Living in Stowmarket
This picturesque market town offers great access to the Suffolk countryside which the added benefit of being on the main train line to London (Liverpool Street). Being alongside the A14 means that Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds and Cambridge are also easily reached.
Set in the delightful Gipping Valley, Stowmarket is an historic market town lying on the River Gipping which joins the Orwell estuary at Ipswich. The Gipping was made into a canal in 1793 and the old towpath now runs through the Gipping Valley from Stowmarket railway station to the docks at Ipswich.
In 1347 the town was granted a market charter by Edward III and this tradition still exists with a twice weekly market on a Thursday and Saturday selling a range of locally produced goods.
The medieval heart of Stowmarket was based around the Parish Church of St Peter and St. Mary. Today the town as 131 buildings listed by the Department of National Heritage as having special architectural or historic interest, and the Parish Church is classified as being of 'exceptional interest'.
Shopping
The busy market town of Stowmarket features a wide range of shops from small independents to large supermarkets.Stowmarket is a bustling little town, with many interesting new shops having opened here in 2006, with a Marks and Spencer food hall due to open in 2007. The town is also catered for with four supermarkets and several well know high street stores.
Transport
Road and rail services are excellent with an hourly inter-city service to London (Liverpool Street); local Ipswich; Cambridge; Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough lines and the station is also on the Harwich to Birmingham and Liverpool Sprinter route.Travelling by road is also just as easy. The A14 takes you quickly into Ipswich where it joins the A12 to London. The A140 (built upon a very straight Roman road) leads to Norwich, while the stunning coastlines of Suffolk and Norfolk are easily accessible by the A1120 and A12.
Health
There are two excellent Health Centres in Stowmarket with minor surgical units, with the one based at Violet Hill having dental Chiropody services and pharmacy all under one roof.Leisure
Stowmarket boasts many leisure activities, with the Museum of East Anglia Life being one of the most popular. Set in 70 acres of lush East Anglian countryside, the Museum offers beautiful walks along the river; a fully functioning mill; windmill; a re-erected chapel and a tithe barn dating back to the 13th Century. There are also many picnic areas and an adventure playground for children. There are many small animals for children to see as well as the famous Suffolk Punch horses.The Museum also has a shop selling locally produced goods and gifts and the very popular Gilbert's Bistro with a Delicatessen shop next door. Many rural crafts are brought to life during the year from the local charcoal burner in his fully operative forge to lace making, and every September the very popular Beer Festival is held at the Museum.
For the more energetic Stowmarket golf club offers an 18 hole course which is set in some of the most beautiful English countryside. Designated by the English Golf Union as a 'Centre of Excellence', the 18 hole, 6107 yard, par 69 is a mature and challenging course frequented by a variety of wildlife. There is also a well stocked Pro-shop and a licensed Club House serving hot and cold meals all day.
The Leisure Centre is one of the best in the area, offering swimming pool, in-door bowls, 'Playworld' for children, squash and badminton courts, keep fit studios, and the largest crag wall in Suffolk.
For younger population, Stowmarket has a lively social scene, with many active groups and public houses and two nightclubs.
