About Swaffham

Experience and enjoy Swaffham’s rich heritage

old image
modern image

Family friendly Norfolk market town

Swaffham is an attractive, family friendly Norfolk market town which sits at the very northern point of the Brecks, an area of outstanding tranquillity and beauty which stretches across Norfolk & Suffolk.

Explore the Market Place

Market Place
Places of Interest People of Swaffham

The church of St Peter and Paul

The first church in Swaffham, as far as we know, may have been built in the 11th-13th centuries but had collapsed by the early 15th century leaving few details and a great many debts.

The then rector, the Swaffham born Dr John Botright, was determined to collect the debts and have a new church built and funded by the people of Swaffham. The transactions are recorded in the still extant Black Book of Swaffham.

The Pedlar of Swaffham / John Chapman’s donation of a north aisle complete with stained glass windows, a roof and a marble floor is recorded in the book.


The new church was built in a 15th century perpendicular style with an early 16th century double hammer beam oak roof with 192 angels carved in chestnut.

The tower was also built in the early 16th century and carries the crossed keys of St Peter and the crossed swords of St Paul.

The church and tower were completed by 1533.


The flèche or spike on top of the tower dates from 1778 but was rebuilt in 1897, and the church clock from 1856. In the churchyard were once the vicarage, the rectory and the first workhouse.

The house to the north may originally have been a guildhouse but was also used as a school and the parish clerk’s house. There are several graves of the Carter family here.


Inside are stained glass windows and pew wood carvings including the original medieval Chapman pew, although now cut into two.

On the north side the windows are said to depict the Chapman family.

A memorial to Catherine Steward, the grandmother of Oliver Cromwell who held land here, is on the Lady Chapel wall and William Morris designed the Memorial window close by which depicts scenes from the Great War.

On Swaffham’s doorstep

To the south west is the wonderful Oxburgh Hall, a National Trust property. Travel north and visit Castle Acre, a Norman settlement. Here the Peddars Way National Trail crosses the picturesque River Nar.

Castle Acre has one of the largest and best preserved Cluniac monastic sites in England (English Heritage). Scenes from Stephen Poliakoff’s film ‘Glorious 39’ were shot here.

Swaffham has featured in other dramas such as Dad’s Army, Love on a Branch Line, Hello Hello and, most recently, Kingdom with Stephen Fry, also filmed in Wells-Next-Sea and Burnham Market.

Local attractions, activities and entertainment include Westacre Theatre, Gooderstone Water Gardens, the Iceni Village, wild life and nature reserves, local gardens (National Garden Scheme), fishing, golf (Swaffham), walking and bird watching.

In nearby Thetford Forest visit Go Ape, Grime’s Graves, hire a bike and enjoy horse riding,

The church of St Mary at Houghton-on-the-Hill near North Pickenham dates from around 1090 and its nave walls carry some of the oldest and best wall paintings in the country. There is a possible connection with William de Warenne of Castle Acre Priory.

Swaffham is a great base to explore Norfolk and Suffolk, including the North Norfolk Coast, the Norfolk Broads and Norwich. Only 2 hours from London by train.

Swaffham’s historical link to Tutankhamun

Discover the story of Howard Carter’s link with Swaffham and how his life here lead him to finding the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922

People of Swaffham

Popular historical attractions

Swaffham Market Place

The Shambles

East Side

North Side

West Side

Do you know Swaffham?

Do you live here, did you live here and do you know of any interesting, historical facts you’d like to share with us.

We’d love to hear from you!

Get in touch