea-room.

Wymondham a summary of what to SEE and DO