High Street Culture
Find out what’s coming up in our four-year programme of cultural activity across England's High Streets Heritage Action Zones, continuing until 2024.
The main goals of the Swaffham High Street Heritage Action Zone are to improve, repair and restore the historic buildings surrounding the main market place and create an improved experience for the local community and visitors.
Swaffham Market Place has a rich history dating back to key trading routes at the end of the Roman period. The iconic Buttercross, which forms a central focus to the Market Place, was gifted to the town by George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford in 1783. There are 34 listed buildings of architectural interest linked to the High Street Heritage Action Zone area include Ceres Pharmacy, the Kings Arms Public House and the Post Office.
The Market Place is described as 'car dominated' based on the volume of cars that come through the town and the amount of car parking available throughout this central area. The traffic and parking distracts from the wealth of historic buildings surrounding the marketplace.
In partnership with Breckland Council, the Swaffham High Street Heritage Action Zone aims to improve, repair and restore the historic buildings and shop fronts. It will also enhance the public realm surrounding the main Market Place area and deliver a Market Place master plan to reduce traffic and create an improved experience for both the local community and visitors.
Find out what’s coming up in our four-year programme of cultural activity across England's High Streets Heritage Action Zones, continuing until 2024.
Below you can find just some of the progress being made in the Swaffham High Street Heritage Action Zone. For more, follow us on Twitter @HistoricEngland
There's a wealth of historic buildings surrounding Market Place. Please click on the gallery images to enlarge.
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