Haverhill, Suffolk
Haverhill is an industrial market town in the county of Suffolk, England, just next to the borders with Essex and Cambridgeshire. It's about 18 miles from Cambridge and 60 miles north of London. It is the second town of the borough of St Edmundsbury, and has a population of around 22,000.
Haverhill is actually an ancient town, with a market going back some 950 years, but most of its historical buildings have been lost. It does, however, retain one notable Tudor house and many interesting Victorian buildings. Nowadays, Haverhill is predominantly a modern and young town, having experienced a large influx of people through being designated an expansion town following World War II. The relatively small town centre is surrounded by many large housing developments, completed at various periods between the 1950s and the present.
The missing railway
Haverhill is the second largest town in England not to have a railway, though it used to have one. The Cambridge to Sudbury branch line was closed in 1967, though much of its route and infrastructure is still visible in Haverhill and beyond. In recent years, a local campaign has been started to try to bring the railway back to the town. This would help to relieve serious traffic congestion on the main road to Cambridge, along which many Haverhill residents commute daily.
Economy
The town's economy is dominated by industry, and a huge industrial area on its southern side is home to a large number of manufacturing, chemical, waste processing, transport and construction companies. More recently, some cutting edge biotechnology firms have also moved in.
In November 2004, Haverhill achieved a world first, becoming the only known town to feature a laser-lit sculpture on a roundabout. The steel sculpture, called Spirit of Enterprise, dominates the main gateway roundabout on the road from Cambridge, and has caused controversy among local people. Some residents consider it an unnecessary eyesore.
External links
Categories: Towns in Suffolk