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Stowmarket

Stowmarket sits between Bury St Edmunds to the west and Ipswich to the southeast and adjacent to the town of Needham Market, and lies on the River Gipping, which is joined by its tributary, the River Rat, to the south of the town.

The town takes its name from the Old English word stōw meaning “principal place”, and was granted a market charter in 1347 by Edward III. A bi-weekly market is still held there today on Thursday and Saturday.

Today, Stowmarket combines its history with plenty of modern development – notwithstanding its original charm. The town centre, with its array of independent shops and familiar brands, maintains a traditional market town feel.

Stowmarket’s location in the Gipping Valley provides people living there with easy access to picturesque countryside. The town is surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, offering numerous walking and cycling opportunities.

The town draws a varied population, from families attracted by good schools and green spaces to professionals appreciating the quieter pace of life while maintaining easy access to larger towns and cities.

Architecture: Stowmarket contains a range of architectural styles, with the town centre sporting Georgian and Victorian properties, including terraced houses and townhouses. On the outskirts, you’ll find post-war developments and modern estates. Notable properties include the Church of St Peter and St Mary (C14th) and the 16th Century former Vicarage, now comprising the Town Council offices, which are associated with John Milton.

Developments: Stowmarket has grown markedly in recent years. The Cedars Park development on the eastern edge of town has added modern family homes with further development taking place at Northfield View, on the Northern edge of the town.

There are a great number of ways to get to and around Stowmarket. Explore a few of the options below, and see which one work best for you.

• Car & Road: Stowmarket is situated on the A14, providing easy access to Bury St Edmunds (20 minutes) and Ipswich (25 minutes). The nearby A140 connects to Diss (25 minutes) with London approximately 90 minutes away
• Train: Stowmarket is fortunate to have a mainline train station with regular services to London Liverpool St, Cambridge, Norwich, Peterborough, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
• Cycling and Walking: Stowmarket town centre is compact and easy to navigate on foot. The Gipping valley offers scenic cycling and walking routes along the river.
• Nearest Airport: London Stansted Airport is the closest major airport, approximately 45 miles away, reachable in about 60 minutes by car.

Stowmarket boasts several attractions that showcase its history and talents.

• Haughley Park is an historical house situated in Haughley to the west of the town, of some significance, listed in the English Heritage Register. It is a large red brick country house built in about 1620 for the Sulyard family who were very prominent landowners locally.
• Opened in 1967, The Food Museum (formerly the Museum of East Anglian Life) occupies a 70-acre (28 ha) site close to the town centre.
• The Regal Theatre cinema has been in operation in the town centre for more than fifty years, offering films, concerts and theatre productions.
• The former corn exchange underwent a £1 million refurbishment in 2012 to become a music venue, art gallery and theatre named the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts.
• Stowmarket has held an annual carnival for over sixty years. The main event is held in the recreation park featuring a funfair, a procession through the town and local entertainment.

Stommarket offers a range of amenities that cater to daily needs and leisure activities, maintaining its market town character.

• Shopping: The town centre along High Street features a variety of independent boutiques, family-run butchers, and bakers.
• Leisure: Stowmarket is home to a handful of gyms and also boasts its own leisure centre complete with swimming pools, climbing wall, bowls green, gym, and artificial turf football pitch.
• Parks: Pikes Meadow is popular as a spot for informal picnics and games and has an outdoor gym and football goals and a basketball court.
• Eating and Drinking: The town boasts a variety of cafés, pubs and restaurants catering to different tastes.

Stowmarket’s job market shows its transition from a traditional manufacturing town to a more varied economic base. While some chemical engineering remains, the town has seen growth in retail, services, and small businesses mostly notably being the home of HaloITSM, one of the countries largest software companies.

The town centre provides employment in retail and hospitality sectors, with independent shops and eateries complementing larger chains. The twice-weekly market also supports local employment.