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Introduction

At the heart of the Waveney Valley, Harleston is an ancient market town, full of historic buildings, and having an array of individual speciality shops.

With historic coaching inns, cosy tearooms, traditional bakers, butchers and delicatessens serving delicious Norfolk foods, you're sure to find plenty on the menu when visiting this traditional market town.

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Heritage

The market town of Harleston has a long history. A charter to hold an eight-day fair was granted to Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk by Henry III in 1259 and Wednesday has been market day in the town from ancient times. One of the plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I was to be launched on Midsummer Day 1570 at the Harleston Fair by proclamations and the sound of trumpets and drums. The Elizabethan play Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay features this in one of its scenes.

Past residents of Harleston include some of the Pilgrim Fathers who travelled on the Mayflower to settle in America.

Historic Buildings

There are over 160 very old buildings in the town, many with some of the original features still visible. Old coaching inns, like the Swan Hotel, remain as a legacy from the days when the town was on the main coaching route from London to Great Yarmouth and an important trading centre.