Mildenhall a small market town situated just off the A11 in West Suffolk.
The ancient parish of Mildenhall included the hamlets of Beck Row, Holywell
Row, Kenny Hill and West Row. It covered some 16,767 acres, the largest
in Suffolk. The doomsday survey in 1086 showed that Mildenhall was an established
town with a church, mill, 64 families and a flock of 1,000 sheep. This fine
example of a medieval market town is centred on the market place and St.
Mary’s church. The importance of the Friday market established by
royal charter in 1412 was confirmed in the fifteenth century by the construction
of the market cross. The parish pump still stands in the market place, as
a reminder that piped water was not available until the 1940’s. The
parish church of St. Mary’s stands off the market place and is considered
to be the finest in West Suffolk. The church is particularly well known
for its angel roof, wide aisles, woodcarvings and ornate East window. One
of Mildenhall's other claims to fame is the Mildenhall treasure 32 items
of roman silver unearthed in January 1943. With the Great Dish, which weighs
over 18 pounds and is almost 2 feet in diameter is the most spectacular.
The hoard is now in the British Museum with replicas on show in the Mildenhall
Museum.
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