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It is now generally accepted that the name of Swaffham originates from the Swaefas tribe whose members were amongst the Saxon invaders of East Anglia following the departure of the Romans. The Domesday Book suggests that Swaffham had a population of less than a hundred at the time of the Norman Conquest. Nevertheless, since early times the town must have had considerable importance being at the junction of the roads from the busy commercial centres of King’s Lynn, Norwich and Gt. Yarmouth and the road from London to the North Norfolk coast. This led to a street market being developed in the town and a Royal Charter for the market was granted prior to the 13th Century. That charter remains to this day, the original authority for the prosperous market that takes place each Saturday.

Another reminder of medieval Swaffham is the magnificent Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, the greater part of which dates back to the 15th Century. The tower was finished in 1507. One of the most outstanding features of the church is the magnificent double hammerbeam roof, with rows of angels. The tower and north aisle of the church were built largely through the generosity of a churchwarden of the time, John Chapman.

According to popular legend, John Chapman was the famous “Pedlar of Swaffham” who, following instructions reputed to have been given to him repeatedly in dreams, walked to London Bridge where he was told by a shopkeeper that if should go to a town called Swaffham in Norfolk and dig under a tree, he would find treasure. This he did, digging in his own garden, and he found two large pots of gold.

The importance of Swaffham in early modern times is emphasised in William White’s “Directory of Norfolk” (1836) in which it is stated that “Swaffham is one of the handsomest and busiest Market Towns in the Country, and the principal place for election of Knights of the shire for the Western Division of Norfolk and holds a pleasant and highly salubrious situation on the crown of a lofty eminence”. This reminds us that Swaffham is built on a hill between the valleys of the Nar to the north and west and the Wissey to the south. This added to the problems of water supply and was the need for relatively deep wells from early times.

Other prominent features in the town centre include the Market Cross, or Butter Cross, in the market place. This was erected in 1783 and paid for by George, the third Earl of Orford. The Market Cross comprises eight stone columns supporting a dome surmounted by the figure of the Roman goddess Ceres. Another prominent feature is the building known as the Assembly Rooms.