Welcome to Stowmarket

Stowmarket is situated on the River Gipping, in the county of Suffolk, approximately 67 miles northeast of London and 11 miles north-northwest of Ipswich.

The town has a population of around 15,000 according to the 2001 census. Administratively it is within the local government district of Mid Suffolk which covers an area of approximately 871 sq kms.

It is a small market town with some notable historic buildings including the church of St Peter and St Mary which dates to the 14th century. One of the town's primary attractions is the open air Museum of East Anglian Life which depicts the history and natural world of the area. There is also the recently re-opened John Peel Centre for Creative Arts which is housed in the former corn exchange.

The town's history dates from medieval times with a market charter being granted by Edward II in 1347. The twice weekly market still continues today. A period of growth and prosperity for Stowmarket began with the opening of the Gipping Canal in 1793 which established new trade links and allowed local agricultural produce to be transported to markets further afield. The canal trade went into decline following the arrival of the railway in 1846. Stowmarket suffered tragedy on 11th August 1871 when an explosion at a local gun cotton factory killed 28 people. The catastrophic event was such that around 4000 people attended the funerals at Stowmarket cemetery.

Historically, the town's economy was based on agriculture with Stowmarket being one of the country's major producers of malt during the 19th century. Today agriculture is still important although the services industries and tourism have grown.

The name Stow means 'place of assembly or holy place' from the Old English 'stow'. The later affix refers to the important market here. It was recorded as 'Stou' in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as 'Stowmarket' in 1268. (Oxford Dictionaryof English Place Names: A.D.Mills)