It's the Watton Life 13 Traditional Cache

We have lived locally in Watton for the past 4 years, and every day we come across new little places we had never heard of, so we thought why not make a series to teach people about Watton. All of the info has been written with a lot of research and help from local people and organisations such as the Watton Museum, Watton Town Council, Loch Neaton Committee and the Wayland Partnership. PLEASE put back the caches exactly where they were and please be careful not to break some of them - they have certain ways to get into them. This is a 7km circular walk which should take roughly between 2 - 3 hours. The route consists of walking through Watton Town centre, footpaths and bridle ways and in places there is deep water and cars so please keep all children and dogs safe. Most cache sites are also muggle central - so be careful and use your stealth! The caches are a variety of obvious and not so obvious, large and nano, and alternative caches. Also throughout the series there is opportunity to have some nice food and drink in various places. Have fun, and we welcome any feedback.

Stevens Almshouses 

Edward Stevens was known for his many acts of benevolence and ha had these houses built for respectable elderly married couples in 1833. In 1840 they were taken over by trustees for the benefit of the town.

The National School The school was built in 1819, consisting of one room divided by two folding partitions. In 1842 it was increased in capacity to take 244 pupils. The building now houses a funeral directors.

As you walk up the High Street you will also come across anther cache VS #1015 Watton, which give syou information about the VS and the Clock Tower .

Clock Tower Built in 1679 by Christopher Hey, after the 'Great fire of Watton', supposedly to hold new fire warning bell. This building housed Tourist Information Centre from 1990 to 2005. Built of brick, the outside was rendered in 1827 when a new clock was also installed. The building is also thought to have been used as the 'town lock up'. The town sign, in front of the tower, occupies the site where the town's pump once stood.

Opposite the tower is the Crown Hotel. 

Crown Hotel The Crown Hotel was built in about 1760. George Jacobs, the proprietor between 1850 and 1892, was one of the largest horse breeders and traders in the country. There was stabling for 200 horses and he employed his own horse doctor. In July 1949 much of the interior of the hotel was destroyed by fire.

If you walk down Middle Street on the left you will see Wayland Hall.

Wayland Hall This building overlooks the original market place and was built in 1853 as a corn hall and general assembly room. It was also used as a courtroom for the Wayland Petty Sessions. Today it houses the offcices and chamber of the Town Council, and the Museum4Watton. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm. It is completely free and has great children's activities on a Saturday morning!

If you continue to walk around Middle Street you will come across The Post Office. 

The Post Office The post Office was operated from the corner building, which i snow a fish and chip shop. The Post office operated for about 10 years around 1905.

If you continue around the one way system of Middle Street you will see a large building. This was one Manor House.

Manor House This building replaced the original Watton Hall Manor House which was located near the church, in the mid 18th century. It formed part of a much larger complex that stretched all the way to the High Street. This consisted of a capital mansion, counting houses, granaries, stables, coach house, brewhouse, laundry, walled in garden, shrubbery, yards and a fine piece of pasture land.

Once on the High Street again, as you walk towards the traffic lights you will come across an old thatched pub, set back from the road on the left. This is The Willow House.

The Willow House The oldest house in town, it was built in about 1556. During its life it has been a vicarage, a boarding school, a laundry, a dentists' surgery, and an antique shop. Today it is a pub and restaurant.

Opposite this there is a building on the corner. This is the Old Police Station. 

Old Police Station On the corner of the Thetford Road and High Street stands this building (1856-1954). Built in 1855 at a cost of £950, it had cells for temporary confinement of the accused and was manned by an inspector, a sergeant and three constables.

Over the road you will notice a large cream building. This is the Queens Hall. 

The Queens Hall Built by volunteer labour to celebrate the coronation of Elizabeth 2nd, it took 4 years to convert the framework of an ex RAF hanger imported from a local airfield, into the large public hall it is today. It was opened in 1956 and is now used extensively for social events.

Lastly, the location where you will find the final cache of the series is the Site of the Old Cattle Market. 

Old Cattle Market During the 19th century, Watton had two large cattle markets one of which stood on the site now occupied by the supermarket. The old weigh-bridge was found when the store was being built and has been placed on display in the Memorial Garden.