Fakenham

General information Chamber of commerce Places to visit Local events

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General information

History

In 1086 (Domesday Book) Fakenham had only 150 residents. Hempton, on the opposite side of the river, was the larger community and had an abbey that played host to pilgrims on their way to Walsingham. Fakenham became the dominant centre when the abbey was abolished by Henry VIII.

Its major industry in the 19th and 20th centuries was printing, but the major printworks (Cox and Wyman) closed in the 1970s. Nevertheless, there are still more than ten small printing firms in industrial premises around and near the town. A large number of printing blocks have been set into the surface of the market place as a memorial to this lost industry.

Recent history

In the late 1990s the town was listed by a contributor to the knowhere guide as “the most boring place on Earth”. The contribution was specifically referring to Wednesday afternoon which is ‘early closing’ in Fakenham. This comment, made by an individual, was taken and quoted out of context as “voted the most boring place on Earth” and very rapidly the story was running in national newspapers with the town council defending the town and spending considerable time, money and effort trying to prove that this was not the case.

Recent investment in Fakenham has seen the town centre being renovated and pedestrianised. It now enjoys a popular farmers’ market on the morning of the 4th Saturday of each month.

The town was the base for North Norfolk’s very first independent commercial radio station (albeit temporary) in August 1997 (106.9 FTR FM). Other temporary services followed, between November 1998 and May 2001, including FCR 107.2 and Central Norfolk Radio.

Railways

Historically, Fakenham had two railway stations. Fakenham West railway station was on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, and closed in 1959. The site is now a builders’ depot, although 20 feet of the platform has been preserved. Fakenham East railway station was on the Great Eastern Railway and closed in the 1960s although goods trains carried on until the 1980s. This station site is now sheltered housing.

Although now without a railway, the Mid-Norfolk Railway plans to return trains to the town, and intends to build a new station near the gas works. The line would link Fakenham to East Dereham, Wymondham and Norwich.

Another scheme, the Norfolk Orbital Railway plans to link the town to the coast at Sheringham.

Youth and Community Provision

Schools

The first school in the town was the National School for Boys which opened in 1839. The second, provided by the British School Society, was built in 1844. A National School for Girls followed in 1848.

In 1913 a council school was built on Queen’s Road to replace these and all the children moved there, being separated into the boys’, girls’ and infants’ schools provided within the one complex.

In 1944 the Queen’s Road school was converted into a “primary and secondary modern school”, but the growth of the town was putting a lot of pressure on the available space. In 1956 a new secondary modern school was built on Field Lane, opening in 1959.

The town is presently served by a purpose-built infant school, a junior school on Queen’s Road, a high school on Field Lane plus a sixth form college.

Scouts

1st Fakenham Scouts were established on the 3rd May 1923, with their headquarters listed as being on Bridge Street. The group was re-registered on 21st October 1948 as part of the North West Norfolk District. At this time the group was meeting at the Congregational Schoolroom on Norwich Road, which is now part of an antique centre. On 1st April 1968, 1st Fakenham Scout Group, now a part of the Fakenham District, asked for permission to change their name to Fakenham Wensum Scout Group. Fakenham Wensum Scout Group still offers scouting to young people aged 6 to 14, on behalf of the Scout Association.

2nd Fakenham (Salvation Army) Scout Group were first registered on 10th February 1954, meeting in the Salvation Army Hall on Oak Street. 2nd Fakenham closed in 1969, with the remaining Scouts and leaders joining Fakenham Wensum.

In February 2008 the Baden-Powell Scouts opened Fakenham Lancaster Baden-Powell Air Scouts, giving the town two active Scout groups for the first time in 39 years. This group is presently based at the Fakenham Rugby Union Football Club, offering Traditional Scouting to young people aged 5 to 25.

Girl Guides

The Girl Guides Association has two active Groups in the town. One meets at the Methodist Church Hall, with the other using the Scout Association’s headquarters in the town.

Air Training Corps

The town is the home of 2534 Squadron, Air Training Corps, who parade on Mondays and Wednesdays at Fakenham College.

Army Cadet Force

The Britannia Army Cadet Force parade at their headquarters, which is at Fakenham High School.

EP Youth

Attractions

Attractions in the town include a well-respected national hunt racecourse, the Museum of Gas and Local History, a small cinema, 6 Lane Tenpin Bowling Centre, a vibrant flea market held every Thursday, a farmers’ market held monthly and even an internet and LAN centre. The town is well placed to act as a base for exploring north Norfolk being approximately 15 kilometres from the coast at Wells-next-the-Sea, 30 kilometres from King’s Lynn and 35 kilometres from Norwich.

Famous people from Fakenham include:

Henry Buckenham, a Primitive Methodist missionary in South Africa.
Thomas Miller, who set up the printing press.
Edmund Peckover, a Cromwellian Puritan who established the first bank in the town.
John Garrood, who improved the Penny Farthing bicycle.
Sir George Edwards, farm workers’ leader, and later local MP.
Sir Robert Seppings, a shipwright who was knighted on the Royal Yacht in 1819.
Peter Parfitt, an England and Middlesex cricketer in the early 1960s, attended Fakenham Grammar School.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fakenham)

Chamber of commerce

We are raising our profile. And yours too!

The Chamber has raised the bar - we’re now offering members much more than we did before. As business owners, we realise that you need any help you can get to remain competitive, prosper and grow your business. Fakenham - Open for BusinessFakenham is at the dawn of an exciting new period, where the town is expanding and attracting new funding. It’s a golden opportunity for new and established businesses in the area to improve the town and the financial prospects for the community. We aim to help our members take advantage of that opportunity with high quality benefits that only membership of our chamber can provide.We’re joining forces with other local groups and using professional PR techniques to become a more powerful voice for Fakenham and the surrounding area. We’re telling everyone that Fakenham is “Open For Business!”

We have plans for the future too...

Fakenham ”Open For Business” Phase One was for the development of the new website and its associated Business Directory, along with a ‘re-launch’ of the Chamber. We’re not stopping there though - that was only phase one of three.

The second phase of our plan for Fakenham Chamber and its businesses is to promote the town through the media, using specialist expertise.

The final phase of our plan is to provide more business possibilities for Chamber members with a series of meetings, get-togethers and social events.

We plan to give Chamber members much more value for their membership fees. Our Chamber means business!

You can find out all about the Fakenham Chamber of Trade, it’s committee, members, , aims and more on the website:
http://www.fakenhamtrade.org.uk