Debenham

Debenham is an attractive village in Suffolk. In pre-industrial England, wealth came from farming, especially from sheep and wool-processing. Debenham was one prosperous centre, already a substantial place when recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086, and continued so through medieval times. Modern industry went elsewhere so much of the old village centre has been preserved, although several buildings were lost in a fire of 1744, and others are hidden by modern facades.

Understand
This village (population 2210 in 2011) has only a tenuous connection with Debenhams retail stores, which folded in 2020 having struggled for some years. The business was founded in London in 1778 by William Clark, who in 1813 took on a partner William Debenham (1794 – 1863) from Alpheton in Suffolk. That village, 20 miles southwest of Debenham near Sudbury, also rated a mention in the Domesday Book, with similar trades, but never grew to the same extent.

By road
The village lies 6 miles to the E of the main A140 road to north Norwich and south to Stowmarket and the main A14 road.

By train
The nearest train station to the village is Needham Market.

By bus

 * Galloway Buses service 114 runs Diss to Ipswich stopping in the village.
 * Galloway Buses service 115 runs Mendlesham to Ipswich stopping in the village.
 * Galloway Buses service 116 runs between the village and Ipswich.

By bicycle
The village is on the HoSR cycle route connecting to National Cycle Route 1 at Framlingham 9 miles to the E. HoSR also connects with Regional cycle Route 30 (Lowestoft to Thetford and beyond) 9½ miles N at Eye.

Get around
The village is small enough to see on foot.

Connect
As of Sep 2022, Debenham has a patchy 4G signal from EE, but nothing from the other UK carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Stowmarket
 * Diss
 * Harleston
 * Ipswich
 * Saxmundham
 * Bury St Edmunds