Haverhill

Introduction

Up until the early 1960s, Haverhill was a typical small market town, but today it's better known for large modern housing estates built for "London overspill". The town is based around a former Romano-British fort and a later Saxon market. It was recorded in Domesday as "Hauerhella", "Haverhol" or "Haverhella" and appears on John Speed's 1610 map as "Hauerill".

The serious town fire in 1665 caused severe damage from which few buildings survive.

From the 16th century, weaving was an important local industry which remained significant until recent times. Weavers Row (on Camps Row) is made up of 19th century weavers' cottages.

Castle Farm marks the probable location of Haverhill Castle, which appears in records of 1373 and 1403, though no physical evidence of its existence remains; it may in fact have just been a fortified manor house. Mill Hill marks the site of a former tower mill built about 1820 which worked until about 1910 and was mostly demolished in 1945. Another mill (demolished in 1942) stood near the present Alde Road.

To the east of town is an impressive brick viaduct called Sturmer Arches. Once it took Colne Valley Railway over the road…

Gallery

Acknowledgements

Some historical information from English Heritage's National Monuments Record.