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This site was produced by: LOCAL
AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View
more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk |
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At
the geographical heart of rural Suffolk and on the River Gipping,
lies the Town of Stowmarket. The Town is situated some 12 miles
North West of Ipswich and 14 miles South East of Bury St. Edmunds
and therefore it occupies a strategic location in the centre of
the county of Suffolk on the A14 road from the Midlands and the
North to the Euro-Port of Felixstowe. The town is also served by
the main Norwich to London rail link.
Originally an agricultural market town industry developed upon the
canalization, in 1793, of the River Gipping bringing new prosperity
to Stowmarket. Now the old towpath forms an enjoyable footpath through
the Gipping Valley from Stowmarket railway station to the docks
at Ipswich.
A population of 1500 grew to 3000 by 1841. New markets were now
accessible to the agricultural producers of the surrounding area.
Stowmarket was one of the country’s major producers of malt
and the canal enabled the town’s maltsters to send their products
down to Ipswich and then on to London by sea. The coming of the
railway in 1846 brought further prosperity to the town, but it also
brought about the gradual demise of the canal. River traffic inevitably
declined after the coming of the railways in 1846 and the Gipping
Navigation was closed by an Act of Parliament in 1932.
Currently the town’s population is in the region of 17,000
people, which is growing at an increasing rate with much development
at the north end of the town. Even though it is growing in size
and population Stowmarket still hasn’t lost its charm, with
a variety of listed buildings, typical of Suffolk’s towns
and villages.
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Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication
and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct,
the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any
inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any
format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. All the photographs
in this booklet were taken by Stowmarket Town Council.
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