Buildings

Dedicated to St. Edmund, the Parish Church stands in a commanding position overlooking the town centre. Dating from Norman times, it was almost totally rebuilt, of local carstone, in the 13th century. Now the only visible portion of the Norman building is a fragment of ornamental shaft set in the outside wall of the north transept. Later centuries have brought alterations and additions; the west tower (in which is a peal of eight bells) is early English in origin although the brickwork and the lead spire are later.

Features of interest within the church include a Gothic crucifix in relief above the chancel's south door, a 15th century font carved with angels holding shields, the timber roof of the nave with a tie-beam alternating with carved angels, and a handsome 18th century wooden west gallery.

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Dominic in Howdale Road is unusual in that it was created out of a former stables and coach house. Its furnishings are of good modern design. Recent, too, is the Methodist Church in Paradise Road which was built in 1966 to replace three former chapels in different parts of the town. It is a good example of modern church design.

Prominent in the Market Square is the Town Hall, built in 1887 of yellow brick and carstone, in what Pevsner called "a free and disjointed Renaissance style". It has been altered through the years, the last time being in 1973-74 when it was extended and thoroughly modernised.

Across the square is the Town Clock, an unusual cast iron structure in a Gothic style. Made by William Cunliffe of London, it was given to the town in 1878 by James Scott.

The four dials in the gabled clock case were renewed in 1985 when the whole structure was blast cleaned and repainted.

There are numerous other older buildings in Downham Market including the Castle and Crown Hotels which are both 'listed buildings'. The Castle, which faces down the High Street, is an 18th century building, plain but dignified with an embattled parapet, a pantiled roof and a handsome arched iron lampholder outside the front door. Even older is The Crown which dates from about 1700. This was a former coaching inn and the stone mounting block can be seen in the former coach entry.

A fine example of older domestic architecture survives on the corner of London Road and Priory Road. It has crow-stepped gables and a nice octagonal brick chimney suggesting it is of the Tudor period. Other buildings, several of them built of the local carstone, which weathers to a pleasant brown, show continental style in the shape of their gables (a Dutch influence perhaps). One example of this is seen in the High Street, a 17th century building which has little pediments over the top windows and a massive side chimney stack peering over the top. The brownness of the carstone buildings led to Downham Market being referred to, at one time, as the 'Gingerbread Town'.

The former Friends Meeting House in Bridge Street now serves as a public library; behind it the Quaker graveyard still survives.

Mention should also be made of the Town Sign, situated at the bottom of Howdale Road. It depicts the Crown and Arrows of St. Edmund. The horses that surmount it show the importance of the Horse Fairs in the town in the late 19th century. There is a plaque on the plinth giving more information.