The town grew initially around the wool combing industry, until the onset of the Bubonic plague, which swept the town from 1663 to 1665. To prevent the spread of the disease, the town was chained at either end, which succeeded in its task but at the cost of two-thirds of the populace. The town did not recover for nearly two hundred years, with the canalisation of the River Gipping in the late 18th century and the introduction of the railway.
Modern Needham Market contains two road names that are linked to the plague: Chainhouse Road, named after the chains that ran across the East end of the town and The Causeway which is a modern variation of 'the corpseway'; it is so called because of the route that plague victims were transported out of town, to neighbouring Barking Church for interment.[3]
Near the station, on land between the Rampant Horse pub and the river, is the Camping Land, with a name is derived from Campan or Campball, a rough and often rowdy medieval ball game and the predecessor of rugby football.[4][5]
Notable buildings
Notable buildings in the town include:
The 15th-century Church of St. John the Baptist, originally a chapel of ease for the parish of Barking (with a unique double-hammerbeam roof).[6]
The medieval Limes Hotel which dates back to around 1500.[7]
Like most of the UK, Ireland and much of France, Needham Market has an oceanic climate. This means that both the winter and summer temperatures are mild with not a huge difference between the winter and summer temperatures.
Climate data for Wattisham, elevation 87m, 1971–2000, extremes 1960–
The A14 (although then the A45) once ran directly through the town, but a bypass was built in the 1970s leaving the road now known as the B1113. This has left the town with good road links to the surrounding area, but with less traffic than before.
First Eastern Counties, a sub-brand of FirstGroup, operates the 88 route; this connects the town with Ipswich and Stowmarket every 30 minutes on weekdays.[11]
Sport and leisure
Needham Market has a non-League football club, Needham Market F.C., which plays at Bloomfields. They have been successful over recent years after reaching the semi-finals of the 2010/2011 season's FA Vase.[12]
The town is on the route of the Dunwich Dynamo annual cycle ride, which takes place overnight. It is usually scheduled to take place on the Saturday night closest to the full moon in July.
Needham Lake provides leisure facilities and a wildlife habitat, which is located just east of the railway station.[13] The lake is located on a nature reserve with the River Gipping running just east of it; it is popular with tourists.[14] The lake was initially a gravel pit before being converted to a lake.
Other attractions in the town include the Alder Carr Farm, which makes and sells ice cream.[15]
