Downham Market
Downham Market lies on the extreme western edge of
Norfolk on the banks of the River Great Ouse. Downstream
from Downham lies King's Lynn.
In the last chapter of Waterland by Graham
Swift - Tom Crick and his father travel by train to
Downham Market - then cycle to the Great Ouse where Dick
(Tom's brother) works on a dredger called the Rosa
II. However, before they can reach him, he commits
suicide by diving into the river.
River Great Ouse |
In his A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great
Britain Daniel Defoe had this to say about the town
and the surrounding area:
|
|
'From Lynn, I bent my course to Downham, where is an
ugly wooden bridge over the Ouse, from whence we passed
the fen country to Wisbech, but saw nothing that way to
tempt our curiosity but deep roads, innumerable drains
and dykes of water, all navigable, and a rich soil, the
land bearing a vast quantity of good hemp; but a base
unwholesome air.' |
There is an interesting old rhyme about the town:
|
Rising was, Lynn
is, and Downham shall be,
The greatest seaport of the three. |
See also The Fens.
|
Links:
Downham Market Town Council |
|
Supported
by Norfolk Tourism