Downham Market Photo Gallery 2

The Howdale is an area of open public land of approximately 6 acres in area,

situated in the centre of Town to the south of Bexwell Road and through which runs  Howdale Road from its junction with Bexwell Road opposite the High School to London Road opposite the Town Sign.  

Its history is uncertain, various theories having been put forward. 

One concerns a deed of gift which was made on 5th December 1692 giving the land to the Town by Sarah Howee and Dallee, requesting that it be known as " The Howdale". 

Another theory is that it was left by two ladies called Howdale, but various researchers have examined the public records in Somerset House and the Probate Registry but have been unable to prove either of these stories. 

An Official Guide to Downham Market from the early 1950's states that "the land originally belonged to the Lord of the Manor of Stow Bardolph, and the late Sir Thomas Hare, then Lord of The Manor, for a nominal sum, transferred all his rights and interests in it to the Council in 1932".

Situated on the Howdale is a children's' play area, and the whole Howdale is used each year as the main arena for the annual Festival, usually held in the last week of May. 

At the eastern end of the Howdale you will find the remains of the Town Pump, in a non-operational form, having been moved there from its original location on the Market Place

Downham Market is well served by Schools, having the main High School situated in Bexwell Road, the Sixth Form Centre off Ryston Road, and primary schools at both Clackclose and Hillcrest. 

The present site of the Sixth Form Centre was opened in 1931 and was until the mid 1980's the Town's Grammar School, before being merged with the Secondary Modern school at Bexwell Road into what is now known as the High School. Extra buildings have been  added in recent years to give its present appearance.

The High School site at Bexwell Road was originally built as Downham Market Secondary Modern Boys and Girls School in the post Second World War period, merging with the Grammar School as detailed previously. 

There are now a total number of approximately 1300 pupils at the  High School. 

The Bexwell site grounds also now house the Town's Sports Centre and the new Swimming Pool complex is also on this site.

Clackclose and Hillcrest schools are both modern greenfield site developments, although Clackclose School utilises the original Paradise Road School as an extra area for its younger pupils. 

The two parts of Clackclose site are linked across the school's large playing field, which has recently had a footpath constructed across it, saving pupils the walk along the public footpath running around the edge of the school field.

The Paradise Road school, now known as the "Nelson Site" was erected in 1871 at a cost of £3044, exclusive of the site, which cost an additional £300. This is obviously not the actual school at which Lord Horatio Nelson is believed to have attended in the Town as a boy, and which is thought to have been one located at what is now known as Nelson House,  now forming part of Reeds furniture shop in Bridge Street.

Another famous mariner born locally was Captain Manby, inventor of the  successful and widely used  life saving apparatus which fires a rescue line to a stranded vessel, and who was born in Denver on 28th November 1765. It is said that it was his efforts as a youth to fire a rocket over the roof of Saint Edmunds Church that provided the inspiration for this apparatus after he witnessed the appalling disaster of the brig "Snipe" with the loss of over two hundred souls.

Sports facilities in Downham Market

There are two main areas of sporting facilities open to the public in the Town.

On the War Memorial Playing Field in Lynn Road, are situated the local football and cricket clubs, tennis courts, a children's play area, squash courts and a petanque pitch. It used to house the Town's swimming pool, but this has been replaced by a  a new complex containing this and other sports facilities on the Downham Market High School site in Bexwell Road, (see below).

This area of land was purchased by the Urban District Council at the very end of 1946, having previously been a meadow known as the Cricket Field, and the purchase cost of £1000 was raised by public subscription.  Shortly afterwards the Garden of Remembrance was added to that site.

The High School site in Bexwell Road also contains the Downham Market Sports Centre offering  a swimming pool and other sports facilities including a choice of fitness rooms and indoor sports facilities. 

This complex is operated by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.